Podcasts about fashion institute

A thousand facets sits for the season finale of season 3 with the truly talented Anthony Lent in his studio in Pennsylvania. They talked about his education in Germany, his years as a professor and how he creates his wonderful and whimsical jewelry. About: Anthony Lent has been handcrafting fine jewelry for women and men for almost fifty years. Our collections are based on the sculptural creations of master goldsmith and jewelry designer, Tony Lent. He has dedicated his life to the painstaking transformation of visionary images into intricate pieces of wearable art that are among the most detailed and conceptually profound works of jewelry being made today. Tony began his foray into the jewelry world while studying sculpture at the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts). While there, he discovered that many of his favorite artists, such Celini and Dürer, were also goldsmiths. He also encountered the works of various renowned jewelers, including René Lalique, René Boivin, and Mario Buccellati, amongst others. In 1971, Tony left Philadelphia and moved to Germany to pursue his goldsmithing education at the Fachhochschule in Schwäbisch-Gmünd. In Germany, he immersed himself in the traditions and technologies of European jewelry design, acquiring the skills and knowledge that would become the foundation of his own work and teaching. On returning to the United States a few years later, he began his career as a jeweler in New York City, working for some of the industry's most prestigious and celebrated fine jewelry houses. During this time, he developed a unique line of bespoke jewelry which was exhibited at galleries and represented by private dealers throughout the world. He also served during this time as a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where he was chairman of the Jewelry Design department from 1990–2001.  Tony is joined by his sons, David and Max, who founded the Anthony Lent brand in 2013. Together, they are working to preserve their father's legacy for future generations of discerning collectors of the most beautiful and captivating jewelry in the world. At Anthony Lent, we strive to meet the highest standards of quality possible and treat attention to even the finest of details as the number one priority in everything we do. All of our jewelry is designed and manufactured with pride in the USA. You can follow Anthony on Instagram @anthonylentjewelry or his website https://anthonylent.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LOUISE WANNIER is an author, artist, and creative entrepreneur. As a visual artist and photographer, she attempts to capture and present the energy and spirit she observes and feels in our complex world. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and museums nationwide and appeared in the book Less Clutter More Life. She has built four companies and advised many others in industries from Education Technology to Fashion Design and is currently creating her own textile art prints and collections for fashion and the home under the label LOUIS JANE™. A graduate of the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising in Textile Design, she also holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School and a BS in Astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. She feels very fortunate to be “Safta” to nine grandchildren. To learn more, visit LouiseWannier.com.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

ABOUT DINA TOWNSEND Dina's Linkedin Profile: linkedin.com/in/dinatownsendDINA TOWNSEND BIOAs Chief Sales Officer at Mamava, Dina leads the Sales Organization with energy, optimism, and a genuine passion for building connections. She is rooted in the belief that strong business acumen and a meaningful mission can be seamlessly intertwined. After a purpose-driven career pivot from Digital Signage Technology to Mamava, she channels her expertise into propelling sales for this mission-centric company. Beyond her professional endeavors, Dina is a former skydiver, a hobby homesteader, an avid college football fan, and a well-intentioned, albeit average, golfer.email: dinat@mamava.com | 802.347.2111 (o) Website: www.mamava.comSay yes to dignified lactation spaces! Be a hero—here's how you can help. SHOW INTRO:Welcome to Episode 82! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…In every episode we continue to follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts.” And as we continue on this journey there will be thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We'll talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections between our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.If you like what you hear on the NXTLVL Experience Design show, make sure to subscribe, like, comment and share with colleagues, friends and family.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is always grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. I think the IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience.SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 82… I talk with Dina Townsend Chief Sales Officer at Mamava a company whose mission is to create a healthier society through infrastructure and support for breastfeeding. And, along with partners who share in in their purpose of celebrating and supporting breastfeeding, Mamava is moving closer to creating a future where there is a dignified lactation space anywhere a parent may go. We'll get to my discussion with Dina in a minute, first though a few thoughts…*                     *                          *                          *A few episodes back I had Claire Coder founder and CEO if Aunt Flow on the show. That was an interesting conversation since we crossed what I think were a few boundaries (at least for me) and we talked quite candidly about menstruation. Not just about the biology of women's monthly cycle but about the fact that there are many women who have faced the scenario of getting their period unexpectedly and not have pads or tampons to meet them in their moment of need.Enter the company Aunt Flow who provides free feminine hygiene products in public restrooms, schools and other public buildings and to Fortune 500 corporate headquarters - for which tens of thousands of women are eternally grateful.This conversation with Dina Townsend, I guess you could say, falls in the Aunt Flow camp of subjects. Breast feeding moms was not a subject that I had on the list of things to address on the podcast. But here we are nevertheless with a subject that piqued my curiosity because the company Dina works for, Mamava, checks most of the boxes in our Dialogues on DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and he Arts” catch phrase.First off…I did not know there was something called the “Pump Act”. For the curious out there, a little internet searching comes up with this:“…The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, enacted in December 2022, expands workplace protections for nursing employees by requiring employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for pumping breast milk for up to one year after a child's birth.This law allows for legal action if employers fail to comply…”Now… Dina will contend that many employers do in fact provide such a space and also that a janitors closet with a folding chair would be in line with the requirements. Sure, a closet meets the description of a ‘private space' but it wholly underserves the needs of a nursing mother in terms of experience.I am aware that there are widely divergent views on the whole subject of breast feeding – we are not going to go there – except that I'll say that I fully line up behind my wife who breastfed our two sons.My discussion with Dina moves from the necessity to provide environments for nursing mothers to breastfeed their infants while in public places to the buying power of mothers who statistics indicate make an enormous amount of the buying decisions in households to how tying Retail Media Networks - RMNs – to Mamava pods serve a triple bottom line serving People, Planet and Profit. It's a way of shifting our thinking about business from “How much money did we make?” to: “Did we make money in a way that benefits society and the environment too?”Nielsen, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Harvard Business Review research tells us that Women drive 70–80% of consumer purchasing decisions in the U.S. and that is even for products they don't personally use.  And that their annual global consumer spending, is $20 trillionwhich, by the way, is a number projected to rise to $28 trillion. In many households, women make or heavily influence91% of new home purchases, 92% of vacation decisions, and 80% of healthcare choices says research by the Yankelovich Monitor, Marketing to Women Conference data.And Millennial and Gen Z mothers are even more influential: they control about $1 trillion in direct annual spendingand are primary decision-makers for food, home goods, education, and entertainment – says research by the Pew Research Center.So, women and moms are a force to be reconned with in terms of buying power and why Mamava pods are more than an economic discussion. The behavioral and psychographic aspects of them is important as well.Women increasingly valuebrands that support family life, caregiving, and inclusivity and so features like Mamava pods in retail locations or corporate HQs or parental-leave policies have brand-equity impact.We have known for some time that brands that are considered authentic exhibiting genuine empathic concern for their customer and employeesare major drivers in establishing brand affinity and purchase decisions. The BabyCenter “State of Modern Motherhood” report says that “ 9 in 10 mothers say they are more loyal to brands that “understand the challenges of motherhood.”And then there is mom's digital influence. Pew Internet studies explains that“80% of moms research products online before buying and that 60% follow parenting or lifestyle influencers for purchase guidance.”When you combine these factors with the emergence of Retail Media Networks, RMNs, you have a value add to placing Mamava pods in places that do not actually take up any more space on the sales floors of a store than is already being occupied with stuff that does support the brand experience or selling anything.Use to be that when digital screens came into the retail world, we had kiosks as wayfinding devices. Then a proliferation of screens emerged in the market where walls were more digital wallpaper crowding the environment with content and, in my opinion adding little to experience, arguably creating a shopping experience with more visual distraction and diminishing the overall experience. Painting the environment with the broad-brush stroke of digital media is often ineffective in capturing and retaining attention and doesn't lead to the positive results we think it does.That said, well considered application of digital media like those found on Mamava pods creates an opportunity to provide messaging to customers that could be more like a public service announcement, like ‘get your flu shot here today,' or a focused marketing piece that invites customers to consider a particular product that they may not have thought of prior to arriving at the store.So, you might ask why this matters to retail designWomen and mothers aren't just your average everyday consumers, they're key decision-makers shaping the social expectations of brands and spaces. Retailers, airports, and workplaces that provide amenities like Mamava pods, family restrooms, or flexible shopping experiences are responding directly to data-driven insights like:Increased dwell time and spending when caregivers feel accommodated.Higher brand loyalty and word-of-mouth among mothers.Positive CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility - and inclusivity signaling which is important for both consumer and employee attraction.If you have recently traveled through an airport, you may have already come upon a Mamava pod or maybe you have seen their “bench” version in a retail store. Fed up with pumping in bathrooms and borrowed spaces—Mamava's co-founders, Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson, applied their decades of expertise in design and brand strategy to solve a problem that was largely invisible: the lack of lactation spaces in workplaces and public spaces and as a result, the Mamava pod was born.Tying together the Mamava pod, and its various incarnations, and retail media needed some savvy about how to create an effective in-store media application that wouldn't end up as just another screen in an already overwhelming environment.Enter Dina Townsend.As Chief Sales Officer at Mamava, Dina leads the Sales Organization with energy, optimism, and a genuine passion for building connections. She is rooted in the belief that strong business acumen and a meaningful mission like the Mamava brand platform can be seamlessly intertwined. After a purpose-driven career pivot from the world of Digital Signage Technology to Mamava, Dina channels her expertise into propelling sales for this mission-centric company. ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon.  The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

