Advance Copy

A two-part conversation with Natasha Mead, a New Zealand-based Art Director and Founder of 1of1 Studio . She is the mastermind behind some of today’s most referenced visual identities across independent fashion, lifestyle, skincare, interior and hospitality companies. Her collaborators and projects include: Lesse, Binu Binu, F. Miller, Reome, Baina, J. Hannah, Anyone Girl, Moon Lists.  In Part 1 o...

Preview of Radical Refinement : a paid workshop on how to define a brand philosophy to see you through a turbulent market reality and beyond. Purchase the full workshop here .  DESIGNED FOR: Brand-owners & aspiring brand-owners Decision-makers in fashion & creative industries Branding, marketing and copywriting experts TOPICS: Why it’s important to set a strong philosophy now Are your brand values...

A preview of an uncut workshop with the Los Angeles-based designer, Jess Hannah . Recorded in London in May 2024 and joined online by 10 diverse business owners, we discussed Jess's decade of learnings with her brand, J.Hannah, and reflected on mindful growth, de-growth, and “honest capitalism.” Become a paid Apple Subscriber to enjoy the full conversation, Episode 28 . Topics A decade of opportun...

To mark 2024 Melbourne Design Week and the release of Advance Copy’s book, Growing Independent Fashion Brands , the iconic Australian fashion designer Lee Mathews and publisher and creative director Beth Wilkinson , gathered a small group of fashion industry insiders and admirers of the brand for an intimate conversation. In this characteristically frank reflection, Lee delved into her founding pr...

Carmen de Baets reflects on how she met her husband and business partner Joris ter Meulen Swijtink, establishing their guest house, shop and kitchen Carmen Amsterdam and the much respected visual signature of their company. Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-production & editing: Mark Smith Music & post-production: Emmanuel...

Casa Shop's Emi Moore and Jacqueline Davis, reflect on how their paths crossed, the company's trajectory since its establishment in 2016 and the origin of their distinct Instagram aesthetic. With a little help of a marine biologist, we’ll also talk about how the definition of “development” has been misunderstood and why “less is better” best symbolises Casa Shop’s idea of growth. Guests Emi Moore...

Baserange founders Marie-Louise Mogensen and Blandine Legait set out to provide women with underwear which didn’t dictate or restrict their bodies. Since 2012, this intention has set Baserange on an unprecedented trajectory, constantly pushing the fashion industry’s preconceptions to build one of the most authentic and courageous ready-to-wear brands. In this two-part conversation Marie explains h...

ArtEZ University teachers, Hanka van der Voet and Chet Bugter, discuss their recent open source paper: A Fruiting Body Of Collective Labour: Working Towards A De-Hierarchised System For Fashion Education. The document looks to the collaborative world of fungi and mycelium networks to find inspiration for de-hierarchised models of fashion education. We’ll learn how lichen networks influenced their...

Palo Studios is a multi-division company comprising of a wholesale agency, a brand, and a creative production agency all under one ethically minded umbrella of its founder, Cassie Rose Ebner. Every collaborator of Palo Studios is driven by positivity and well-being thus creating a new template for working in fashion. We talk to Cassie about the critical moment when the grasp of the classic wholesa...

Family-run womenswear brand Muse demonstrates how ambition, conscious values and a personal touch can draw unexpected paths to building a fashion company. Founder, Christine Kourim is a natural self-starter and a life-long creator of fashion. When she attempted to sell her high-quality garments at a Melbourne market stall the success was immediate prompting Christine to enlist the help of her daug...

St Rose founder, Belinda Smith, saw a space in the fragrance market for a conscious, luxurious and long-wearing fragrance brand rooted in the art of nature, and set out to steer the industry towards a transparent and gentler future. We speak to Belinda about the realities of crafting your own brand and why giving back and looking at things holistically is key to the sustainability conversation. Gu...

Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya, co-founders of Delhi-based NorBlack NorWhite , discuss how India's rich textile heritage instantly caught their attention, why the trade show format didn’t work for their brand, and how they grew NorBlack NorWhite to being a cultural platform and creative studio.  This conversation is available to enjoy as a written piece on advance-copy.com . Share your thoughts on...

