How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fits

In episode 61, longtime friends and Co-Founders Danny Burke and Brandon Winslow talk about how they dream big and work to achieve it. They share the story of their 7-years-in-the-making luxury streetwear brand MADE FOR ALL, the wins and challenges of running a brand, and what they’ve learned about entrepreneurship and each other along the way.  MADE FOR ALL Co-Founder and Head of Strategy Dan...

In episode 60, sustainable fashion business school founder & CEO Shannon Lohr shares insights, practical tips, and marketing and mindset wisdom for starting a sustainable fashion brand based on her years of experience coaching successful fashion entrepreneurs through her Factory45 program. As the Founder & CEO of Factory45, Shannon Lohr works with idea-stage entrepreneurs to launch fashion...

In episode 59, Natalia Pavanelli brings us into her poetic exploration of the whimsy of little moments through her romantic, cottagecore brand Wandwoods. Her storytelling, industry experience, and purpose weave a captivating tale in this episode about chasing dreams and the realities of fashion entrepreneurship. “I am a Brazillian-Canadian fashion designer with a passion for prints, beauty and old...

In episode 58, master clothing craftsman Keti McKenna tells the story of her fashion career from recently-immigrated geophysicist in NYC in the 1990s, to seamstress, to patternmaker at designer brands, and finally founder of her own high-end suiting brand Ketivani. Keti's original career was as a geophysicist, but she always had a love of fashion and sewing since she was a little girl growing up i...

In episode 57, the owner of Canadian slow fashion brand Betty x Bow, Allison Kittle, shares how she combines comfort, versatility, and feminine flair to create thoughtful, elevated basics. Her pieces do it all, and so does she - Allison balances a full-time nursing career with operating Betty x Bow.  “My name is Allison Kittle, I am the owner and operator of Betty x Bow (pronounced Betty and...

In episode 56, Anna Dougherty shares her story of belonging as she developed - and recently launched - her NYC-locally made wool outerwear collection - Anna Gray Collection. Hear how her background in outerwear wholesale and the street she grew up on as a child came together in her launch collection. Anna Dougherty is a New York City based designer who founded Anna Gray Collection, a women's outer...

In episode 55, Laura Fisher of Revivall Clothing encourages us to slow down and get in touch with our values, our clothes, and the land around us. She shares the windy path (including a degree in Animal Science) that led her to start Revivall in 2009 and how she’s built the brand to “revive all clothing and materials”. From Laura: “I am inspired by the women of the Wild West and the bygone era of...

In episode 54, Dana Todd, the founder of custom-made fashion marketplace Balodana, shares how she started the business after a successful career as CMO and tech start-up founder. Dana talks about how tech-based, made-to-measure, on-demand clothing is the bright future of apparel manufacturing and our closets.  Dana Todd is a 3-time founder, recovering CMO, and digital innovation pioneer with...

You’ve heard of fashion made with recycled polyester, but have you heard of fashion made with recycled flowers? In episode 53, Melissa Hargus Pierce gives us a glimpse into the creative and scientific natural dyeing process of Soul Studio - the sustainable, slow fashion brand she started with her mom.  Soul Studio is a Natural Dye House and Slow Fashion Label founded by Melissa Hargus Pierce...

In episode 52, discover how Claire Thomas-Morgan weaves exploration and imagination into her high-end childrenswear line Vivi Design Studio and how her business has grown into its unique identity over the years. Claire Thomas-Morgan started out in fashion in the early 2000s, earning her BFA in fashion design from Washington University in St. Louis and MFA in fashion merchandising from Academy of A...

In episode 51, Miranda Sam walks us through her decision to discover a new side of fashion by learning industrial sewing before starting her fashion brand made specifically for short women -  Shortlisted. Discover how the experience is changing the way she views fashion!  "When we talk about body inclusivity these days, we’re most likely talking about normalizing plus size. What tends to...

Join me for this special episode 50 as I chat with three of my fellow patternmaker and product developer friends about how you can develop fashion that fits your customer, lifestyle, and values. We share our best industry tips and expert advice on making clothes that really fit - and building best practices for your brand and business whether you are just starting out or are leveling up an establi...

