The Business of Apparel

Mastering Love and Fear While Building a Brand with Headspace Design Lab Founder, Simon Fisher In this episode, Rachel wanders through the intriguing maze of brand creation and scaling with her past mentor, the seasoned Simon Fisher. The voyage unveils Simon's trials with corporate restructuring, illuminating the pivotal decisions that sculpted his journey. We explore his unique New Year's resolut...

Behind The Scenes On Apparel Industry Work Travel In this episode, Rachel takes us on an enlightening journey, from Istanbul's bustling bazaars, through Northern Italy's serene landscapes, to Southeast Asia's vibrant streets, all while navigating the world of apparel. Hear Rachel's firsthand account of working with international manufacturers to create the perfect Abercrombie and Fitch leather jac...

Unearthing Sustainability and Innovation in the Apparel Industry In this episode, Rachel unearths the hidden facets of sustainability in the apparel industry with us! She reveals the unsaid truth about the sample process and you'll be surprised to learn how much these samples contribute to landfill waste!  We're going to dissect the potential of repair systems and their ability to reduce discarded...

Breaking Down The Intricacies of SKU Rationalization with Merchandising Expert Sarah White In this episode, Rachel chats with Sarah White, a seasoned buyer and merchandiser. Sarah provides us with an insider's look into the world of merchandising, giving us valuable insights into the nitty-gritty from product selection to pricing management. Discover how the art of merchandising shapes the lifecyc...

Exploring Size Inclusivity and Redefining Standards in the Apparel Industry In this episode, Rachel prepares you to have your perspective shifted as we shine a bright light on the murky world of apparel size inclusivity and standards. You're about to understand why you could be a size 12 in one shop and a size 16 in another, as we expose the vanity sizing issue and the wild inconsistencies between...

Redefining Success on a Journey of Personal and Professional Growth In this episode, Rachel recounts her journey of how she learned to redefine success after losing two major contracts in early 2023.   She goes into detail about the struggles and anxiety she felt after feeling like she was in a great place in her business, the books that helped her work through different processes, and how going t...

Transforming Dreams Into A Thriving Brand with Conquest Works CEO, Parker Coppins In this episode, Rachel chats with Parker Coppins, the CEO of Conquest Works and they delve into the art of custom packaging, discuss strategies that turn first-time buyers into repeat customers, and give a fresh spin on how to make corporate apparel captivating. But it's not all about the products. We also take a ha...

The Top 5 Things I Wish I Knew Sooner In The Apparel Industry In this episode, Rachel reveals the secrets to career growth in the apparel industry, as she shares her personal journey and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way. From her time at the University of Cincinnati's Co-op Program to internships in graphic design, merchandising, and technical design, she'll guide you through the v...

Behind the Scenes of Product Development in the Apparel Industry with Jessica Ledin, Part 2 In this episode, Rachel continues the conversation with Jessica Ledin where they get into the unique issues within the apparel industry, such as the passionate opinions of those involved and the constraints of capital and upper management. They also discuss the pressures product developers face and the impa...

Behind the Scenes of Product Development in the Apparel Industry with Jessica Ledin, Part 1 In this episode, Rachel sits down with good friend and fellow industry veteran, Jessica Ledin, to uncover the often underappreciated role of apparel product developers. We'll take you on a journey through our experiences in design, production, product management, costing, and more, revealing the critical pa...

The Secrets to Successful Garment Fittings in Your Apparel Business In this episode, Rachel dives into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to run a successful garment fitting. Rachel reveals important protocols she recommends and the critical role each person plays in the fitting. She also opens up on how to efficiently fit and pin garments, engage with fit models, and what tools to bring, plus, lea...

Transforming Connection in the Fashion World with the Fashion Index In this episode, Rachel talks to Marge and Tirsa, co-owners of the Fashion Index, as they share their path from college roommates to fashion industry revolutionaries. Uncover the power of friendship and the importance of internships in shaping their experiences, and learn how their platform is transforming the way small businesses...

