1000 fibers connect us by Betsy Fisher
This episode is one of my favorites - so far! Marie Saint Pierre, one of Canada’s best-known and loved designers, gave me a tour of her Montreal atelier and then sat down to discuss the origins of her clothing line and the interplay between the skills her business requires and her essence.
The Holy Grail of pumps embodies confidence and elegance, feels like a sneaker, and lets you stride through a miles-long, 12-hour stretch with ease. My conversation with Sandra Powers Murphy covers how this accomplished executive and entrepreneur took up the quest for a truly wearable pump 5 years ago and has good reasons, especially the hours she spends in them, to believe her new line, Scarlett Chase shoes, delivers the Holy Grail of pumps.
Viviana Gabeiras, the creator of Petit Pois, welcomed me to her Hialeah, Florida warehouse that encloses her studio, showroom, factory, and shipping facilities. Meticulous and orderly, the facility hums with the purpose, people, and myriad machines that realize Viviana's desire to offer women uniquely colorful and practical clothing.
Iana Boyd grew up in Bulgaria, dreaming of the world beyond the Iron Curtain depicted in the postcards that decorated her walls. With scant options for clothing, Iana taught herself to sew and dressed her sisters, cementing their relationship as her biggest fans and biggest critics. When the Curtain fell, Iana attended college in the US and then powered her way up the Maersk corporate ladder, blending in nicely in top-tier designer suits.
From the first tiny garments so lovingly selected to the last outfit a person wears, clothing helps define one's presence in the world.
If you've ever thought about trying a personal stylist, or even just wonder what they do, you'll enjoy meeting Lani Inlander and getting the inside story about styling.
Take a Walk with Teri Agins and me!
My guest, Stacy Bennett, wears two hats at Buki Brand, managing both operations and marketing - she knows Buki from the inside out! Our conversation reveals how customers' needs inspired a line of easy-care, technical clothing for men and women. From concept through value-driven execution and marketing, the story includes their use of Japanese fiber technology and the development of their own high-tech fabrics. The small women's collection melds fabric, form, and function to create the versatile styles that belong in your closet!
Meet Howard Sheer, the man behind the Ecru jeans and shirts in our closets. From an early start in buying and wholesaling, Howard developed an array of fashion industry-specific and entrepreneurial skills that led, eventually, to Ecru. Howard shares how New York City-based Ecru works: from the company's focus and structure to its heart in the design process and the complexity of sourcing and manufacturing around the world. Anecdotes about hits and misses, including an improbable skirted legging, round out a fascinating conversation about hard-won success in the clothing business!
A third-generation fashion entrepreneur, Joan Goodman tells the story of PONO, her distinctive, feather-weight resin jewelry. From buttons, through bracelets, to celebrity collectibles, Joan consciously creates wearable sculpture, open to unexpected sources of inspiration and ever attentive to the line's ethical manufacture in Italy. Along the way, Joan explains her particular awareness and appreciation of color: she has an extra color gene!
What better way to launch 1,000 Fibers Connect Us than by conversing with a friend and favorite designer, Hilton Hollis? Enjoy an evergreen conversation about the care, skill, and creativity that goes into the design and manufacture of each and every item.
Enjoy our frank discussion about the mechanics of design and manufacture, including fit and fit models, why a sample collection is only size 4, pre-inflation costs, and even bloopers. By the end of the podcast, you’ll be part of Hilton’s “Fashion Family.”