In episode 49, Erika Neumayer Ehrat shares how she’s built a niche business - Rare Dirndl -  creating fashion-forward styles that still honor traditions to help American women celebrate German culture. "I started Rare Dirndl in 2010 because, as an active member of the German community in Chicago, I was so disappointed to see that Germany's dirndl designs were lightyears ahead of the designs c...

In episode 48, Ashley Alt shares her story of how getting dressed helped her feel more like herself after a time of difficult mental health, and how she’s now started a fashion brand, Valt, to help other women do the same and find joy in dressing up. Ashley is a writer + fashion designer based in Connecticut. Her written work has been featured in Forbes, POPSUGAR, and many more, where she discusse...

In episode 47, Morgan Shapero shares how after over 20 years working as a designer in NYC, she relaunched her own brand Shapero in 2021 - and how that experience provides both freedom to design and do business her own way as well as new skills that help her in her day job. Morgan Shapero is an industry veteran, working as a fashion designer for over 16 years in New York. Born and raised in Vancouv...

In episode 46, Sharae Averhart, the designer and business owner behind the plus-size petite fashion brand MoraRae, shares the role fashion has played in her life and career and how through all her experience, she has learned to approach fashion design with compassion, empathy, and problem solving. Hi! I'm Sharae, the owner and designer behind the petite plus size, sustainable womenswear line, Mora...

In episode 45, Nathalie, the founder of Dressarte Paris, shares how a busy lifestyle and an appreciation for custom-made clothes sparked the idea for a virtual atelier built on modern technology that connects clients all over the world with quality materials and bespoke designs. Having worked as an international corporate auditor for a French company and lived across 5 different countries, Nathali...

In this special solo episode, I (Alison Hoenes) share five things I've learned about running a fashion business on the 5th anniversary of Alison Hoenes Design. I’m celebrating AHD's 5th birthday the whole month of June with some exciting updates, new products, and more to help you get your designs to production with confidence and grow a fashion business that fits your customer, lifestyle, and val...

In episode 43, Olivia Mason of Olly Designs talks about how her background as a ballerina and her love of fashion combine to create functional yet beautiful fashion that does it all. Olivia has a degree in Ballet, Minor in business, and an associates degree in Fashion design. All of these things have led her to create her line Olly, which caters to women on the go who love fashion and feminine det...

In episode 42, Nazia Siddiqui of Transcend shares her vision for a new normal for the fashion industry focused on ethical, sustainable, and artisan crafted clothes that puts the people at every level of the production chain at the forefront. In this episode, you’ll learn: How growing up in India influenced how Nazia sees fashion The regional differences between fashion industry skill-sets and text...

In episode 41, Lucy Murray of the streetwear brand Luluna shares how a stressful job and complete hair loss led her to start sewing - and then start her own fashion brand. Lucy is the Founder, Designer and Creator of Luluna - an ethical brand for fun, quirky clothing. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Lucy started sewing as a hobby when she was a full-time nurse How her hobby turned into a busine...

In episode 40, Victoria Cates gives us a peek into the creative dollhouse of her whimsical, vintage-inspired slow fashion brand: Potion23.  Victoria Cates, Owner and Designer of Potion23, was born and raised in New York, earned a degree in fashion design at the Beverly Hills Design Institute in Los Angeles, and now calls St. Louis home. Victoria’s love for vintage fashion and passion for art...

In episode 39, Rachel Thebault and Neda Talebian Funk, the co-founders of Woodley + Lowe, talk about how they keep it cute, comfortable, and socially conscious for their inclusive and sustainable Gen Z fashion brand. Neda Talebian Funk comes from a background in start-ups, fitness and retail companies. She began her career as an equity research analyst for Bear Stearns, covering the retail industr...

In episode 38, Marquita Chanel of L’Vena Collection shares how she curates her brand image and makes a statement with her handmade jewelry and refashioned vintage creations while staying true to who she is. Marquita Chanel is the owner of Intended Images, LLC which focuses on bringing out the very best in women in regards to image, self-presentation, and personal style. Her clientele consists of w...

In episode 37, Laura Briggs talks about the fun, work, challenges, and rewards of starting her petite fashion brand, The Shortlist, without any fashion industry experience.  The Shortlist creates gorgeous, limited edition fashion exclusively for petites. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Laura went from not even knowing how clothes were made to running a fashion brand What Laura did before s...