Nancy Rhodes shares her journey from aspiring designer to leader in sustainable fashion. With experience at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, Nancy gained insights into consumer behavior before designing footwear for brands like BCBG and Kenneth Cole. Through Alternew, she’s revolutionizing fashion care by digitizing alterations and repairs, making sustainability accessible. Her approach highlights how technology can enhance satisfaction, reduce waste, and promote eco-friendly practices. Nancy’s commitment offers insights for emerging designers and established brands integrating sustainability.This episode offers a fresh perspective on sustainable fashion, inspiring you to rethink possibilities for handbags and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

• Community Support: Building a sustainable brand thrives on collaboration.
• Tech & Sustainability: Digital fashion care enhances satisfaction and promotes eco-friendly practices.
• Balance Cost & Responsibility: Sustainability requires balancing affordability with environmental impact.

About Our Guest, Nancy Rhodes: Nancy Rhodes is the founder of Alternew, a platform digitizing fashion care services like alterations and repairs. With over 20 years of experience in retail and footwear design, Nancy has worked with brands like Kenneth Cole and BCBG. She is dedicated to integrating sustainability into fashion, blending innovation with eco-friendly practices.

Host Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, and founder of The Handbag Awards. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily also teaches entrepreneurship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is dedicated to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of building iconic handbag brands.

Find Handbag Designer 101 Merch, HBD101 Masterclass, one-on-one sessions, and opportunities to book Emily Blumenthal as a speaker at emilyblumenthal.com.  Buy Emily’s Books: “Handbag Designer 101” & “Savvy Suzanna’s Amazing Adventures in Handbags”

Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner

TikTok: / Handbagdesigner | Twitter: / Handbagdesigner