BRAND NEWS

In this episode, we explore the often misunderstood role of a Technical Development Manager. Unlike some professions, there's no specific education path for this role and the job varies greatly per company. However, everything you see in a store has likely passed through the hands of a technical developer, emphasizing the importance of optimizing fit and ensuring customer satisfaction. Our guest, Sita, specializes in lingerie, transitioning from a Garment Technician to a Technical Development Manager at brands such as Marlies Dekkers, Hunkemoller, and now Tommy Hilfiger. With over a decade of experience, she has learned the nuances of garment perfection, collaborating with vendors in China and Bangladesh and visiting many factories. Sita shares her insights on various aspects of the job, as well as discussing the implications of garment factory automation, inspired by an article from Vogue Business.

In today's episode, we're shining the spotlight on Jesse Donker, the Art Director at bol! Jesse's journey began in the world of Visual Merchandising before he stepped into his role as Art Director, wielding significant influence over bol's visual identity. Join us as Jesse shares his insights into the role of an art director, particularly in the realm of online retail like bol. bol has been a major player in the online shopping scene since '99, boasting an impressive 13 million active customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. With a staggering 35 million items available from over 52,000 sales partners, bol's impact in the e-commerce world is undeniable. Let's dive in and discover the magic behind bol's visual allure with Jesse Donker.

In this episode, I take you on a journey to the heart of Paris, where I had the privilege of interviewing Maeva Mellet. With an illustrious career as the former Women's Ready-to-Wear Design Manager at Maison Margiela, Maeva offers a unique perspective, having collaborated closely with the renowned Creative Director, John Galliano. We delve into the intricacies of her role, gaining valuable insights into the dynamic world of fashion. Maeva generously shares her experiences navigating the demanding landscape of fashion weeks, recounting moments when dedication led her to sleep in the showroom itself. The intensity of Fashion Week, she reveals, sometimes left her feeling disconnected from reality. As we traverse the milestones of her career – from her humble beginnings at Galeries Lafayette to pivotal roles at Balenciaga, Chloe, Givenchy, Zara, and ultimately Maison Margiela – Maeva's journey unfolds. We explore how these diverse experiences shaped her professional trajectory, culminating in her transition to freelancing. Join us as Maeva reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and the extraordinary pace of the fashion industry. Discover the behind-the-scenes stories that capture the essence of her remarkable career, and learn how she manages to reconnect with normal life amidst the whirlwind of Fashion Week.

For this episode I interviewed Zuzanna Krzatala from Vogue Poland! Zuzanna, a model and human rights activist, has been working in the fashion industry for over two decades as she started out as a model after being scouted at the age of 13. She’s now the Sustainability Manager for Vogue Poland and organizes the annual Business Fashion Environment Summit (BFES), the leading forum for sustainability to address the pressing environmental and social issues the fashion industry faces today. She also has her own podcast ‘Call To Action’ where she talks about what we can do here and now in connection with the war in Ukraine. In this conversation, we dive deep into her studies and career, and her views on the role she has taken on at Vogue.

Sexual wellness in fashion? Yes, sexual wellness in fashion! This week I interview co-founder of The Oh Collective, Simona Xu. With a background at Nike and Zalando she launched The Oh Collective back in 2021 with 3 of her best friends, all with the mission to normalize intimate wellness worldwide. As children of first-generation Asian immigrants, they were raised with a conservative Chinese heritage where the topics of sex, intimacy, and sex education are still considered taboo. After being approached by Selfridges, others soon followed like Sephora, and sneaker stores Patta and Maha. So what's it like having to tell your parents you're leaving a well payed job to start your own intimate brand? How does sex even fit into the fashion world?

This episode I speak to Stephany who until recently had worked for the H&M Group for 11 years and Oona Agency. We speak on how she built her career from working in a H&M store during her studies and eventually moving to Stockholm to become the Global Media Innovation & Strategy Manager to now setting up her own business in mentoring and consulting. We discuss the impact of the 'Vogue Business Debunking The Dream' articles on people within the fashion industry but also herself. What's it like breaking through in the fashion scene, following your passion, having a seat at the table? How can you create an inclusive space to ensure people can voice themselves and have a different opinions?

This week I speak to Katie who works as Account Director for Highsnobiety+ ! Among many topics, we speak about her favourite campaign she worked on: RZA and Ballantine’s Whisky as well as shooting the Gucci Off The Grid campaign during Covid.  What does an Account Director do? How do the Media and Fashion world collide? How does she deal with misconceptions in her job role and more importantly the stereotypes of the fashion world?

Brand News x Mountain Collective Podcast! I speak to Mourad who has a background working for brands like Nike and Tommy Hilfiger. He shares his insights on starting in 3D, AR and AI design, how the world is evolving and his take on if AI could replace jobs in the fashion industry.

This episode I speak to Viktoria Dimitrov who works as a Senior Buyer for Calvin Klein, which is a part of the PVH group. She recently moved abroad for the job after working for Zalando in Berlin. We speak about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, sustainability around discounting, and discuss the buyer role. What is a buyer exactly, what does a day look like and how do you deal with managing a team?

The first episode of BRAND NEWS! I speak to Damien Winpenny from SEEK Berlin. We dive in to his work as Brand and Retail Specialist and discuss how he keeps up with his fashion news. We touch on topics like Our Legacy's collaboration with Armani, our love for Paris during fashion week and how he moved to Berlin for the job.