Raw Talent with Fiona Abrahams

We are kicking off Season 5, Episode 1 of Raw Talent with a compelling chat with educator and coach Sasha Damjanovski. Sasha has enjoyed a multifaceted career as an award-winning writer, director and producer in film, TV and theatre, he has also cultivated a career in business communications and as a psychological counselling and CBT coach, as well as an educator at Central Saint Martin's in Applied Imagination, which is a research degree.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4 Episode 9 of Raw Talent, I am speaking with Katrina Armitage who is the vision behind Fashion Desk UK an initiative she has set up inspired by the needs of brands in today's fashion industry reinforced by 26+ years in the business. 

Fashion Desk UK facilitates and supports retailers and brands in relocating some of their manufacturing to the UK in order to establish a transparent supply chain and improve sustainability, offering flexibility, creativity and speed to market.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In S4 Episode 8 of Raw Talent, I am speaking with Erica Horne founder of CAD For Fashion. Erica and her team teach the most effective steps for computer and iPad based Photoshop and Illustrator. They offer group sessions and one-to-one lessons with a step-by-step watch, learn and do approach for students, graduates and established designers of all levels. 

Erica believes iPad Illustrator launched in 2020 will revolutionise fashion CAD with its speed, accuracy and ease of use. It makes light work in enabling a designer to create highly professional CAD's and illustrations to a professional standard a skill we see people continually honing throughout their fashion careers. 

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4, Episode 7 of Raw Talent we are exploring how psychology can make fashion better with Professor Carolyn Mair, Author of 'The Psychology of Fashion'. 

Carolyn Mair is a Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Her professional experience spans consultancy, academia and early careers in visual merchandising, graphic design, dressmaking and portraiture. During her 20 years in academia, she was promoted to full Professorship at two universities and established a Psychology Department at University of the Arts London (UAL) pioneering the world’s first Psychology for Fashion Masters degrees (MA and MSc).

Carolyn left academia in 2017, established her consultancy and wrote a book, The Psychology of Fashion, published in 2018.

In the first of a 3 part series, we are going to explore why the psychology of fashion matters and it's impact on society and the industry.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4, Episode 6 of Raw Talent I am joined by sustainability and raw materials expert Kavita Dass. 

With a solid history in raw material sourcing and technology, Kavita combines both industry experience and study to offer an authoritative grasp of the latest innovations, sustainable sourcing and circular economy challenges and solutions faced and on offer within the industry. 

Her unique selling point is the ability to help implement and embed sustainability with a systemic approach, so that a business remains agile and in step with its customers. Implementing changing practices is a gradual process that should not impede or disrupt but instead be a smooth transition.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4, Episode 5 of Raw Talent I am speaking with Rebecca Rodden founder of Eluroom. 

Rebecca's career evolved in a 21-year stint at Ted Baker rising from Receptionist to Buying Director across two decades during which we have experienced the evolution of technology making a revolutionary impact on the way in which fashion is consumed and experienced. 

During her time at Ted Baker, Rebecca worked across men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, footwear and licensed product with the mission of continually evolving the Ted Baker brand through innovation and diversification in response to the ebb and flow of a changing global consumer.

2020 has shaken many established businesses and stepping out into a brave new world, Rebecca is embarking on a new chapter inspired by a desire for balance expressed in her about to launch brand Eluroom.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4, Episode 4 of Raw Talent I am speaking with luxury brand consultant Michelle Mahlke. After graduating with Degrees in Art History and Fashion Design, her career started in 2006 with iconic designer Roland Mouret and progressed through several roles from EA / Office Manager (2006 – 2007) to PR, Event Management and Special Projects (2008 – 2009), General Manager (2009 – 2013) and ultimately Managing Director (2013 – 2018). This breadth of knowledge and expertise positioned Michelle with the opportunity to understand the successes, challenges and growing pains of the business and how to get past them. 

She is fascinated by making a dream become reality and has the imagination, determination, and experience to build this synergy within a developing business. 

As a consultant, her goal is to help founders and owners build successful and dynamic companies that inspire both teams and consumers to carve out new niches within their respective industries.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4, Episode 3 of Raw Talent I am speaking with Tanya Robertson Founder of Womanhood, an online store showcasing a curated collection of lingerie by female founders offering multiple sizes and styles, creating a positive underwear shopping and wearer experience.

Womanhood reflects representation, authenticity and women reclaiming their bodies. It is a joining of forces showcasing brands that share the aligned values of diversity, inclusion and body positivity.

The aim is to build a community of confident, empowered women whilst championing diverse, ethical and independent brands, who create their products with love. 

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

Welcome to Series 4, Episode 2 of Raw Talent, where we are off to the Netherlands and getting all summery with sustainable swim & resort wear brand Bower. As soon as we head to the website, we want to book a holiday and buy everything! Bower offers modern design-led beautifully constructed swimwear for men and women that retains functionality and ease of wear. 1% of profits are donated to the Healthy Seas initiative and all swimwear is created from fabrics produced with ECONYL®, a yarn created from post-consumer plastic waste including discarded fishing nets.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.

In Series 4, Episode 1 of Raw Talent we're heading to Ipswich to chat with Matthew Rawlings Retail Director of Coes, one of the UK’s largest independent fashion retailers. Matthew has extensive expertise across all aspects of retail operations including product, high-end store management, area management, buying, merchandising, financial planning and team development. 

He brings a warm and engaging leadership style that gets the best out of individuals and creates happy high performing teams. Exactly what you'd expect at a business at the forefront of style that is constantly pushing for innovation. Where service excellence and selecting the best styles with customers in mind is at the heart of what they do.

The Raw Talent podcast series. Sharing career stories from across the fashion, beauty and creative industries.