About Robin Zachary Robin Zachary is a New York based prop stylist and creative director for over 20+ years, a styling educator and author of the book STYLING BEYOND INSTAGRAM. She is passionate about vintage collecting, shopping and being surrounded by flowers as much as possible. Her clients include national brands, magazines and social media accounts. She mentors stylists entering the field through The Prop Styling Experience® , The Fashion Institute of Technology and New York Botanical Garden. She spends her free time harmonizing and playing guitar with her husband and of course shopping.   Summary Desha Peacock and Robin Zachary explore the world of prop styling, the impact of writing a book, and the journey of personal growth. They discuss the importance of manifesting dreams, the challenges faced in their careers, and the excitement of upcoming workshops in Mexico. Robin shares her insights on building a creative business, the significance of community, and the power of specific goal-setting. The conversation is filled with inspiration, practical advice, and a tips on doing work that feeds your soul.    Takeaways The behind-the-scenes world of prop styling, not as easy as it looks Manifesting dreams while also managing challenging personal life circumstances The power of community + specific goal-setting Robin's secret to manifest your next big chapter It's possible to build a soul-fed creative business   Chapters 00:00 Connecting Through Creativity 03:56 Robin's Prop Styling Journey 07:19 The Impact of Writing a Book 12:40 Taking care of a parent with Dementia 16:12 Manifesting Dreams and Goals 24:41 Creating Content on the SheDESIGNS Mexico Retreat 27:54 Advice for Designing a Life You Love 30:39 Leave room for surprises 33:40 Thanks for listening!   Where to find Robin: The Prop Styling Experience Found Artists Robin's Website Robin Zachary on IG   Join our community! Follow this podcast and share with a friend! In the world of podcasts, reviews are everything! Please rate and review this episode on your favorite platform.  Visit our website to get the latest on episodes, behind the scenes info, and upcoming events & retreats.  Say hi on the gram!

What if the secret to growth isn't chasing the next trend—but carrying a dream with enough grit to outlast them? In this episode, Adriana Castro shares how she turned Colombian craftsmanship and business discipline into a timeless accessories brand. Leaving a safe corporate path for design school, she transformed professors into mentors and built her first collection—and its production—from the ground up in Barranquilla. Adriana breaks down her hybrid strategy of pairing indigenous natural fibers with noble, long-lasting materials, and how stewardship programs like “certificates of adoption” can give accessories deeper meaning and legacy.The conversation gets real about pricing, margins, and the danger of designing aspirationally without scale. Adriana opens up about balancing passion projects with profitability, identifying her true customer through data, and letting hero products carry the brand. From Sarah Jessica Parker rewearing the Eva Clutch to navigating the mental health side of entrepreneurship, Adriana's story is both grounded and inspiring—a reminder that longevity comes from clarity, consistency, and care.

What if the difference between a forgettable line and an enduring brand came down to a handful of details and a few brave decisions? In this episode, Steven Alan unpacks how a small Soho storefront became a global showroom, why discovery will always trump trade-show buying, and how clean distribution keeps both the magic and the margin intact. From recognizing Claire V's voice in five self-sewn bags to cultivating independent designers who'd later define the modern accessories space, Steven shares how instinct, restraint, and precision build brands that last.He also gets candid about scaling too fast—expanding from eight to twenty-three stores, adding overhead, and learning the hard way that growth without discipline can crush profitability. Post-COVID, he pared everything back, rebuilt around his core menswear, and reopened with a Chelsea studio that blends craftsmanship, curation, and calm. His playbook now? Specialize deeply, collaborate selectively, and let great product—not PR—do the talking.

Allison Kent-Gunn knows good beauty packaging when she sees it.  The Los Angeles-based aesthetician-turned-packaging consultant has become one of the leading voices in beauty packaging on social media thanks to her "hot takes" on packaging wins and misses. She's a former cosmetic packaging instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and outside of her social media, where she goes by @AllisonTurquoise, her insights can be seen in an upcoming Cosmetic Science Textbook used in packaging courses.  Today's episode of the Glossy Beauty Podcast —  a special episode dedicated to the best, and worst, beauty packaging — concludes our three-part, deep-dive series on the world of beauty and wellness packaging. Kent-Gunn provides an in-depth hall of fame and shame for several packaging categories, including sustainability, accessibility, celebrity brands' packaging and more.  But first, Lexy Lebsack is joined by Emily Jensen to run down the beauty and wellness news of the week.  First up is a look at the growing wellness data economy, including a look at the value of data collection and aneb analysis of Rebook's new health tracker ring. The hosts also discuss fragrance news from Unilever-owned Dove. The mass body-care brand is launching its first-ever body mists as part of a limited-edition holiday collection released with the Rockettes. The iconic New York dancers recently partnered with Sephora, as well. Next up are details about POV Beauty's foray into color cosmetics. POV is the buzzy new line from influencer and TikTok star Mikayla Nogueira. The line launched this spring with skin prep products and, in news announced this week, will expand into lip products with a November 4 launch. 

Stacy Flynn is CEO and a founding partner of Evrnu, a textile innovations company. An accomplished sustainable systems expert, Stacy is committed to developing innovative fiber technologies that reduce textile waste and preserve natural resources. Under Stacy's leadership, Evrnu is working to solve the most pressing challenges facing the global textile and apparel industry. In 2019 Evrnu debuted NuCyclTM, a technology that transforms garment waste into a resource by recovering the raw materials for reuse. A future where textile producers, brands, retailers and customers reimagine their relationship with nature is now becoming a reality. Evrnu has been recognized as an organization making notable contributions to the circular economy as well as being an honoree in the 2020 Fast Company World Changing Ideas. Stacy is a TEDx and keynote speaker and a passionate voice of authority advocating for materials reuse for sustainability in textiles. She is an Unreasonable Impact Fellow, along with a cohort of CEOs that are advancing other world changing ideas. Prior to founding the company in 2014 with her business partner Christo Stanev, Stacy worked as a global textile specialist for nearly two decades in roles at DuPont, Eddie Bauer and Target. She holds an MBA in Sustainable Systems from Presidio Graduate Institute and a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Development and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology. ⁠https://evrnu.com/⁠⁠https://nexuspmg.com/⁠

What happens when you walk away from Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein—and bet on your own name instead? In this episode, Joy Gryson shares the bold pivot from corporate fashion to building a modern handbag brand that exploded in Korea and won a loyal global following.She reveals how consulting bridged the leap, why she and her husband chose small Italian workshops over legacy factories, and how a park meetup with Steven Alan unlocked their sales pipeline. From the “It Bag” craze to mastering retail math and international strategy, Joy offers the real roadmap for scaling without selling out.✨ 3 Takeaways:Learn the math behind the magic — taste gets you noticed, but knowing costs, margins, and calendars keeps you in business.Localize to globalize — success in Korea wasn't luck; it was built on tailoring silhouettes, service, and merchandising to the market.Bet on your own name, strategically — consulting, smart sourcing, and timing made her leap sustainable, not reckless.Our Guest:Joy Gryson is the founder and creative director of Gryson, Olivia Harris, and TriBeCa by Joy Gryson—brands known for their sophisticated balance of modern design and timeless craftsmanship. Before launching her own labels, she honed her skills at Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, and Coach, gaining a deep understanding of both design and business that would later define her entrepreneurial path. Her handbags have been carried by women around the world who appreciate understated luxury built with intention.Host Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, and founder of The Handbag Awards. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily also teaches entrepreneurship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is dedicated to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of building iconic handbag brands.Find Handbag Designer 101 Merch, HBD101 Masterclass, one-on-one sessions, and opportunities to book Emily Blumenthal as a speaker at emilyblumenthal.com. 

