The Materialist : A Podcast from At Present

Marc Bridge with Fern Mallis, The Hotel Chelsea, February 10, 2025 In this special New York Fashion Week episode of The Materialist , Marc sits down with the legendary Fern Mallis , the architect of New York Fashion Week and a lifelong champion of independent designers. We discuss the origins of Fashion Week, the evolving landscape of American fashion, and the challenges facing young designers tod...

Marc Bridge and Christina Caruso, The Carlyle Hotel, January 16, 2025 What does it take to make a career in jewelry—one that spans Sex and the City, Banana Republic, QVC, and a successful independent brand? Designer Christina Caruso joins The Materialist to share her fascinating journey from Parsons to corporate fashion and back to forging her own path. We talk about:✨ A chance encounter with Pat...

In this episode of The Materialist , host Marc Bridge , Founder + CEO of At Present , sits down with stylist, writer, and content creator Heather Hurst ( @Pigmamiii ). Heather shares her fascinating journey from a background in public health and lab work to becoming a curator of style and self-expression. They explore the interplay between permanence and ephemerality, the evolution of personal col...

This week on The Materialist , Superstar publicist and New York IT Girl Gabrielle Katz takes center stage in a lively discussion with At Present Founder Marc Bridge about her journey in fashion PR, the evolving industry, and the joy of being a thoughtful materialist. As the founder of Accent Projects , Gabrielle has collaborated with some of fashion’s most iconic brands, including Oscar de la Rent...

In this episode of The Materialist, host Marc Bridge , founder and CEO of At Present , interviews Alexandra Mack , the visionary founder of Holiday on Madison. Alexandra shares her journey from co-founding the jewelry brand Rebecca de Ravenel to creating a unique holiday retail experience that emphasizes discovery and curation of rare, artisan-crafted pieces. They discuss the challenges and joys o...

In this special live-recorded episode of The Materialist , Marc Bridge sits down with three extraordinary guests at Parcelle in NYC to delve into the artistry and meaning behind jewelry. Adam Shulman and Heidi Nahser Fink, the creative minds behind James Banks Design , share their journey of crafting pieces that tell deeply personal stories and "sing" when they’re ready to connect with the world....

In the latest episode of The Materialist , Marc Bridge sits down with Mirta de Gisbert , a jewelry consultant and gemologist whose life and work are deeply intertwined with the stories behind every piece she encounters. From her multicultural upbringing in Spain and South Africa to her deeply personal connection to family heirlooms, Mirta shares how jewelry transcends adornment to become a medium...

In this episode of The Materialist , Marc interviews Presley Oldham , a jewelry designer whose path to creating unique, handcrafted pieces was shaped by his creative upbringing and personal exploration. Presley shares his journey, starting with a childhood in an artistic family—his uncle a fashion designer, his father a metalsmith, and his grandmother a fine artist—and his early pursuits in perfor...

In this episode of The Materialist , I sit down with the remarkable Annika Inez , a jewelry designer who blends Scandinavian minimalism with evocative, sculptural design. Anika takes us through her creative journey—from her early days in Sweden, surrounded by her entrepreneurial family, to her serendipitous start in a tiny Upper East Side storefront. Along the way, she shares her philosophy of let...

What happens when bold choices meet impeccable taste? In this episode of The Materialist, I chat with Jalil Johnson , At Present’s Stylist in Residence and a true style trailblazer. From the creation of our Bold Collection to his love for jewelry history and a little “bad taste,” Jalil shares his unique approach to self-expression and storytelling through design. Join us for a fun, inspiring conve...

On a beautiful October afternoon, Marc paid a visit to Pamela Love ’s Santa Monica, CA home to chat design, filmmaking, company building, and the joy of 2 year olds. Amidst Halloween decorations (including Frankenstein’s monster in the front yard as seen above), balloons, and lollipops, Pamela shared how her mother’s begging led to her first job in jewelry, what it’s like to see random people wear...

Fashion is fleeting, style is forever. Jacqui Getz retired after 35 years as a teacher and principal in the New York City Public Schools only to launch a new career as an Instagram influencer ( @thedetailsofstyle ), personal stylist, and passionate advocate for aging stylishly. We discuss sustainable fashion, why style matters, how what you wear should change as you get older, and why the most joy...

At Present Founder + CEO Marc Bridge (“The Materialist”) talked with style editor, jewelry aficionado, and content guru Leya Kaufman about her personal journey, the most meaningful things in her life, and the future of style media. This conversation was recorded during New York Fashion Week on 47th Street in the Diamond District, NYC. During each episode of The Materialist, our guests share some o...

Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato are the Founders of Lizzie Fortunato , one of our favorite fashion jewelry brands. These twin-sisters began creating unique jewelry in their dorm room at Duke University and the brand began officially in 2008 when Kathryn, then working as a banker at Goldman Sachs, gave sister Lizzie her $10,000 annual bonus check to launch the business. Over the last 16 years, they’ve...