The Fabric of America

Stylist and content creator Alysia Cole joins Melissa and Matt for an unfiltered conversation about authenticity in the wedding industry and beyond. From carving out space for plus-size and queer clients to balancing social media vulnerability, Alysia shares how she navigates visibility, criticism, and creative freedom. They dig into body neutrality, identity fatigue, and why aesthetic doesn’t have to mean exclusion. This episode is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply honest—just like Alysia herself.

https://www.instagram.com/alysiacolestyling/

https://stan.store/alysiacolestyling

Key Topics:

• The emotional labor of representing marginalized identities in the bridal industry
• Understanding body neutrality vs. body positivity
• Navigating online criticism, social media boundaries, and staying authentic

Takeaways:

• Not all representation feels empowering—context and intention matter
• Body neutrality offers a more sustainable self-view than forced positivity
• Staying true to your values in business (even when it costs you money) is worth it

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

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Fashion designer, product developer, and pattern maker Xochil Herrera Scheer joins Melissa and Matt for an energetic and heartfelt conversation on the future of American manufacturing. They dig into the cultural narratives, real challenges, and everyday decisions that can help shift consumer habits and bring ethical production back into focus. From why Walmart collaborations to gatekeeping factories hurts the industry, Xochil lays it out with transparency, optimism, and a touch of humor.

https://www.instagram.com/fashionxochil/

https://xochil.com/

🧵 Key Topics:

Why U.S.-made fashion still matters (and what’s holding it back)

The truth about factory transparency and ethical supply chains

How individual habits influence systemic industry change

✅ Takeaways:

Even a small increase in domestic production (from 3% to 5%) would be transformative

Ethical manufacturing should be the baseline—no matter the country

Sharing, collaboration, and storytelling grow the movement more than secrecy ever could

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

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In this episode we talk with Jake from Southland Heritage—a platform and directory listing over 350 American-made brands—to talk about intentional consumerism, community collaboration, and why he hopes his directory eventually becomes unnecessary. Jake shares how he vets companies, his vision for American manufacturing, and how small, conscious choices can spark a bigger cultural shift. From stainless steel tumblers to made-in-Ohio trash cans, Jake can point you in the right direction.

https://www.southland-heritage.com/

https://www.instagram.com/southlandheritage/

Key Topics:

• Why stainless steel goods labeled “Made in USA” are nearly impossible to find
• The emotional and practical journey behind curating a vetted list of American-made brands
• Building a collaborative ecosystem between makers, consumers, and directories

Takeaways:

• You don’t have to be perfect—small intentional choices can drive big change
• Transparency and storytelling help brands build trust and earn loyal followings
• Jake’s long-term goal is for his curated list to become obsolete—because American-made becomes the norm

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

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In this episode, we chat with Olivia Bé Nguyen, aka Fiyab0mb, about her journey from a kid watching Bob Ross to a powerhouse artist whose work hangs on Wall Street. We dive into the highs and lows of turning art into a thriving business—from last-minute venue changes to earning a TEDx nomination. Along the way, Olivia shares why being genuine online, trusting your ideas, and knowing when to say “no” are just as important as your craft.

https://www.instagram.com/fiyab0mb/

https://fiyabomb.com/

Key Topics:

• Building Resilience in Creative Entrepreneurship: Facing tough clients, blown-out venues, and major debts—and how to push through.
• Authentic Storytelling on Social Media: Why sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly helps you connect and grow your audience.
• Trusting & Acting on Your Ideas: How to spot the right ideas, jump on them fast, and avoid letting them slip away.

Takeaways:

• Vulnerability Is Strength: Being honest about your struggles builds trust, deepens community, and can turn fans into lifelong supporters.
• Ideas Choose You: Your unique ideas deserve action—don’t wait, or someone else will bring them to life.
• Set Boundaries for Balance: Saying “no” and pacing your schedule protects your creativity and mental health, so you can keep showing up at your best. Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/ Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story[email protected]

In this episode, we dive deep with Rachel Slade, author of Making It in America, as we unpack the complexities of American manufacturing — from tariffs and politics to the real people behind the clothes we wear. Rachel breaks down why this topic is more than just policy debates; it’s about families, communities, and a chance for some good old American innovation. Plus, she shares what’s next for her and how we can all get involved in building a stronger community around these issues. If you buy her book off of Amazon, we will find you…

https://www.rachelslade.net/making-it-in-america https://www.instagram.com/rachelmslade/