ABOUT CHRISTIAN DAVIES:Christian's LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/christian-davies-fcsd-3728a513Websites: https://www.bergmeyer.comemail: cdavies@bergmeyer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianthdavies/ Christian Davies Bio: Davies brings 30+ years' experience as a creative leader, working with brands across the globe, from disruptive startups to the very top Fortune 500 contenders in retail, experiential, beauty, fashion, hospitality, technology, luxury, and more. His veteran status includes over 100 national and international design awards (15 of which earned top honors for Store of the Year Awards), including a five-time winner of design:retail's Retail Design Influencer as well as a coveted Retail Design Luminary award.  As a Chief Strategy Officer for Bergmeyer, strategic innovation and design leadership define Davies role, stemming from a robust background in creative direction and design thinking. His approach harnesses the power of diverse, interdisciplinary teams, developed through hands-on experience in various roles across a wide variety of companies throughout his career. As Chief Strategy Officer, steering the business strategy and our passion for innovation encapsulates my daily mission.Prior to Bergmeyer, Davies served as Managing Director of the Creative Marketing Group at Verizon, Creative Vice President of Global Design and Innovation for Starbucks, Executive Creative Director of the Americas at Fitch, and Vice President/Managing Creative Director at FRCH Design Worldwide.Also See: https://www.bergmeyer.com/people/christian-davies SHOW INTRODUCTION:Welcome to Episode 81! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…What started at a pivotal moment during the COVID pandemic in early 2020 has continued for seven seasons and now 81 episodes. This season we continue to follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts. In the coming weeks we have some terrific conversations that are both fun and inspiring. They are going to include thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections between our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience.SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 81… I talk with Christian Davies. We actually recorded this discussion months ago and Christian wondered if publishing it now was still relevant.I assured him it was, since Christian tends to unearth issues that are future forward - things to be mindful about should we want to address the issues we all face as individuals or societies or as architects and designers making places and things as we serve as our clients creative sherpa guides bringing ideas into the built world. Now… Christian has been sitting atop the heap of 80 conversations as the most listened to episode since we recorded our first talk a couple years ago. So, I thought, well why not do Christian Davies 2.0?Christian does not disappoint - never has – over a couple of decades, Christian has consistently drawn audiences and colleagues into conversation, sometimes challenging, and always brilliant and things that drive design thinking. His matter-of-fact English attitude to the world of design is sometimes a ‘no holds barred' reality check that makes you think twice about the truths you have held dear. His drive towards excellence is irrepressible. That makes him, some may say, demanding because I think he expects that we all give a damn about what we are brining into the world. And why not? We all share space on this little blue dot and, we had better get it, and soon, that we are part of a vast ecosystem of interdependencies.We cover a lot of ground in this open-ended conversation – I'd not expect less from Christian - And here is a few thoughts on subject areas we touch on…1. Entropy:Entropy is a scientific measure of disorder, randomness.Astrophysicist and other cosmologists have postulated that our universe is continuing to expand to a maximum state of entropy from a moment in time, the beginning of the Universe that they have called The Big Bang.There's lots of great content that you can certainly dig up on what happens when the universe finally expands to maximum entropy and all particles are spread out evenly within the unimaginably large space of the universe. It's suggested that of course this maximun expansion will take something like 10 to the 36 or 37 power years in other words trillions and trillions of years. A very very long time….But for now, the way I try to think of it is things will expand and eventually slow down as they all spread out to be evenly distributed throughout the universe… seems reasonable…It's kind of like imagining the initial moments after a massive explosion. Things spread out pretty quickly from the epicenter of the explosion and as they're flung far and wide, particles eventually slow and if you think of it in terms of entropy they all reach maximum randomness.I kind of think that right now, today, considering that the scientists think that the universe has only been around for 14 1/2 billion years or so, that we're kind of right at that very beginning stage of the explosion and things are moving faster and faster away from the epicenter of The Big Bang. This is interesting if you think that the universe will continue to be expanding for a few trillion years so right now yeah, we're kind of sort of in the one second after the explosion time frame. Anyway I am not an astrophysicist and some of these enormous ideas still leave me scratching my head…If we look at today, and everything around us, it certainly seems that things are speeding up and becoming more distributed, more random.I know I've talked about the whole idea of the pace of change in a number of episodes but I find this really interesting because, as I discussed with Christian, it's really hard to design into a future state when you consider that the sands beneath your feet are always shifting.How do we know which step is the right one? How do you know when we step on solid ground or drop forever into a bottomless void…I think the challenge here for designers is that, at least for a time, we need to have a sense of stability and order. The challenge is, I think, is that we're moving to an increasing rate of change where stability and order might be elusive to say the least.2. Moments of human connection make experiences great:I think as we speed along and never ending sea of change perhaps one of the things that we can hang on to, a stake in the ground if you will, will continue to be our ability to maintain our relationships.Change has a funny way of, well… changing people. And, one of our jobs will be to keep up with changing expectations of brands and their customers. One thing is sure, as we scream along this ever changing path, relationships will remain as one of the fundamental qualities of great experiences. Both brand experience architecture and the means with which we engage with brands will change to meet evolving expecations but, my expectation, (or maybe it's just my hope) is that humans still stay at the center of it all - Since at least for this short little time that humans have been in existence, we have relied on the empathic connection between individuals to help create meaning and connection to the world around us as well as the things well as the things we simply buy.And I, like Christian, believe that in the end, when you look at successful projects in our long design careers, the good ones, I mean the really good ones, we're not just because we received a great brief with an inspired client who had a vision of changing up the world,but that the teams we were connected to both on the consultant and client sides were also great. There was something that clicked. There was a gel in communication, respect and collaboration that drove these projects forward.Some may have heard me say before projects will come and go but the relationships are really what make the work great. I'd rather lose a project than trash the relationships…3. Three things that facilitate success stories in the world of retail place-making:So, if you're going to look at success stories over a career full of projects, when you look back at what really made them great was, of course that they were successful from a financial point of view, that they drove increase customers and deeper brand relationships and better revenues all those things are important indicators of success but that there are things that are required to make all of that happen. One would be that there's a big idea someone at the helm of a brand or business that has a thought about doing something different breaking out of a traditional way of bringing goods or services to market, of serving a customer in a different way and technology is often being a facilitator of that.There was coffee long before Starbucks. There was getting from A to B lby horse, camel, richshaw, long before Uber. There were places to stay along the Silk Road before Airbnb. And if you had a shaman in your village you could likely find out where you ame from and where your future was going to be long before there were anything like 23&Me or ancestry.com. In some ways the goods or services have not really changed. How we get them in the hands of customers has changed and that has often been facilitated with new technologies.4. AI – as a new tool for ideation and the ‘why' behind design:One of those technological advances of course that everybody is talking about these days is artificial intelligence.AI it's both causing a lot of excitement about what it sees has to offer in the short term, becoming a new tool in the architect and designers toolbox for ideation as well as causing a lot of concern about what happens to humankind when we finally get to general AI or super artificial intelligence.I am both excited and increasingly aware of influences that it will have on the job market, delivery of goods and services and other parts of the ecosystem like education and manufacturing etcetera etcetera.But if we just for a moment set some of the anxieties aside and simply look at as a tool for imagination and engagement with clients fostering the collaborative process of ideation, it has extraordinary potential to change the game of how we designers and architects work with our clients and create ideas about bringing their goods and services to market.There's a lot of opportunity and uncertainty about what happens when you turbocharge the creative process with AI tools.In the end though, at least for now, the question remains - is that there is a human at the helm of prompt curation?The output is only as good as the input that I'm able to suggest as a prompt. If not… garbage in – garbage out.This of course is interesting because it puts the initial burden still on people to be able to articulate their vision in language and use AI tools to refine the visualizations and other content that emerges from using them.As we use these tools they make things faster but I also sometimes wonder about whether they simply make us lazy and remove our thinking from the process.So Christian does talk about the idea of the drawings or images being very compelling but also needing to ask, and answer, the question of ‘why this particular approach or output is relevant and connected to the brand or customer that we're trying to serve?In the end it's not about the ‘what' of things that make solutions to design challenges great but more and more about the ‘why' you're doing certain things.It's about the process by which you got to the solution rather than simply the solution itself.Don't get me wrong the solutions to the challenges are sometimes very satisfying but what I'm ultimately interested in is the thinking process that led you to along this pathway… it's the journey not just the destination that's important in the creative process….And I think it's ever more important to our clients in the design world that they're looking for people who are not just production oriented but who are also focused on guiding them through an uncertain future5. B-Corporations:And this in a way leads us to the part of our my discussion with Christian about how his company Bergmeyer has recently become a B-Corp.A B-Corporation is a for profit company, but it is certified by the non-profit  B Lab Global and the whole idea is that it seeks to meet high standards for social and environmental performance and accountability and even more so transparency in the ways that they are doing business in support of being good stewards of our environment.In the changing sands that we're all standing on, as entropy increases and uncertainty continues to unfold in front of us, there is certainty that our planet is also in peril as climate change continues to wreak havoc on environmental systems. These B-corporations are seen as a force for good who work to balance profit with a commitment to both people and our planet. What differentiates them from other traditional companies is that they prioritize the social and environmental impacts of their business while at the same time not discounting the fact that they still are in business - that they are accountable to stakeholders as well as shareholders.The stakeholders can be considered as all of us because as companies continue to pull resources out of the ground and push the byproducts of industrialization into landfills and oceans all of our lives are at stake.All right then that's a not so brief summary of some of the ideas that Christian and I riff on in our conversation…Let's dig into some of the details…ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com.  The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

 How is New York's Fashion Institute of Technology preparing students for the future of design and technology? The school just opened its $188.5 million Joyce F. Brown Academic Building, a ten-story, eco-friendly facility packed with studios, labs, and one of the nation's largest textile spaces. Funded largely by the state, it honors longtime president Joyce F. Brown and marks a major investment in creative education and innovation. (Source: SUNY) 

Ever wonder what it takes to turn a small retail dream into a lasting fashion empire? Clare V, founder of her namesake brand, proves that steady growth, not viral fame, builds a real legacy. Starting with a 500-square-foot shop in Silver Lake, Clare turned local roots into a thriving retail network by prioritizing people over transactions. From matching a friend's salary to open her first boutique to hosting in-store events and community-driven experiences, she redefined what modern brick-and-mortar can be—authentic, intentional, and profitable.Her strategic discipline is what sets her apart. Clare walks us through how she uses e-commerce heat maps to pick new locations, tests markets through pop-ups before signing leases, and balances wholesale for both cash flow and discovery. She shares how retail exclusives protect brand integrity, how data informs design and merchandising, and why the shift from “Clare Vivier” to “Clare V” became a masterclass in rebranding with grace.

In an era dominated by DTC, what role do trade shows still play in building a fashion brand?In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, we sit down with Matthew Mathiasen, Show Director of NY Now, to unpack why wholesale isn't just relevant—it's essential for emerging accessory brands looking for long-term growth, especially now with The “It Bag x NY NOW” new program.With over 100 years of history, NY Now has evolved from a traditional gift show to a curated marketplace where boutiques and innovative designers connect. Matthew explains how specialty retailers are becoming brand champions, helping independent designers break into new regions, build community, and create consistent cash flow—with fewer strings than big-box retail.

