Clothing Coulture

Explore the fascinating world of retail math with Clothing Coulture hosts Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker. This episode delves into vital metrics and practices for growing a successful apparel business, including sales forecasting, week's supply, and the power of core basics in your assortment. Tune in to understand how numbers can inform better buying decisions and contribute to a sustainable futur...

In this episode of Clothing Culture, host Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker are joined by Michael Lode, an expert in the fashion industry with a deep understanding of manufacturing in China. They discuss the strengths of Chinese manufacturing, including quick turnaround times and a wide range of available materials. They also address the challenges and misconceptions surrounding manufacturing in China...

In this episode of Clothing Coulture, host Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane interviews Stuart Trevor, founder of All Saints and the namesake brand Stuart Trevor. They discuss Stuart's journey in the fashion industry, from starting All Saints to his current venture focused on sustainability. Stuart shares his insights on the challenges of the industry and his innovative approach to upcycling and custo...

Join hosts Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane as they recap their experience at the World Retail Congress 2024. They discuss the hot topics of AI, bracketing, carbon neutrality, disruption, eco-friendliness, and geopolitical variables. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the fashion industry. With insights from industry experts and disruptors, this episode provides a gli...

Former CEO of Conde Nast in Latin America and Mexico, Eva Hughes, joins Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane to discuss her experiences as a woman in leadership and the challenges she faced in a male-dominated industry. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, personal growth, and confidence. Eva shares insights on managing personal and professional life, embracing uncertainty, and the power of v...

Join Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker as they dive into the entrepreneurial journey of fashion legend Stuart Weitzman. From his early days as a designer to building a legacy business, Weitzman shares the twists and turns, good decisions and bad decisions, that led to his success. Discover how he found inspiration outside of the industry, the importance of staying relevant, and the lessons he learned...

In this first episode of Clothing Coulture season 4, hosts Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker explore the human process behind garment manufacturing. They discuss the hundreds of millions of people involved in the industry and the various stages of production, from fiber to fabric to garment creation. Despite advancements, they emphasize the importance of appreciating the human touch and the imperfecti...

In the final episode of the 3rd season, hosts CEO of Stars Design Group , Bret Schnitker , and CSO, Emily Lane discuss the fashion industry's future, focusing on the trends and innovations expected in 2024 and beyond. They delve into various topics, including the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on design and marketing, geopolitical and global conditions affecting the industry, and evolving...

WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) is an independent certification program that promotes safe and ethical manufacturing conditions. They conduct audits and provide certifications to factories around the world. In this episode,  Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane sit down with Avedis Seferian, President and CEP of WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), to discuss the importa...

Hosts Stars Design Group , CEO Bret Schnitker and CSO Emily Lane discuss fabric care and the importance of following care instructions. The conversation explores the default decision on fabric care, the general rules of thumb for different fabrics, and new technologies that enhance the performance of fabrics.

"Underbuy or Overbuy, you never buy the right amount" is a saying Stars Design Group CEO Bret Schnitker uses when talking about maximizing profitability in fashion buying. Hosts Bret Schnitker and CSO Emily Lane discuss the challenges of overbuying and underbuying in the fashion industry. They emphasize the importance of analyzing sales data and using retail math to determine the right amount of i...

Garment dyes and finishes can be applied to garments to enhance their look and feel. CEO of Stars Design Group, Bret Schnitker , and CSO Emily Lane discuss the topic of fabric dyeing in this episode of Clothing Coulture. They explore different types of dyestuffs and how they are used for various fabrics. They also touch on the challenges of dyeing, such as water and energy usage, and the environme...

Uniforms can be an opportunity for companies to showcase their brand and values while creating stylish and comfortable uniforms that employees enjoy wearing. In this episode of Clothing Coulture, host Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker explore the evolution of uniforms - from solely being a means of identifying employees, to being more fashionable and stylish. Additional benefits of uniforms extend bey...

No one likes wrinkled clothing, except for linen, which is in a category of its own. When it comes to apparel manufacturing there are many ways to reduce or eliminate wrinkles in clothing. In this episode, Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker and Chief Strategy Officer Emily Lane , discuss how wrinkle ratings are visually determined, their impact on fabric longevity, and the evolving landscape o...

Successful apparel manufacturing is all about creating efficiencies. This applies to every aspect of the production process, including designing, planning, sourcing, and manufacturing. In this episode, Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker and Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Lane , discuss technical design efficiencies with Annie Cohen , Consultant Director of Technical Design at SDG. Learn: How pa...

A lot is changing with apparel manufacturing in India. Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker and Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Lane , recently visited the country to visit our two offices and meet with our factory partners. Along the way they saw manufacturing changes. In this episode, they discuss how the country is embracing more sustainable methods of production and how it is learning into syn...

There are many factors that impact apparel manufacturing, from proximity and type of raw materials to factory size and the skill level of the work force. Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker , has spent decades in the fashion industry and has first hand experience working with garment factories all over the globe.   In this episode, Schnitker sits down with Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Lane , t...

Everyone has been feeling the impact of inflation for more than a year. Consumers are dealing with rising costs, while businesses and industries navigate rising wages and raw material costs. In this episode, CEO Bret Schnitker , and Chief Strategy Officer Emily Lane , discuss the key components of inflation impacting the apparel industry in 2023 and how brands can navigate these challenges. (Recor...

Manufacturing in China seems to be on everyone's mind these days. Increasing political tensions, the U.S. ban on cotton from the Xinjiang region, COVID restrictions and previous delays with shipping are all causing concern. In this episode of the Clothing Coulture podcast, CEO Bret Schnitker and Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Lane answer the top 3 questions Stars Design Group receives on a weekly b...

Companies with apparel programs need to be mindful of all areas of fashion production to ensure every process is working effectively. When one component is not functioning properly, it affects the entire apparel program and ultimately profitability. To fix a problem, you first have to identify it, which can sometimes be difficult and may require a different perspective.   In this episode, Stars De...

Little decisions throughout the development of a garment can have a big impact on the quality of the end product, without significantly impacting the cost. In this episode of the Clothing Coulture podcast, Stars Design Group CEO Bret Schnitker , and Chief Strategy Officer Emily Lane discuss how everything from fiber selection to the type of stitch on a button and labels can elevate clothing qualit...

As consumers become more dependent on phones and devices, the shift to online shopping is increasing, causing challenges for apparel retailers. But there are new technologies that can help improve the situation, by adding transparency and understanding to the process. In this episode of Clothing Coulture, Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker and Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Lane talk to Whitney...

A thoughtful and insightful conversation with Gabi Asfour, Founder and Creative Director of threeASFOUR and faculty member for the MFA programs at Parson's School of Design and FIT. In this episode, Asfour discusses how science, culture and technology are merging in fascinating ways to enhance fashion education and the industry as a whole. In this discussion with Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schni...

Using apparel is an inexpensive way to build brand awareness. With a $7 t-shirt the cost per impression breaks down to 2/10 of one cent.   But for established brands, apparel can go beyond t-shirts, hoodies and caps, into apparel programs which can lead to brand extensions that can increase revenue. In this episode Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker, and Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Lane disc...

Technology, and supply chain transparency as it relates to sustainability, are shifting all areas of the fashion industry. New organic components and recycled materials are being used to create innovative new textiles, health-monitoring technology is being added into garments, and clothing is being produced in a more eco-friendly manner. In this episode, Stars Design Group CEO, Bret Schnitker , an...