Find your local bookstore: https://bookshop.org/pages/bookstores

Key Topics:

• Why tariffs on apparel aren’t a political game — and why they matter
• The journey of making an all-American hoodie, from cotton fields to your closet
• The power of community building and why now is the perfect time to get involved

Takeaways:

• Tariffs are a tool, not a political statement — everyone can agree on the need to fix manufacturing challenges
• American manufacturing is a complex, human story that deserves attention and care
• There’s renewed energy around this topic, and community building is where the real impact starts

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

[email protected]

In this episode, Matt and Melissa sit down with Bill Amos, founder of NW Alpine—a company redefining what it means to make technical climbing gear in America. Bill shares the story behind NW Alpine’s beginnings, their commitment to domestic manufacturing, and the company’s evolution from a passion project to a purpose-driven business. They explore the challenges of scaling ethically, the future of gear design, and how NW Alpine stays rooted in both innovation and community.

https://www.nwalpine.com/

https://www.instagram.com/nwalpinegear/

Key Topics:

• The origin and mission behind NW Alpine’s U.S.-based manufacturing
• Navigating the balance between performance, sustainability, and business growth
• How NW Alpine is rethinking the future of technical outdoor apparel

Takeaways:

• Purpose-driven companies can challenge industry norms without sacrificing performance
• Domestic production is difficult but possible—and worth it for long-term values
• Staying nimble allows for innovation and integrity to co-exist in product design

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

[email protected]

Welcome to our short-form series, Moving The Needle. We know not everyone has time for one-hour episodes so in Moving The Needle, we have a conversation about a current event or topic.

In this episode we discuss the lack of trust in knowledge that many consumers have nowadays with small business owners and businesses in general.

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

[email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Stiles from Photography Stiles and Lens and Light to explore what it really means to build community in the creative world. We talk about the power of vulnerability in leadership, the value of sharing knowledge instead of guarding it, and how blending different photography genres can spark unexpected growth. Chris shares how Lens and Light fosters a culture of emotional intelligence, collaboration, and curiosity—helping photographers grow not just in skill, but in mindset.

https://photographystiles.com/

https://www.instagram.com/photography.stiles/

https://lensandlightct.com/

Key Topics:

• Leadership through vulnerability: How admitting you don’t know everything fosters safer, more collaborative environments.
• Niche up, not down: Why Lens and Light intentionally blends photography genres to encourage unexpected skill-sharing.
• Community over competition: Shedding ego to build a culture where everyone grows through knowledge-sharing.

Takeaways:

• The most successful communities are built on openness, not gatekeeping.
• Cross-discipline conversations spark innovation and skill advancement.
• Everyone has something valuable to teach—and to learn—regardless of their niche or experience level.

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

[email protected]

This week, we sit down with the vibrant and passionate Lexy Silverstein from re/make to talk all things sustainable fashion. From Gen Z’s take on shopping habits to the blurry line between genuine sustainability and savvy marketing, this episode dives into the real stories behind the clothes we wear. Lexy brings her expertise, humor, and a no-BS perspective to topics like thrifting, greenwashing, and how fast fashion has reshaped the way we talk about clothing.

https://www.instagram.com/lexysilverstein/ https://elexyfy.com/ https://remake.world/

Key Topics:

• Why Gen Z shops fast fashion—and how we can redirect the narrative
• The difference between being sustainable and just sounding sustainable
• Marketing, manipulation, and why we’re all walking billboards

Takeaways:

• You don’t have to be perfect to care about sustainability
• Fast fashion created “slow fashion”—but we don’t need labels to care
• Everything is marketing, and it’s shaping how we think more than we realize

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

[email protected]

Welcome to our short-form series, Moving The Needle. We know not everyone has time for one-hour episodes so in Moving The Needle, we have a conversation about a current event or topic.

You've heard our opposing opinions about social media in The Fabric of America episodes. In this episode of Moving The Needle, we focus solely on our debate if social media is another thing to do for small business owners, or is it part of the business.

Melissa @ deMelis Atelier https://demelisatelier.com/

Matt @ Bards https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story

[email protected]