LOUISE WANNIER is an author, artist, and creative entrepreneur. As a visual artist and photographer, she attempts to capture and present the energy and spirit she observes and feels in our complex world. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and museums nationwide and appeared in the book Less Clutter More Life. She has built four companies and advised many others in industries from Education Technology to Fashion Design and is currently creating her own textile art prints and collections for fashion and the home under the label LOUIS JANE™. A graduate of the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising in Textile Design, she also holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School and a BS in Astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. She feels very fortunate to be “Safta” to nine grandchildren. To learn more, visit LouiseWannier.com.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on' experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 14 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries. Kicking off our show this week Carly Arebalo sits down with Gianna Verde, a Public Relations trainee at Christian Dior in New York City. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, Gianna always dreamed of working in fashion, a passion that took her to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Through multiple internships, she discovered her love for public relations and followed that path to Dior, one of the world's most prestigious luxury fashion houses. In this conversation, Gianna reflects on her journey from creative childhood to young professional, offering a candid look at the challenges of breaking into the fashion industry. She shares honest advice for students and recent graduates about resilience, determination, and the importance of taking on responsibility. Wrapping up the episode today is a conversation with Nick Weihe, a Baltimore-based visual artist and clothing designer who speaks with Sidney Karjian about his creative journey. Raised in Seattle, Nick studied Fine Art Photography and Film Studies at Seattle University before earning his MFA in Photographic and Electronic Media at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Weihe talks about starting out at Youth in Focus, a photography program in Seattle and how it sparked his lifelong interest in telling stories through images. In their discussion, Nick reflects on how his work evolved from darkroom photography and graffiti to his current work with hand-stamped fashion designs. Weihe also discusses the balance of emotional storytelling and experimentation in his work, and the challenges of sustaining a creative practice. He offers advice on trusting your instincts, staying motivated, and continuing to create—even when it feels imperfect.

Ever wonder why some handbags turn heads while others disappear into the crowd? Cathy Schwartz-Shino—veteran of major handbag licenses and founder of Edit Accordingly—pulls back the curtain on what truly makes a brand unforgettable: a strong identity, the right partnerships, and attention to detail. Today's shopper doesn't wait for department stores to declare what's in; they chase meaning and individuality. Whether it's vintage, upcycled, or a fresh new silhouette, Cathy explains how licensing, royalties, and cohesive design DNA separate authentic brands from imitators. Her message is clear: success isn't about copying luxury—it's about owning your signature.Key Takeaways:Authenticity Wins: True success comes from defining your own brand DNA, not replicating others.Strategic Growth: Regional strategy and selective partnerships fuel sustainable expansion.Creative Focus: Mood boards, collaboration, and local curation keep collections relevant and distinct.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Keanna Sanders.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Keanna Sanders.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Keanna Sanders.

For Dawn Del Russo, building a career in fashion has been a journey of resilience, adaptation, and staying true to herself. With just $10,000 in savings—partly from communion money she'd carefully saved—she launched Bella Don boutique without formal training, diving into trade shows and pricing with sheer determination and countless hours of research. A surprise feature on Fox Good Day New York brought her first big sales surge, along with a crash course in scaling without infrastructure.When broadcast opportunities began competing with her retail business, Dawn made the tough choice to close her beloved boutique—a decision that led to her thriving career as a QVC personality representing brands like Mark Fisher and Rebecca Minkoff. Through it all, she's stayed committed to authenticity, embracing her strengths, turning down misaligned opportunities, and building her Live the Glamour brand as a platform rooted in genuine passion for fashion and business.

This is Anne's Book Club, a spotlight episode of the Long Thread Podcast where we share conversations about exciting new craft titles. This episode features three new books from Storey Publishing: The Stitched Landscape by Anna Hultin, The Handsewn Wardrobe by Louisa Owen Sonstroem, and Knitting Cowlettes by Safiyyah Talley. You'll hear a conversation with each of the authors, followed by an excerpt of some of my favorite passages. I was excited to choose each of the titles to feature, and I hope you enjoy the conversations and the books as much as I have! The Stitched Landscape: An Embroidery Field Guide to the Textures, Colors, and Lines of the Natural World Anna Hultin has so much to teach you—to stitch, of course, but mostly to see. With a background in art education and a habit of looking closely at the land around her, Anna offers concrete skills as well as encouraging prompts to develop your own relationship with where you are. Her book includes step-by-step projects, detailed instructions for common plants, and techniques for sketching, stitching, and painting your own personal landscape. Her book gently pushes embroiderers who might be reluctant to consider their work as art toward creativity, exploration, adaptation, and staking their own ground, all within the frame of an embroidery hoop. From Anna's introduction to The Stitched Landscape (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/anna-hultin/the-stitched-landscape/9781635868456/?lens=storey?lens=storey-publishing-llc&utm_source=LongThreadMedia&utm_medium=Digital&utm_campaign=AnnaHultin_TheStitchedLandscape_Pub_RetailClicks_Storey_9781635868456&utm_content=CRAFTSHOBBIES&utm_term=Interests_Podcast_craft_GenPop): This isn't your typical embroidery book. Although it has plenty of embroidery patterns for you to follow, more than anything this book offers in-depth practice of the artistic process—from the spark of inspiration to a final piece and everything in between. I hope you will learn as much about observing the land as you do about embroidery. Whether you are picking up a needle and thread for the first time or have experience as a fiber artist, and wherever you are in the seasons of your life, my aim is to inspire you to grow in your creative practice. The projects are meant to build your skills and offer opportunities for discovery as you develop your own style and point of view. I'm excited to see how you'll take what you learn in these pages and apply it to your own observations of the world around you. **Anna Hultin* is the artist and educator behind Olander CO Embroidery. She uses needle and thread to create contemporary embroideries that explore the often overlooked beauty of the subtle textures and colors of the Colorado landscape. Anna lives with her family in Loveland, Colorado.* The Handsewn Wardrobe: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own Clothes from Patternmaking to the Finishing Stitches To make clothes that you love, says Louisa Owen Sonstroem, pick up a pencil and paper, needle and thread, and get stitching. Trained in commercial patternmaking, she knows the strengths—and limitations—of off-the-rack clothing and pattern-envelope sewing. Her new book teaches sewists to handsew clothes that seem out of reach for today's makers: hoodies, leggings, and even a denim jacket. If that sounds too time-consuming, skill-demanding, or slow, Louisa's book will surprise you. The book invites you to set aside clothing designed for someone else's body and create garments that will fit you perfectly. She calls The Handsewn Wardrobe “two books in one”: a primer on patternmaking that frees you from generic commercial patterns and a sewing book that teaches techniques for stitching garments by hand. In over 300 pages of instruction, she takes you from making a pattern for a basic tee to drafting a custom pair of jeans. For weavers and crafters with precious fabrics, handsewing lets you make the best use of precious fabric, not only by minimizing waste but also by creating garments you will wear proudly. From The Handsewn Wardrobe: (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/louisa-owen-sonstroem/the-handsewn-wardrobe/9781635866261/?lens=storey?lens=storey-publishing-llc&utm_source=LongThreadMedia&utm_medium=Digital&utm_campaign=LouisaOwenSonstroem_TheHandsewnWardrobe_Pub_RetailClicks_Storey_9781635866261&utm_content=CRAFTSHOBBIES&utm_term=Interests_Podcast_craft_GenPop) Learning how to make patterns is one of the coolest, most transformative experiences. You can make anything! Patternmaking may have a bit of a reputation as an intimidating, difficult discipline, but it needn't be that way. There are so many more possibilities than limitations in this craft. And, by the way, no one knows everything about patternmaking—no one!—so just relax and enjoy yourself. Make note of the principles shared in this book and elsewhere, but lean into the gray areas and creative opportunities, too. You'll learn just as much by messing around with patterns as by following anyone's instructions. The more you try, the more you'll learn. It's a radical, simple act to make your own clothes by hand. The tools are few, and most are relatively inexpensive. The techniques needn't be complicated, either—with a handful of good stitches at your command, you'll be able to construct all manner of beautiful, sturdy garments. And if you approach your projects with a willingness to experiment, you'll never stop learning. Empowerment, accessibility, mental stimulation, endless opportunities for growth, and a set of amazing clothes—what's not to love? **Louisa Owen Sonstroem* studied design and patternmaking at Fashion Institute of Technology. She works in technical design and patternmaking and teaches hand sewing and patternmaking classes. She also started Patternmaking in Public Places (PIPP), an outreach project to democratize access to patternmaking skills. Louisa lives in Connecticut with her family, in a house filled with board books, dog beds, and lots of fabric.* Knitting Cowlettes: Clever Techniques for Making Custom Mini-Cowls to Elevate Any Outfit Innovative knitter Safiyyah Talley's first book, Knit 2 Socks in 1, offered a clever new way of knitting socks. In her new book, she offers a fresh look at neckwear with a collection of cowlettes—wearable cowl/shawl hybrids. In addition to 23 patterns, the book includes methods for designing your own cowlette, finessing fit, and yarn selection. Besides the range of lovely designs, the joy of this book is the expansive view of knitting, offering patterns for any skill level and personal style. Simple and versatile, Safiyyah's cowlettes beckon you to cast on. From Safiyyah's introduction to Knitting Cowlettes: (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/safiyyah-talley/knitting-cowlettes/9781635868012/?lens=storey?lens=storey-publishing-llc&utm_source=LongThreadMedia&utm_medium=Digital&utm_campaign=SafiyyahTalley_KnittingCowlettes_Pub_RetailClicks_Storey_9781635868012&utm_content=CRAFTSHOBBIES&utm_term=Interests_Podcast_craft_GenPop) I like to gift cowlettes because they are quick, gender neutral, size inclusive, and very useful. There are just so many scenarios that call for one that I even gift them to myself. Wake up to a chill in the air? Pop on a cowlette. Want to dress up an outfit? Pop on a cowlette. Need to show off a knitted item at the knitting convention, and it's a very hot and crowded July day? Say it with me now: “Pop on a cowlette!” You might be wondering, “What exactly is a cowlette?” Cowlette is a term created by innovative knitwear designer Carina Spencer and it is the lovechild of a cowl—a circular scarf—and a shawlette, or a small shawl. Cowlettes have a similar construction to a shawl, but with the wearability of a cowl. Shawls tend to slip and slide when worn, unless secured in some way with a knot or a shawl pin. Cowlettes look like shawls, but they are knit in the round, so the wearer doesn't have to worry about them falling off. Just like shawls, cowlettes are first worked flat from the top down. Stitches are added in the form of increases until the work is large enough to fit comfortably around the wearer's neck. The cowlette is then joined in the round and worked to the desired size and length. When searching online for cowlette patterns, you may find them under “cowls” or “shawls,” because it is a fairly new knitting term. But the very best part of making cowlettes is how customizable they are. With the help of this book, you can easily design your own. You can control the difficulty, size, yarn amount, and gauge with very little prep and only as much math as you wish! It is the perfect project for all knitters, from beginner to expert. All you need to get started is a ball of yarn, circular knitting needles, and a sense of adventure. **Safiyyah Talley* is the author of* Knit 2 Socks in 1 and creator of the popular blog The Drunk Knitter. She teaches knitting classes virtually and at knitting shows. Safiyyah lives in Indiana. This episode is brought to you by: Storey (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/storey-craft-books-for-creative-living/) publishes craft books for makers of all skill levels, whether you're interested in hand sewing your own clothes, embroidering outdoors, or a knitting fun new accessory. Check out our new books in knitting, crochet, weaving, quilting, sewing, soap-making, design, and more!