Strategic brand management consultant Thalia Tserevegou established TT CoLLECTIVE to share her holistic vision with a multitude of value-aligned fashion brands. She takes us through her learnings on how to build modern, conscious fashion companies in an ever-more turbulent market and shares with us the moment she decided to step back and pursue more balance and purpose.    This conversation is ava...

Babaà is a family-owned knitwear brand. From organic cotton farmers in the south of Spain, the shepherds and yarn spinners in the north, and the multi-generational factory in Barcelona to the brand’s hub in Madrid; babaà’s founder Marta Bahillo is a champion of the Spanish knitwear industry. We speak with Marta about her unique value system, decision to focus on direct-to-consumer and supporting e...

Desert Vintage stands out with its graceful nomadic style and a contemporary point of view. Co-owners Salima Boufelfel and Roberto Cowan discuss their introduction to the world of vintage and the twist of fate that led them to inherit a much-cherished local business. Speaking from the store’s hometown Tucson, Arizona and New York, they reflect on the multitude of skills it takes to reinvent a busi...

With precisely engineered handbags made using state-of-the-art Italian craftsmanship, Advene has grown steadily since launch thanks to close relationships with its customers and mentors. We speak to the brand's founders, Yijia Wang and Zi Xuan.  This conversation is available to enjoy as a written piece on advance-copy.com . Share your thoughts on this story and join our community of independent t...

Artisanal soap brand ORRIS is rooted in holistic plant-based practices and artistic collaborations. Questioning their careers in fashion the founders, Lani Le Berre and Kenneth Koo, acted on an instinct and created a series of cold-pressed soaps that truly serve our skin. We look at how independent brands can pave the way for sustainable business models, tackle issues of waste and resist the press...

South Africa native Lukhanyo Mdingi started his namesake fashion label in 2015, growing a creative universe dedicated to human relationships ever since. We discuss the importance of love and patience in establishing a purposeful fashion brand. Guest: Lukhanyo Mdingi    Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-production & editing: Mar...

Boutique skincare brand ROWSE deconstructs complicated lotions and unrealistic advertising to bring customers natural ingredients in their purest form. Speaking from Spain, CEO Gabriela Salord and Creative Director Nuria Val share their approach to building a dynamic beauty company and explain how entrepreneurial ambition can benefit nature, people and creativity. Guests: Gabriela Salord and Nuria...

Dutch womenswear label CAES is Helen de Kluiver's exploration of slow fashion. The brand was realised from Helen's reflection on personal values and professional experiences in fast fashion. We look back on the moment when Helen took a leap of faith to pursue her vision and how CAES strives to represent ethical standards above archaic expectations of the fashion industry. Guest: CAES , Helen de Kl...

Claudia and Isabella del Olmo and long-time collaborator Cécile Denis imagined a modern European guest house and artist residency in Casa Balandra. We discuss multiculturalism, creativity, relationships and moments of indulgence. Guest: Casa Balandra , Claudia and Isabella del Olmo, Cécile Denis   Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-...

Arnsdorf is a robust womenswear label comprised of an atelier, online store and bricks and mortar boutique. Founder, Jade Sarita Arnott talks about the importance of designing new processes and not being afraid to cross industry barriers. Guest: Arnsdorf , Jade Sarita Arnott   Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-production & edit...

Austin Austin is a British line of organic body care products crafted by the father and daughter duo Richard and Bessie Austin. We discuss integrity, longevity, and the value of social media in growing a thoughtful brand. Guest: Austin Austin , Richard and Bessie Austin Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-production & editing: Ma...

Badaam is the embodiment of its founder Priyanka Kaul’s multi-faceted character and her wide-reaching interests. We talk about juggling two careers, the long-awaited rise of multi-cultural fashion designers and India's unmatched knowledge of natural fabrics. Guest: Priyanka Kaul , Badaam   Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-producti...

Ilse Cornelissens, co-owner of lifestyle boutique and restaurant Graanmarkt 13 , shares how a moral and financial decision to step away from discounting fashion freed up both physical and mental space to question how one becomes  a better retail business.  Guest: Graanmarkt 13 , Ilse Cornelissens Welcome to Advance Copy:  Consulting Membership Book Instagram Substack Website Newsletter Post-p...