Why do most sustainable fashion brands stick to "boring and beige," and how is one founder proving colorful conscious fashion can thrive?

Breaking the beige barrier in sustainable fashion takes more than good intentions—it requires bold vision, strategic sourcing, and a willingness to challenge industry stereotypes. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo chats with Holly Garrard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fundae-founder-holly-garrard/), founder and chief visionary officer of Fundae (https://www.fundae.com), the eco-chic footwear brand redefining what sustainable style looks like. With a patent-pending modular shoe system that transforms one pair into limitless looks, Holly shares how she left her corporate media career at ESPN to prove that fashion can be colorful, conscious, and commercially viable. Learn how she navigated product development challenges, built supplier relationships through strategic sourcing, and created a brand rooted in purpose-driven pillars that guide every business decision.

Tune in to learn:

• (00:00 ) From ESPN to Eco-Chic: Holly's Journey to Fundae


• (10:23 ) Patent-Pending Innovation: Creating the Modular Shoe System


• (13:47 ) Sourcing Sustainable Materials Through Alibaba.com


• (26:18 ) Mission-Driven Business: The Four Pillars of Fundae


• (34:15 ) Solopreneur Realities: Navigating the Gig Economy


• (37:28 ) From D2C to Wholesale: The Future of Fundae

Check out our three most downloaded episodes:

• The Marmals Method: How to Sell Toys, Test Ideas & Thrive on the Convention Circuit
  (https://b2b-breakthrough-podcast.castos.com/episodes/the-marmals-method-how-to-sell-toys-test-ideas-thrive-on-the-convention-circuit)


• Scale Your Business Using These (Free) Audience Research Strategies (https://b2b-breakthrough-podcast.castos.com/episodes/scale-your-business-using-free-audience-research-strategies)


• Crowdfunding Unpacked: Kickstarter’s Blueprint for Small Business Success (https://b2b-breakthrough-podcast.castos.com/episodes/crowdfunding-unpacked-kickstarters-blueprint-for-small-business-success )
  

Chapters

• (00:00:00 ) - B2B Breakthrough Podcast
• (00:01:00 ) - Celebrity Interview
• (00:01:52 ) - The New York Fashion Week: Funday
• (00:06:56 ) - What Makes Fund So Fun?
• (00:10:15 ) - The Fun Day Shoe
• (00:17:18 ) - The story of food made from waste
• (00:19:12 ) - What's the Vetting Process for Your Leathers?
• (00:21:56 ) - Starting a business in your 30s
• (00:23:28 ) - How High Heels Are Made: The Italian Boot
• (00:25:45 ) - The Secret to Crafting a Design
• (00:27:00 ) - AI Sourcing: The Ultimate Search Engine
• (00:27:56 ) - The Purpose Behind Fund
• (00:31:32 ) - Flip Flops Charity Giving Day
• (00:34:01 ) - The Real Story of Covid Shoes
• (00:39:39 ) - Fool My Shoes: What's Next for the Company
• (00:42:50 ) - B2B Breakthrough: Alibaba.com