In this episode of the Watchung Booksellers Podcast, we feature the launch event for Bobbi Brown's memoir Still Bobbi. In this lively and heartwarming conversation, Bobbi discussed her book, her businesses, and her life in Montclair with business leader Carolyn Everson.Bobbi Brown is a renowned makeup artist and entrepreneur, best-selling author, sought after speaker, beauty industry icon, and a hotelier. She founded two successful cosmetic brands: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and more recently created the clean beauty brand Jones Road. She also envisioned and now operates The George Hotel in Montclair, NJ. Bobbi made the TIME100 “Most Influential People in the World” list and was also named one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women and Forbes' "50 Over 50" Most Influential Women. She has received the Glamour Woman of the Year Award, The Fashion Group International Night of Stars Beauty Award, and The Jackie Robinson Foundation's ROBIE Humanitarian Award. She was appointed to serve on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. She received a BFA from Emerson College and holds honorary doctorates from Montclair State University, Fashion Institute of Technology, Monmouth University, and Emerson College.Carolyn Everson is a Senior Advisor at Permira, one of the world's largest investment firms and Boston Consulting Group.  Carolyn has decades of experience in senior operating roles in consumer facing technology and media companies.  She most recently was President of Instacart. Prior to Instacart, she was the Vice President, Global Business Group at Facebook (Meta) where she led a team of over 4,000 people in over 55 countries and was responsible for over $60B in revenue. She has been named to AdWeek's 'AdWeek 50' every year since 2013, and in 2015, she topped Business Insider's list of the Most Powerful Women in Advertising. She has also been included twice on Fortune's '40 Under 40' list.Books:A full list of the books and authors mentioned in this episode is available here. Register for Upcoming Events.The Watchung Booksellers Podcast is produced by Kathryn Counsell and Marni Jessup and is recorded at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ. The show is edited by Kathryn Counsell. Original music is composed and performed by Violet Mujica. Art & design and social media by Evelyn Moulton. Research and show notes by Caroline Shurtleff. Thanks to all the staff at Watchung Booksellers and The Kids' Room! If you liked our episode please like, follow, and share! Stay in touch!Email: wbpodcast@watchungbooksellers.comSocial: @watchungbooksellersSign up for our newsletter to get the latest on our shows, events, and book recommendations!

Ever wonder how a personal story becomes a global brand? Peter Gryson, co-founder of Joy Gryson, shares his journey from corporate fashion to building a handbag label that stands out in a crowded market. From retail floors to a VP role at Calvin Klein, his path reveals how determination, adaptability, and vision can turn obstacles into opportunity."I wanted to be successful, and that became my objective." That drive fueled Peter's rise—and later, the creation of Joy Gryson with his wife, Joy. Together, they built a brand rooted in design passion, sharp market awareness, and an ability to evolve with consumer demand.Key Takeaways:Resilience Wins: Fashion is full of setbacks, but perseverance and adaptability open new doors.Power of Partnership: Collaboration with designers and manufacturers is the backbone of quality and innovation.Market Awareness Matters: Tuning into consumer shifts is essential to staying relevant worldwide.

Ever wonder why it's so hard to break into the accessories world? Karen Giberson, President of the Accessories Council, pulls back the curtain on an industry made up of specialized silos that rarely connect. From Macy's competitive executive training program to navigating the stigma of QVC, her path shaped a mission to create meaningful connections across accessory categories."I'd rather put my product in the trash than sell it to you." That early rejection in television retail revealed the uphill battle Karen faced—but also pushed her toward building the Council, where for over two decades she's been breaking down barriers, championing collaboration, and proving that networking is non-negotiable.Key Takeaways:Fragmented Industry: Accessories thrive in silos—footwear sizing, eyewear regulations, jewelry sourcing—but collaboration sparks breakthroughs.Networking Is Power: With 100+ opportunities annually, Karen believes success depends on showing up, asking for help, and making connections.Cross-Pollination Wins: Innovation often comes when designers look beyond their lane—like handbags borrowing from jewelry hardware or even automotive design.

Abby and Patrick welcome Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, to discuss her new book, Dress, Dreams, and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis, and the exhibition of the same name that opened this week. What does “fashion” mean, and why are so many psychoanalysts and cultural gatekeepers so resistant to think about the topic critically? How do society's codes of dress reflect logics of identity, especially when it comes to gender, and how are those norms policed – and subverted? How does clothing mediate our first-person experience of our own bodies, how do clothes and nakedness recur in our fantasies and dreams, and how do we use attire to communicate with others while alternately armoring and revealing ourselves? A renowned historian and theorist of fashion, Dr. Steele masterfully walks Abby and Patrick through fashion as a field of overdetermined material commodities and complex articulations of identity and desire. From Freud's anxieties about paying his tailor to Lacan's florid wardrobe to ongoing debates over what therapists should and shouldn't wear; from Elsa Schiaparelli's mirror jackets to Jean Paul Gaultier's bullet bras to Sonia Rykiel's self-caressing knitwear to Timothée Chalamet's Haider Ackermann halter; from commodity fetishism in Marx to fetish objects in Freud; from Lacan's mirror stage to Joan Riviere's theories of masking and masquerade to the “skin ego” of Didier Anzieu; from high culture to low, and from the runway to the consulting room and beyond, it's a stylish and provocative grand tour of fashion, psychoanalysis, and the ways we all use clothes, like it or not, to literally fashion ourselves.The exhibition Dress, Dreams, and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis runs from September 10th 2025 to January 4th 2026 at the Museum at FIT (227 West 27th Street, New York, NY) and is free and open to the public: https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/dress-dreams-desire/index.phpSteele's book Dress, Dreams, and Desire: A History of Fashion and Psychoanalysis will be released on October 30th 2025: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/dress-dreams-and-desire-9781350428195/MFIT will host a Fashion and Psychoanalysis Symposium on Friday, November 14, 2025. Speakers include Laverne Cox, fashion designer Bella Freud, psychoanalysts Patricia Gherovici, Anouchka Grose, Christine Anzieu-Premmereur, Chanda Griffin, fashion scholar Simona Segre, and MFIT Director Valerie Steele. Attendance is free but registration is required: https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/events/symposium/fashion-and-psychoanalysis/index.phpHave you noticed that Freud is back? Got questions about psychoanalysis? Or maybe you've traversed the fantasy and lived to tell the tale? Leave us a voicemail! (646) 450-0847 A podcast about psychoanalysis, politics, pop culture, and the ways we suffer now. New episodes on Saturdays. Follow us on social media:  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/OrdinaryUnhappiness Twitter: @UnhappinessPod Instagram: @OrdinaryUnhappiness Patreon: patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness Theme song: Formal Chicken - Gnossienne No. 1 https://open.spotify.com/album/2MIIYnbyLqriV3vrpUTxxO Provided by Fruits Music

New York Fashion Week is here. But what is fashion? And what is American fashion? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Erica Moretti"Maria Montessori"Una vita per la pace e i diritti dell'infanziaEditori Laterzawww.laterza.itMaria Montessori è una delle personalità italiane più influenti nel mondo. A più di 150 anni dalla nascita, questa biografia propone una lettura nuova del suo pensiero e della sua azione educativa. Recuperail suo impegnopacifista mettendolo in relazione tanto al suo attivismo pedagogico quanto al più ampio dibattito internazionale sulla pace. L'approccio progressista di Maria Montessori, infatti, avrebbe permesso la formazione di adulti realizzati, autonomi e naturalmente avversi a ogni genere di conflitto.I bambini educati con il suo metodo sarebbero cresciuti senza le costrizioni disciplinari proprie di altri metodi pedagogici contemporanei.A questo fine, Montessori propose numerosi interventi umanitari e legislativi per promuovere i diritti dei bambini e per avviare una rivoluzione pacifica a livello globale, in quello che lei stessa immaginava come un effetto domino necessario e, al contempo, inevitabile.Una biografia che, attingendo a un'ampia gamma di materiali transnazionali e multimediali per gran parte inediti, consente di ricollocare la riflessione sul pacifismo di Maria Montessori dai margini al centro della sua filosofia.Erica Moretti è professoressa associata presso il Fashion Institute of Technology-State University of New York. Il suo libro The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children's Rights (2021) ha ricevuto il premio Opera prima dell'American Association for Italian Studies (AAIS), quello dell'International Standing Conference for the History of Education (ISCHE) e la menzione d'onore dal Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies.IL POSTO DELLE PAROLEascoltare fa pensarewww.ilpostodelleparole.itDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/il-posto-delle-parole--1487855/support.

