Marcelo Gaia is the designer behind the "instagram brand", Mirror Palais. After working as a stylist or 10 years; (which included working for Lady Gaga's Stylist) he launched his own label. I sit down with Marcelo at his Lower East Side apartment in Manhattan to discuss how her did it. 

Also! All full episodes are now available on Patreon, only!  www.patreon.com/thecuttingroomfloor

Brian Phillips founded the Fashion PR Company Black Frame which operated from 2004 until 2020. We discuss his POV on a what makes a talented publicist, what he's learned along the way and his ideas for the future. 

patreon.com/thecuttingroomfloor 

Leandra Medine was the founder of Man Repeller. A blog turned media company that operated from 2010 - 2020. In 2020 she stepped down from her company after she and the company were criticized for their performative solidarity with black lives. Leandra reflects on her time running a company and what she's learned about racism in America.

Patreon.com/thecuttingroomfloor

Leandra Medine: @leandramcohen

Crystal Anderson: @beerbottles_chainsaws

Mecca James Williams: @meccajw

Sebastian Baptiste: @sebastianbaptiste

Chrissy Rutherford: @chrissyford

Today's episode is playful and relaxed. I talk so my friend Christopher John Rogers about his name sake brand and love for color. 

www.patreon.com/thecuttingroomfloor

@christopherjohnrogers

Mickey Drexler, the man behind The Gap, JCrew, Old Navy, Madewell has been in the fashion industry otherwise known as "The Rag Trade" for over 40 years. He's now working alongside his son Alex Drexler who founded Alex Mill, Mickey has a unique approach to leadership, shopkeeping, and selling goods at great value. 

INSTAGRAM: @OMNDI

TWITTER: @OMONDIPRESENTS

PATREON: PATREON.COM/THECUTTINGROOMFLOOR

The season isn't over! New episodes early June 2021. 

Just stopping by to say Hi & Thank You. 

Ibrahem Hasan describes his role as a Senior Creative Director at Nike. Today, we dig into the structure of Nike as a huge, global organization or as Ibrahim calls it, "The Matrix." How many categories are there? What are their functions? Who are the appointed creative directors? How big are the teams and who's in charge of what? Born with raw talent on the south side of Chicago, Ibrahem learned on the job what it means to be a creative for a corporation. Today he describes the unspoken transition from being a "maker" to a "manager." 

This a great episode for a young designers. I speak to Shira Carmi who is the former president of Mansur Gavriel and has since been named the CEO of Altuzarra. Shira is a business person; the kind that every design talent needs to know. She sits pole position between business and creativity with an understanding of how to service both sides. There's a lot a great business advice here. We talk about the challenge of over-distribution among e-commerce partners, why the CFDA/VOGUE/BARNEYS recipe doesn't guarantee a brand success and how true scarcity can help or hinder a brand depending on its authenticity. 

IG: @shirasuecarmi

Peter Do is greater than the sum of its parts. While his name is on the door, Peter makes clear that this is not a one man show. This is a company built on friendship and craftsmanship. I sit with the founders of Peter Do, LLC at their Brooklyn Studio. 

James Scully is a prominent casting director starting his career in PR & production over 25 years ago. This episode covers a lot. James walks us through Vogue Magazine before Anna Wintour, his time as a buyer at the avant garde NYC retailer Chari Vari and his experience producing Tom Ford's first show at Gucci. He describes the evolved role of the stylist & casting directors; some of which abused their power, revealing the dark side of the modeling industry.