Scandinavian MIND

In this episode, Konrad Olsson speaks with Stefan Ilkovics, an AI and creativity expert working across fashion, beauty, and luxury. Stefan is currently Creative Director and AI & Innovation Lead at Puig, and co-founder of the generative AI studio Naughty Society. Over the years, he has worked with brands including Cartier, Hermès, A.P.C., Chanel, Saint Laurent, Dior, Nike, and H&M. The con...

In this episode, we speak with Per Ljungberg, Head of D-Congress, about the evolution of the Nordic region’s largest tech trade show for fashion and retail. Ljungberg explains why the event is expanding beyond its original focus on e-commerce and retail technology to include branding, culture, and creativity. He also shares the thinking behind this year’s theme and the introduction of a music...

We speak with Lisa Bergstrand about why sustainability has slipped down the priority list for many brands, what actually happened with EU regulations, and why traceability has become the central issue for the industry. Lisa Bergstrand is the founder of Bergstrand Consulting and has worked with fashion and textile brands on sustainability strategy since 2017. With a background in design and product...

Jacob Lovén is a Swedish tech writer, co-founder of the advisory firm The Perspective, and host of the Retail All-Stars Podcast. In this conversation, we revisit NRF Week in New York and the ongoing industry debate around agentic AI. During NRF, Löfven hosted a series of live podcast sessions at the official residence of the Swedish Consul General on Park Avenue, featuring leaders from Paul Smith,...

This is the third episode of Retail Eye-Openers, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with Impulso. The series explores how data sharing and retailer partnerships drive sell-through and reduce overstock. In this conversation, Konrad Olsson speaks with Andreas Weitkamp, fifth-generation owner of Schnitzler in Münster, about what genuine partnershi...

Ben Botas explains how fashion agencies are evolving from sales intermediaries to data-driven partners that align brands and retailers around shared insights and sell-through performance. This is the second episode of Retail Eye-Openers, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with Impulso. The series explores how data sharing and retailer partnerships drive sell-through and reduce o...

We speak with Oskar Rundqvist, co-founder and CEO of eComID, about the shift from search-and-filter to conversational discovery, why “the interface becomes the store,” and how brands can retain data, loyalty, and margins with on-site AI agents. AI is changing how people shop. With large language models introducing in-feed browsing and even checkout, customer journeys risk completing off-site. eCom...

This is the first episode of Retail Eye-Openers, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with Impulso. The series explores how data sharing and retailer partnerships drive sell-through and reduce overstock. In this conversation, Konrad Olsson speaks with Morten Kristiansen, Chief Commercial Officer at the Danish fashion brand Les Deux, about how the company builds its growth on close...

We speak with Fashionlab co-founder Lisa Bagge about how AI is changing image production in fashion — from e-commerce photography to campaigns — and how it can help brands move faster while reducing returns and overproduction. We discuss how brands are adopting new tools across their workflows, from product pages to lookbooks, and how smaller labels can now produce high-quality visuals with limite...

At Transformation Conference Stockholm, C&A and Markmi shared how AI-driven pricing helps fashion retailers optimise markdowns, protect margins, and adapt faster to changing market conditions. In this conversation, we speak with Laurent Mainil, Founder of Markmi, and Markus Krenn, Head of Commercial Planning & Operations at C&A Europe, about how their collaboration uses artificial inte...

As AI tools become more embedded in creative workflows, what happens to intuition, craft, and authorship? In this behind-the-scenes episode, we discuss recent articles and interviews published by Scandinavian MIND. The conversation touches on emerging design practices like vibe coding, the rise (and limits) of prompting, and why Nordic creatives continue to emphasise human-centric strategy. In thi...

We revisit a panel from the latest Transformation Conference in Copenhagen, where we spoke to three industry leaders shaping how fashion brands and retailers use data to improve planning, reduce waste, and boost profitability  We speak with: Anna-Karin Holck, Country Retail Manager, Bestseller. Morten Kristiansen, CCO, Les Deux. Daniel Di Benedetto, Regional Director Euro North, Centric Softw...