What happens when an environmental lawyer trades the courtroom for the world of fashion? For Jimena Suarez, founder of From Sentient, it means creating vegan handbags that blend Mexican craftsmanship, innovative materials, and ethical values—without sacrificing style. Sixteen years after going vegan, she saw a gap in the market for beautiful, high-quality accessories that align with her values.Her path took her from advocating for gender equality and animal rights to studying social entrepreneurship at Berkeley, where From Sentient took root. Today, her brand redefines sustainable luxury through thoughtful design and artisan collaboration.Key Takeaways:Desirability Drives Success: Purpose alone isn't enough—people must want the product.Innovation Takes Time: Like the iPhone, great design evolves through research, iteration, and patience.Craft + Ethics: Partnering with skilled artisans transforms vegan materials into luxurious, culturally rich handbags.

Margo is joined by artist, designer, and educator helping to lead the modern revival of punch needle rug hooking, Micah Clasper-Torch. Based in Los Angeles, Micah's work blurs the lines between art, craft, and design, creating one-of-a-kind textile pieces that range from coats and accessories to wall hangings and soft sculpture. With a background in fashion design from both The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, Micah weaves together her love of fine art, heritage craft, and wearable design. In 2019 she became a certified Oxford Punch Needle Instructor and, in 2020, launched Punch Needle World, an online community, shop, and educational platform dedicated to uplifting the craft and its history. Her debut book, Punch Needle Fashion (Quadrille, June 2025), brings punch needle into the world of contemporary fashion with 15 original projects and a beautifully photographed exploration of the medium. Margo and Micah discuss: Micah's journey from fashion design to punch needle leadership The revival of punch needle and its fascinating history How tailoring and handmade construction shape her work The inspiration behind Punch Needle Fashion and what sets it apart Building creative community through Punch Needle World Tips for beginners (including her go-to needle size!) Embracing the blur between art, craft, and fashion   Connect with Micah https://www.micahclasper-torch.com/ https://www.punchneedleworld.com/ https://www.instagram.com/claspertorch https://www.instagram.com/punchneedle.world Punch Needle Fashion Book - https://tinyurl.com/mrx5rmez   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry  

As we all know, motherhood changes everything. And this can even include how we see ourselves when we look in the mirror. Between sleep deprivation, postpartum recovery, body changes, and keeping tiny humans alive, getting dressed for the day can feel like just one more thing on our endless to-do list that many of us usually don't have the energy to put much thought into. Because we're exhausted, we just grab the best, cleanest thing that fits and works for what we need for the day. It may seem small and silly, but choosing how you present yourself to the world can actually make a bigger impact than you think. And what if this daily decision could be something that lifts you up instead of weighing you down? In this episode of Chick Chat, I sat down with my friend Sarah Villarreal, a certified Style Coach and personal stylist who helps modern moms reclaim their confidence through style. As a mom of two herself, Sarah deeply understands the identity shift that happens in motherhood and how what we wear can be a powerful way to reconnect with ourselves during that transition. Who Is Sarah Villarreal? Sarah Villarreal is a certified Style Coach® and personal stylist dedicated to helping modern moms rediscover their confidence through style. A former fashion designer and a mom of two, Sarah understands firsthand how clothing tells a powerful story about who we are, especially during the identity-shifting years of motherhood. With a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she's designed apparel for some of the industry's top brands and worked in technical design for handbags. Her career has taken her from styling clients on Rodeo Drive to navigating the raw, real seasons of postpartum life, giving her a unique perspective on the connection between fashion and self-care. Over the years, she became the go-to resource for friends and family who needed help with their wardrobes, whether for family photos, vacations, or just finding that perfect everyday look. Her time as a stay-at-home mom reinforced a powerful truth: investing in yourself — how you feel, how you show up — positively impacts every area of life. While fashion has always been her passion, Sarah knows that style can feel overwhelming or out of reach for many women. She's been there, too. Now, she's on a mission to show moms that prioritizing themselves isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. What We Talked AboutThis conversation was such a fun and refreshing take on style, self-care, and identity in motherhood. Sarah and I chatted about the deep connection between what we wear and how we feel, especially during the tender postpartum years and beyond. Here are a few highlights from our conversation: Why style matters (especially for moms). Why investing in your wardrobe isn't selfish. What to do when nothing fits or feels right. Her go-to “mom outfit formulas” that are cute and functional. How to navigate style challenges and body image changes. How to use style to reclaim confidence. Final Thoughts Motherhood doesn't mean losing yourself. And it definitely doesn't mean you have to settle for a wardrobe that no longer reflects the amazing woman you are. With a few thoughtful choices and some encouragement, you can slowly build a closet (and a confidence) that supports your real, beautiful, ever-evolving life. To learn more about Sarah's work or to book a session with her, you can find her at sarahvillarrealstyling.com and on Instagram @styledbysarahvillarreal. Be sure to use our exclusive code CHICKCHAT for 10% off her services! Cheers to feeling your best and showing up with confidence! Mentioned in the episode Podcast episode with Shakaila Forbes-Bell, MA Sarah's Style Personality Quiz Sarah Villarreal's Resources Website: sarahvillarrealstyling.com Instagram: @sarah.villarreal.styling Pinterest: @sarahvillarrealstyling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Sujin, handbags aren't sewn—they're constructed. Trained as an architect, she approaches her brand, Elemood, with the same principles she'd apply to a building: structural integrity, simplicity, and form as function. With no fashion or sewing background, she pioneered designs like the Mono bag—crafted from a single piece of material—and the Expert, made from one repeated pattern, creating sculptural pieces unlike anything in the market.After a decade of success, Sujin nearly walked away from her business—until an Italian brand strategist and Japanese designer Kasumi reignited her vision. Now, their partnership blends Japanese minimalism, Thai craftsmanship, and architectural precision into award-winning designs like the Blossom Series, while navigating a shift from traditional exports to U.S. wholesale.

The Marvelous McBroom Sisters: Marsha, Dana, Lorelei, Durga...Forces of Nature! Marsha was a model extradinare and is a great educator and humanitarian; Dana an educator at Fashion Institute of Technology in NY, Author of Grace Jones's " Pull Up to the Bumper" and an actress in "Leadbelly"; Lorelei Background Singer with Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and creator of a new YouTube Video Show "Who Influenced You"?; Durga, Background Singer with Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl, Songwriter and an accomplished actress. Simply a marvelous not to be missed episode.

For Odoba Nnani, building her brand became a masterclass in trusting instincts and weaving cultural heritage into every creation. Born in Nigeria and moving to the U.S. at eight through the visa lottery, she balanced family expectations with a growing creative drive. When the pandemic hit, she traded law school dreams for crafting accessories that blend beauty, function, and heritage.Her design philosophy? A great bag works anywhere—sweatpants to store runs, dressed up for church, or taken to a club. Versatility, paired with leather linings, magnetic closures, and thoughtful craftsmanship, transforms each piece into functional art.By working with The Accessory Think Tank, she skipped costly mistakes and launched Romanian-made handbags that fuse global influences with Nigerian roots—designed for real life, across all settings.

The Marvelous McBroom Sisters: Marsha, Dana, Lorelei, Durga...Forces of Nature! Marsha was a model extradinare and is a great educator and humanitarian; Dana an educator at Fashion Institute of Technology in NY, Author of Grace Jones's " Pull Up to the Bumper" and an actress in "Leadbelly"; Lorelei Background Singer with Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and creator of a new YouTube Video Show "Who Influenced You"?; Durga, Background Singer with Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl, Songwriter and an accomplished actress. Simply a marvelous not to be missed episode.

What happens when you mix a mischievous spirit, versatile design, and a new baby? For Shinyoung Park, it led to the creation of Misenver —a handbag brand born at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurial ambition.In this inspiring episode, Shinyoung shares her path from fashion school in Korea to working in LA's clothing industry, and how pregnancy became the push to finally launch her own brand. With Misenver  priced in the $200–$300 range, she's found the perfect sweet spot between fast fashion and luxury, creating simple, versatile silhouettes paired with playful touches like her signature bunny sunglasses charms.