Decoding Apparel Industry Jargon: A Comprehensive Guide to Industry Terminology and Acronyms In this episode, Rachel breaks down the meaning behind acronyms and terms widely used in the apparel industry like AOP, CMT, Grading, MOQ, and many more. Fear not, we'll help you understand these terms and their importance in the quality of your fabric, garments, and overall product construction and fittin...

Empowering Women and Sustainability in Outdoor Apparel with Alpine Fit Founder, Jen Loofbourrow In this episode, Rachel brings in Alpine Fit founder, Jen Loofbourrow to explore the challenges and successes of starting a clothing manufacturing business in Alaska, from Jen's determination to own her own facility to how Jen approached a fiber supplier to make her dream come true. Finally, Rachel and...

Create Your Business Plan: From Startup To Success In The Apparel Industry In this episode, Rachel shares her personal journey of founding Unmarked Street and the invaluable lessons she has learned along the way. From the importance of crafting a robust business plan to leveraging contractor dollars and fit education, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips for aspiring entrepreneu...

Mastering the Entrepreneur Mindset with Chelsea VanBuskirk In this episode, Rachel talks to Chelsea VanBuskirk, an accountability partner, fellow female entrepreneur, and podcaster. Chelsea shares her incredible journey of self-discovery, which began in the fitness world before transitioning to the realm of mindset and spirituality. They discuss the importance of taking our time and slowing down,...

Designing to a Cost In this episode, Rachel shares her experiences as a development and product manager in the apparel industry, focusing on the importance of collaboration between product management, design, and development teams when designing to a cost. We'll also unravel the complexities of FOB pricing and target costs, teaching you how to use them effectively when crafting a design brief. Lea...

Building a Supportive Community for Fashion Entrepreneurs with Sandra Mateu In this episode, Rachel had the pleasure of talking with Sandra about the importance of building a supportive community for fashion entrepreneurs. Sandra shares her journey of starting a Facebook group for fashion entrepreneurs that has grown into a thriving community of designers, stylists, and many more in the fashion in...

In this episode, Rachel takes you through her passion regarding the need for more options in continuing education within the apparel industry.   She describes her own experiences with feeling like there were points when she could have used continuing education to further her career in a shorter time span as well as her desire to help those either coming out of school or in leadership roles with co...

In this episode, Rachel chats with her good friend Ben Gerding about how 3D development and design are impacting the apparel industry. Ben takes us through his thought process on the importance of sharing knowledge within the industry, his own ideas for an apparel line, and the importance of sustainability in the apparel industry.     Ben Gerding has taken his 10 years of technical design experien...

In this episode, Rachel chats with her good friend Ben Gerding about how 3D development and design are impacting the apparel industry. Ben takes us through how he started his company, Retopo Dev., the positives and negatives of certain software, the process of 3D development, and the importance of sustainability in the apparel industry.  Stay tuned for part 2 of Ben's interview!   Ben Gerding has...

In this episode, Rachel takes you on the road through her mental health journey relating to burnout in business. She shares personal details about what led her to start her business, Unmarked Street, a couple of things she learned about herself along the way, and how she came to the conclusion that she needed to start improving her quality of life.  She also shares how therapy has been a huge part...

Part 2:   From Engineering Manager to Outdoor Apparel for Plus Sizes Company Founder with Raquel Vélez In this episode, Rachel chats with her friend and client, Raquel Vélez, a Puerto Rican woman from New Jersey, who discovered a passion for skiing only to be hindered by the lack of plus-size outdoor apparel. Raquel took matters into her own hands, launching a successful Kickstarter for her flagsh...

In this episode, Rachel chats with her friend and client, Raquel Vélez, a Puerto Rican woman from New Jersey, who discovered a passion for skiing only to be hindered by the lack of plus-size outdoor apparel. Raquel took matters into her own hands, launching a successful Kickstarter for her flagship product: The Ponderosa Pants.   Raquel Vélez is now the founder of Alpine Parrot, an outdoor apparel...

In this episode, Rachel shares what fellow travelers in her community tell her they feel when it comes to not getting sustainable travel comfort.   She talks about the frustration from investing in travel apparel that isn't delivering the quality that consumers need and how to provide apparel that is comfortable, made well and even provides support on travel days so that you have happy, repeat cus...