We speak with Kieran Long, director of Amos Rex in Helsinki. After leading the architecture and design museum ArkDes in Stockholm and the design department at the V&A museum in London, Kieran Long now heads one of the most progressive institutions in the Nordics. Amos Rex in Helsinki In this conversation, recorded during Fashion in Helsinki, we talk about: Why fashion is more than clothes, it’...

We speak with Lauren Crichton, Director of Marketing at Sana, about their recent AI Summit – one of the most important tech events in the Nordics. The event gathered leading thinkers on the global AI scene, and Lauren was at the center as the host and moderator.   In this episode we discuss: Sana’s mission of empowering knowledge How organisations need to foster a safe environment for AI...

In the second episode of our double release, we shift focus to the brand and technology side of the transparency conversation. What does it really take to implement data-driven sustainability? How can fashion and outdoor brands use traceability to not only comply with regulation—but to create new business models and consumer experiences? This panel explores best practices, hard-earned lessons, and...

This is the first of two episodes from our recent Transformation Talks in Stockholm. We dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of EU legislation and what it means for international fashion and textile businesses.  We speak with: Hege Schøyen, Partner, Frøya Ventures Staffan Olsson, Head of Public Affairs, GS1 Sweden Magnus Nikkarinen, Senior Policy Director, Swedish Commerce (Svensk Handel)...

We speak to renowned photographer and magazine editor Rankin about his latest project Faik Off, an exhibition and magazine that explores the ethical, creative, and existential implications of artificial intelligence in photography. We discussed: The making of Faik Off, a 420-page AI-powered magazine exploring art, ethics, and identity. Why Rankin describes working with AI as “dirty, exciting, and...

We revisit yesterday’s Transformation Talks in Borås, where we discussed transparency and long-term supplier relationships are creating new business value for workwear and outdoor brands.  On stage was • Fanny Ekholm , CSR Manager at Didriksons • Ann Carlsson , CSR & Environment Manager at Blåkläder • Sara M. Rakstang , Founder & CEO of Repass We discussed. Long-term supplier relation...

We sit down with Marcus Hartmann, Regional Head of Sustainability & Public Affairs at H&M North Europe, to unpack the fashion giant’s most recent sustainability report — and the company’s evolving strategy for reducing its environmental footprint. In this conversation, we discuss the realities behind overproduction, the promise and limits of resale, and why transparency is both a communica...

We speak to Staffan Olsson, Head of Public Affairs at GS1, about the recent developments in EU legislation affecting the textile industry, particularly following the introduction of the Omnibus Simplification Package in February 2025. What does this all mean?   We speak to Staffan about: How the Omibus package affects key legislative frameworks CSRD and CSDDD  How relaxations in reportin...

We are speaking with Achim Berg, founder of FashionSIGHTS, about the role of AI and technology in the fashion system, fashion as a wealth generator, and his advice to Nordic premium brands.  FashionSIGHTS is an independent corporate think tank that aims to redefine thought leadership and advisory by transforming data, experience, and expertise into actionable insights. Achim is already an est...

We record directly from the biggest retail events in the Nordics, D-Congress in Gothenburg, where we have hosted several panel talks and arranged our first exclusive round table discussion with leaders from retail, fashion and the tech industry.  Hosts: Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-chief and founder, Scandinavian MIND Linda Pimmeshofer, Founder, Change Retail — Scandinavian MIND is a media platfo...

We explore how AI is transforming marketing, why brand books need to be rewritten for an AI-driven world, and what businesses must do to stay relevant as automation reshapes content creation and design. In today’s episode, we dive into the latest developments in AI-driven marketing and what they mean for brands, designers, and content creators. What happens when marketing activities are no longer...

We are speaking with Erik Vikander, co-founder and CEO of Wilgot, an AI-guided marketing platform that is redefining how content is created and scaled in the era of AI search. In this episode we talk about: How AI is disrupting the traditional search model. Why brands need to adapt to new consumer search behaviors How investing in content can improve marketing effectiveness And why the role of cre...

We are speaking to Anna Felländer, founder of Anch AI, an ethical AI governance platform that helps companies comply with EU regulations and avoid risks when using AI in their businesses. In this conversation, we talk about: The risks and opportunities of implementing generative AI in the fashion industry. Why the societal implications of AI are becoming more critical. How regulation can provide c...