Chelli Look's story is as inspiring as it is emotional. A self-taught designer since high school, she began making handbags after her sister challenged her to “figure it out yourself.” What started as a creative outlet became a livelihood—and later, a lifeline through unimaginable personal loss.In this moving episode, Chelli opens up about losing her best friend and business partner in a tragic accident, and how creating bags became her meditative way to process grief. Her journey, captured in the documentary Dawn Dusk, shows the power of creativity as both healing and self-discovery.

Chef Demi Unique approaches food as art, memory, and ancestral tribute. Trained at both the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and the Institute of Culinary Education, she blends her deep creative roots into immersive culinary storytelling. As a traveling artist, chef, and consultant, Demi uses food to honor lineage, build community, and create space—especially for Black folks. In this conversation, we explore her path into food, the influence of the women who shaped her journey, and how style, culture, and flavor come together in her work.

When Jessy Dover sewed her own hot pink prom dress from Walmart fabric, she had no idea it would spark the vision for Dagne Dover—now one of the most functional (and stylish) handbag brands on the market.In this episode, Jessy shares her journey from Parsons to co-founding a powerhouse trio with Melissa Mash and Deepa Gandhi. From winning a Coach design competition with zero handbag experience to building a company culture where feedback actually works, Jesse proves that scrappy beats perfect—and color is anything but soft.

Today's episode features a first - a fashion historian, Brooklyn-based Summer Anne Lee. She has an MA in Fashion and Textile Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she currently teaches various courses in fashion history. Summer's research areas have included subcultural style and the history of women's underpinnings, and she is currently writing a book titled Presidential Fashion: An Illustrated History for the Yale University Press. Learn more: https://www.summerannelee.com/ As referenced: The Roaring Twenties and The Swinging Sixties: https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/roaring-and-swinging.php  

Think you know what defines an “It Bag”? Think again. In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Beth Goldstein, Executive Director of Footwear & Accessories at Circana, joins Emily Blumenthal to unpack how social media has transformed the handbag market—and why a $299 Trader Joe's tote can now claim the title.From viral hits to lasting brands, Beth explains how today's fragmented market is shifting power away from legacy labels and toward innovative independents. With names like Coach, Veronica Beard, and Clare V evolving fast, the space is more competitive—and more unpredictable—than ever.

What does it take to turn one handbag into a worldwide fashion brand? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with the iconic Rebecca Minkoff to unpack the journey from her first design to building an empire that changed the handbag industry forever.It all started with the Morning After Bag—a now-legendary design born from a chance encounter with actress Jenna Elfman and fueled by early internet buzz. From there, Rebecca's brand exploded, capturing the spirit of modern femininity and defining what it meant to build fashion with both form and function.

Episode Highlights:Meet Tanya Tauthong-Kass, NYC-based fashion stylist and costume designer with over a decade of experience in the global fashion industryDiscover how personal style can be a powerful tool for breaking free from limiting beliefs and expressing authentic identityLearn from Tanya's journey from Fashion Institute of Technology to becoming a sought-after stylist for major brands and publicationsExplore the intersection of fashion, personal empowerment, and intentional livingAbout Our Guest:Tanya Tauthong-Kass brings her exceptional eye for detail and creative vision to every project. With formal education from The Fashion Institute of Technology and Milan's Instituto Marangoni, she honed her craft at prestigious retailers like Bergdorf Goodman before launching her successful freelance career.Her impressive portfolio includes collaborations with iconic brands such as Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Ralph Lauren. Tanya's work has graced the pages of Glamour, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, and numerous other top publications.Beyond styling, Tanya has contributed her talents to television productions including Project Runway, The Rachael Ray Show, and various networks like Nickelodeon and A+E.Key Discussion Points:Breaking industry barriers and creating opportunities for diverse voices in fashionTanya's journey throughout her career. The creative journey from styling high-fashion shoots to founding TweedleTee's Candies & CuriositiesConnect With Tanya:Follow Tanya's creative journey and discover TweedleTee's Candies & Curiosities at  Tanya Tauthong-Kass and at TweedleTee's Candies & Curiosities | Verona, NJ. You can find her at TweedleTee'sCandiesVerona .Or on instagram at (@tweedleteescandiesverona) • Instagram photos and videos and T Squared Creative (@tanyatauthongkass) • Instagram photos and videosJoin Us Next Week:Continue our season of becoming the authors of our own stories with Mel Blumenthal!Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review! Share your thoughts on today's episode using #AuthenticStyleStoryThank you for tuning in to this episode of We Go Boldly Podcast. We hope you found our discussion insightful and that the strategies we covered inspire you to take actionable steps towards your personal development goals. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts, subscribe to our channel on YouTube, and follow us on IG @goboldlytogether, FB @goboldlytogether, or LI @goboldlyinitiative for more updates and exclusive content.Did you enjoy this episode? We would love to hear your thoughts. Head to Apple Podcasts and then rate, review, and subscribe. This way you will get notified once a new episode goes live.CONNECT WITH RIELLY AND TOVAHInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/goboldlytogether/Website: goboldlythepodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Go-Boldly-Together-105942584706928LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/go-boldly-initiativeYouTube: http://bit.ly/boldlyyoutubePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GoBoldlyTogether/_saved/Twitter: https://twitter.com/goboldlypodcastPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/wegoboldly  Did you enjoy this episode? We would love to hear your thoughts and more about your personal development journey. Head to Apple Podcasts and then rate, review, and subscribe. This way you will get notified once a new episode goes live. Don't forget to find us and subscribe on YouTube too. CONNECT WITH RIELLY AND TOVAHInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/goboldlytogether/Website: goboldlyinitiative.com or https://we-go-boldly-podcast.simplecast.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPh8gu_ugJqvvnYiuRSyPQLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/go-boldly-initiativePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/wegoboldlyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoBoldlyTogetherPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GoBoldlyTogether/

Think launching a handbag brand is as easy as designing a pretty product? Think again. In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, we're joined by industry expert Nancy Forman, whose decades of experience—from Bloomingdale's to Accessory Think Tank—have made her a trusted voice in fashion strategy, manufacturing, and merchandising.Nancy doesn't sugarcoat it. Today's market demands much more than a great idea—it requires a plan, a factory, and a deep understanding of your customer before you even produce your first bag. From hidden development costs to managing trade show expectations, her insights are a must-hear for any serious designer.

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about punch needle with my guest Micah Clasper-Torch.   Micah Clasper-Torch is a Los Angeles-based artist, designer, and educator helping to lead the modern revival of punch needle rug hooking. With a background in fashion design from The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Polytechnic Institute in Milan, Micah blends fine art, heritage craft, and wearable design to create one-of-a-kind textile pieces that range from coats and accessories to wall hangings and soft sculpture.  In 2019 Micah was formally trained as an Oxford Punch Needle Instructor at the Oxford Rug Hooking School in Vermont, and in 2020 she launched Punch Needle World, an online community, shop and educational platform dedicated to uplifting the craft and its history, and making high quality supplies and training accessible around the world.   Her debut book, Punch Needle Fashion, comes out in June 2025 from Quadrille and brings punch needle into the world of contemporary fashion through 15 original projects and a beautifully photographed exploration of the medium. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Amy Barickman. Are you looking for a special gift for a friend? Take a look at Amy Barickman's new book. Love You to Pieces is a heartwarming, whimsical, cheerful ode to friendship featuring a charming cast of vintage fabric characters set amidst a backdrop of glorious handmade quilts.  This book is perfect for makers, collectors, and lovers of quilts, dolls, and other textiles as well as anyone nostalgic about the fabric pals that comforted them as children! Join the pre-launch festivities at amybarickman.com/loveyoutopieces to get sneak peeks, giveaways, and first dibs when it launches! +++++ To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

ABOUT JAIME SCHWARZ:BIO: Jaime Schwarz is an award-winning copywriter and creative director, having worked with over 100 brands at NYC agencies before starting his entrepreneurial journey.In 2017 he authored the world's first NFT-focused patent and launched BrandTherapy.coach, a product market fit-focused consultancy built on the technique of letting the brand speak for itself. After co-founding seven startups and consulting for dozens more, in 2022, Jaime pivoted into the web3 world by using AI to literally teach brands to speak for themselves and co-founding The TeamFlow.Institute using team intelligence to maximize the momentum of decentralized teams to create the Company Betterment Industry. He also co-founded ParallelWorlds.us and positioned it as the world's first spatial transformation company. Since then, once his patent was granted, he has been building MRKD as an IP-founded venture focused on empowering the IP economy through co-creationism. He serves on the board of Wayfinders on the Hudson, is an advisor to XRSI.org, and lives in Hastings on Hudson with his wife and two boys.Jaime's LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/jaimeschwarzWebsites:brandtherapy.coach (Company)jaimeschwarz.com (Portfolio)calendly.com/getbrandtherapy/30min (Other)Email: jaimeschwarz@gmail.comSHOW INTROWelcome to the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast EPISODE 79 … and my conversation with Jaime Schwarz an award-winning copywriter and creative director, founder of Brand Therapy and a number of other ventures.On the podcast our dynamic dialogues based on our acronym DATA - design, architecture, technology, and the arts crosses over disciplines but maintains a common thread of people who are passionate about the world we live in and human's influence on it, the ways we craft the built environment to maximize human experience, increasing our understanding of human behavior and searching for the New Possible.    he NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD Magazine part of the Smartwork Media family of brands.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing the discourse forward on what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience. SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.orgJaime Schwarz spent years work in the fast-paced world of New York advertising agencies where he came to deeply understand brands. Since then, his entrepreneurial journey has led to patent awards, and a few business ventures that truly bring things to the NXTLVL. We'll get to all of that in a moment but first though, a few thoughts…                 *                                  *                                  *OK so where to start on this one...You know… I try to lead teams by being authentic and transparent. Candid when it matters to get to the heart of the matter and circumspect when sharing the whole story it might not be appropriate. But thinking about my interview with Jamie Schwarz makes me sit back in my chair and consider what I think I know.I think I know a little about a lot and I say that not lacking humility, but I've been always compulsively curious about stuff. All kinds of stuff.I like to know why things work the way they work, how people got to the places they got to in their careers, how history unfolds and the story of culture is our told and retold. And all sorts of other stuff. I like reading about quantum physics but will confess I still get confused about how traveling at the speed of light and coming back to your origin will mean that you come back years in the future while the passage of time for you may only be a few moments. I loved the movie interstellar. I don't know things like that just sort of confused me, but they fascinate me nevertheless.I digress.I think I probably know a little bit about enough and in some cases it just might be that I know enough to be dangerous as the saying goes. One of the motivations to doing the podcast is that I get to speak to lots people who are just way smarter and tuned in than me…and I generally add here that the bar is actually set pretty low because there are so many really smart people in the world.I like studying about the things that I try to engage in conversations about. I'll read books, watch hours of online content – presentations, speeches and interviews. I'll dig up articles and make sure that I show up ready to go for a conversation.Early on in the podcast series I had someone thank me for showing up well prepared. I just sort of thought that that was my responsibility to make sure that if someone was offering their time to have a discussion that I would have done my necessary background preparation to make it worth their while. Some interviews I sort of set as stretch goals - people who I want to talk to because they have deep insight on areas that I am interested in but in which I may not have more than an intermediate or novice education. My wife, a veteran of print and television journalism, a multi-book author, strong advocate of radical listening and who also has the uncanny ability to see way beyond the immediate conversation would always say to me that when in discussion you need to leave the interview questioning whether you know more about the person at the close of the conversation than you did when it started. That's an interesting starting point when entering a conversation because it sets the basic premise for who's doing the talking - how much listening is going on and how you listen not to simply add your own opinions, solve the problem or give advice, but to dig deeper in your understanding, resulting in better attunement.I will confess that sometimes I am fully aware that my enthusiasm for subject matter leads to jumping in, offering personal experiences and contributing ideas. Conversations can chase multiple ideas, but I also think that's a result of what I consider as associative thinking - one idea connects to another and sets off a cascade of related or interdependent subjects. And then a whole array of rabbit holes lay before us. Each one leading to a delightful journey. Oh now which one to choose – why not all – let's go!I have come to use these introductions to podcast interviews as replacements of a sort for a blog I used to write for VMSD magazine called “Brain Food.” I take the time to consider what the conversation with my guest is about and set to musing on ideas that emerged in the conversation. Some of them are personal, stories that resonate deeply with personal or professional experiences. Others are thought bubbles that I offer up for further investigation. I think that most of this episode is like thought bubbles. It covers the nature of branding and relationships with consumers, trust in marketing and storytelling, NFTs and creating derivative works and related IP legal issues, Web 3.0, Deconstructivism, co-creation in a digital mediated world, Ai and collective intelligence, the pace of change, art and digital twinning and the inherent value of co-creative works, quantum computers and hacking bitcoin, object permanence in the digital space… and, and, and you get the idea. There is so much here that you might say it lacks focus, but I think it actually offers up the idea of complexity in our fast-paced digitally mediated world where interdependencies reign, everything is connected to everything in one multi-dimensional system and to what end it is sweeping us along. We can come to these various rabbit holes of conversation because Jaime Schwarzis an award-winning copywriter and creative director, having worked with over 100 brands at NYC agencies before starting his entrepreneurial journey.In 2017 he authored the world's first NFT-focused patent and launched BrandTherapy.coach, a “product market fit-focused” consultancy (about which he speaks in our talk) that is built on the technique of letting the brand speak for itself. After co-founding seven startups and consulting for dozens more, in 2022, Jaime pivoted into the web3 world by using AI to literally teach brands to speak for themselves and co-founding The TeamFlow.Institute using team intelligence to maximize the momentum of decentralized teams to create the Company Betterment Industry. He also co-founded ParallelWorlds.us and positioned it as the world's first spatial transformation company. Since then, once his patent was granted, he has been building MRKD as an IP-founded venture focused on empowering the IP economy through co-creationism. I could have prompted Jaime with any of these subjects and just sat back and taken it all in.ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites:  https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com.  The next level experience design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

Do you remember saddle shoes, knee socks, or crinolines? Or guys, did you let your sideburns grow longer than usual to look fashionable? In keeping with our series on the culture of the Boomer generation, today we examine the fashions of the Boomer generation as we moved from strict rules to anything goes, from covering up to showing off.  Our guest today is Shawn Grain Carter of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Shawn takes us on a nostalgic journey, reminding us that fashion is a business and we all have a choice in what we choose to wear.Brought to you by NEXTVillageSF.orgNEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently. 

Jasmine Benjamin, a California native, embodies the laid-back spirit of Northern California where she was born and the dynamic energy of Hollywood, where her work thrives. With a career spanning 17 plus years as a stylist, consultant, and creative director, she has established herself as a key figure in culture. Her latest project, CITY OF ANGELS: “A book about L.A. style”, is her first coffee table book, capturing the essence of contemporary LA style through 120 plus portraits of local luminaries. Set for release in Spring 2025 by Italian publisher Damiani, the book showcases Jasmine's talent as a photographer, creative director and curator. Jasmine's career began while she was studying at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. In 2002, she turned an internship at Interscope Records into an opportunity to shape the visual identity of the label's artists. In 2005, she styled her first influential indie band, J*Davey, before moving to New York City in 2007, where she immersed herself in the fashion world for five years. With an eye for both contemporary trends and fashion history, Jasmine continues to shape pop culture with her unique, forward-thinking approach. Her work has earned recognition from Vogue, GQ, i-D, Billboard, and in 2016, she was named i-D Magazine's “Top Stylist.” Resources: Jasmine Benjamin City of Angels: A Book of L.A. Style Altadena Photographers Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame Websites Sponsors Charcoal Book Club Frames Magazine Education Resources: Momenta Photographic Workshops Candid Frame Resources Download the free Candid Frame app for your favorite smart device. Click here to download it for . Click here to download Contribute a one-time donation to the show thru Buy Me a Coffee Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing to our Patreon effort.  You can do this by visiting or the website and clicking on the Patreon button. You can also provide a one-time donation via . You can follow Ibarionex on and .

Ceramicist, Malene Barnett, returns to the Noize! We learned all about her amazing book Crafted Kinship and now we learn all about her artistic practice. From designing rugs to ceramics walls Malene's curiosity and passion has pushed her in new directions. After discovering her love for hand building clay she has been on a journey to learn the craft and make work in all forms. We talk about her ceramic murals, how residencies helped her learn about ceramics, being a part of a community of artists, and the structure she uses to keep her on track in the studio. Malene has some great insights in to clay and how it connects her to her ancestors. More of that good art talk that you love on the Noize! Listen, subscribe, and share!Episode 202 topics include:Crafted Kinship world tourworking in clayfinding residencies to study clay being a part of the ceramics communitybeing objective about your worksturcture and discipline in art practiceceramic muralstraveling to Ghana for research Malene Djenaba Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, textile surface designer, and community builder. She earned her MFA in ceramics from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and undergraduate degrees in fashion illustration and textile surface design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Malene received a Fulbright Award to travel to Jamaica in 2022–23 as the visiting artist at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston. Malene's art reflects her African Caribbean heritage, building on her ancestral legacy of mark-making as a visual identity, and has been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the United States, including the Mindy Solomon Gallery in Miami, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling in New York City, the African American Museum of Dallas, and Temple Contemporary in Philadelphia. Malene's art and design work has appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Galerie, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Departures, and Interior Design. In addition, Malene hosts lectures on advocating for African Caribbean ceramic traditions and has participated in residencies at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Greenwich House Pottery, Judson Studios, the Hambidge Center, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. In 2024, Malene released her first book, “Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers” (Hachette), which includes interviews with over 60 artists of Caribbean heritage, taking readers on an important journey through the world of Black Caribbean creativity. This groundbreaking collection is the first to feature Caribbean makers' intimate stories of their artmaking processes, and how their countries of origin—the “land” —influences and informs how and what they create. See more: Malene Barnett website + Malene Barnett IG @malene.barnettFollow us:StudioNoizePodcast.comIG: @studionoizepodcastJamaal Barber: @JBarberStudioSupport the podcast www.patreon.com/studionoizepodcast

In this week's two-part episode, we recap our recent fashion history day tours of NYC and hear from a few of the past Dressed guests who joined us along the way. In Part I, we chat about our immersive day-long tours of the Fashion Institute of Technology and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Episodes with our featured guests: Dress Like an Egyptian, an interview with Dr. Colleen Darnell Making Lace: Then and Now, an interview with Eleana Kanagy-Loux Part I and Part II Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  • Our website and classes • Our Instagram • Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca moves into the dorms at the Fashion Institute and her roommates' outfits go missing. Everyone is mystified, but the answer… is terrifying.Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your story with Spooked!Produced by Erick Yáñez. Original score by Nicolas Marks. Scouted by Vanessa Golembewski. Artwork by Teo Ducot.