Podcast
Fashion & Founders The Podcast
Hosted by Victoria Smith · EN
Fashion & Founders is a media platform exploring how fashion is actually built. Hosted by Victoria Smith, the show sits at the intersection of fashion, technology, and capital spotlighting the founders, investors, and operators shaping the industry’s next era.
Through long-form conversations, we go beyond trends to unpack fundraising, manufacturing, resale, AI, sustainability, career, and the evolving business of fashion. This is where fashion’s builders speak, share, and connect.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Make a Career out of Taste with VP of Partnerships at ShopMy
5d ago00:57:07Tap to summarizeThis week on Fashion and Founders Podcast, I’m joined by Caley-Rae Pavillard, VP of Partnerships & Business Development at ShopMy. If you've spent any time around creators lately, you've probably heard the same thing: "Get on ShopMy." But why has it become such a powerful platform for creators, brands, and tastemakers?In this episode, we discuss why creators are becoming the new retailers, how affiliate marketing is reshaping the industry, and why follower count matters far less than most people think. Caley shares what brands are actually looking for, how creators can turn recommendations into recurring revenue, and why human taste may become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. Consider this your ShopMy Success Guide and Masterclass in Influencer Marketing. We cover: How creators are making millions through affiliate revenue The shift from attention to influence What brands really want from creator partnerships Why authenticity still wins The future of shopping, discovery, and personal brandsWhether you're a creator, founder, marketer, or simply curious about where commerce is headed next, this episode is packed with insights.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow ShopMy:IG: @shopmyJoin ShopMy as a creator HEREJoin ShopMy as a shopper HEREFollow Caley-Rae:IG: @heycayraeCaley’s ShopMyRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50and get 50% off your first month!Glamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offThanks for listening!
Transcribe →Answering Your Biggest Fashion Career Questions: Solo Episode
2w ago00:23:28Tap to summarizeThis week, I’m answering your questions in a solo episode. I asked you to send in your biggest questions about working in fashion, founder tools, networking, fashion tech, and building a career you actually love, and we're covering all of it. From how to pivot into fashion from a different industry or degree, how to attend New York Fashion Week, the tools I’ve used to grow on social media, and the fashion tech companies and trends I'm watching closely right now. Whether you're trying to land your first fashion job, grow your platform, or simply understand where the industry is headed, I hope this episode gives you a few practical takeaways you can use immediately.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyLinks for mentioned items in the episode:Fashion Career PlaybookCopenhagen Fashion BrandsDressing Professionally on a BudgetFlatter BlazerNo Blister FlatsEarringsRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50and get 50% off your first month!Glamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offThanks for listening!
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LoveShackFancy: Fashion Editor to Empire with Rebecca Hessel Cohen
May 2400:41:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of LoveShackFancy. They discuss how Rebecca went from working as a fashion editor at Cosmopolitan to building one of the most recognizable brands in fashion. Rebecca shares the story behind the original bridesmaid dress that launched the company, the early years before opening a retail store, and how LoveShackFancy evolved from a niche aesthetic into a full lifestyle universe. They also discuss the viral ruffle skirt that became one of the most copied fashion pieces online, navigating dupes and copycats, scaling without diluting the brand, building immersive retail experiences, and what makes collaborations actually work. Plus Rebecca’s advice for standing out in fashion, building a recognizable point of view, and turning aspiration into community.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow LoveShackFancy:IG: @loveshackfancyTikTok: @loveshackfancyShopFollow Rebecca:IG: @becknycTikTok: @becknyc_Glamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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The Brand Behind Acquired Style’s Viral Bachelorette Trip: Swan Beauty
May 1000:24:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with Colby Mitchell, founder of Swan Beauty, the AI beauty tech startup that went viral after sponsoring Acquired Style’s bachelorette trip. They discuss the strategy behind the partnership, the inbound after the trip, and the theories circulating the internet. The conversation explores the intersection of beauty and technology, the future of AI-powered skincare, and the journey to building Swan Beauty. If the bachelorette trip content left you wondering what is Swan Beauty, listen here and learn what’s next for them after their viral moment.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow Swan:IG: @swanbeauty_usSwan Beauty WebsiteTry the appFollow Colby:IG: @colbytmitchellFamily Office Episode Mentioned HEREGlamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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The Future of Beauty with Glamsquad founder Giovanni Vaccaro
May 300:44:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with Giovanni Vaccaro, co-founder of GlamSquad, to talk about the future of beauty and how access is changing everything. What used to be reserved for celebrities and top influencers, getting your hair and makeup done at home, is now available on demand. Giovanni breaks down how GlamSquad made that shift possible, turning luxury beauty into something people can actually use in their everyday lives. They discuss the rise of convenience-driven services, the connection between beauty and confidence, and how platforms like GlamSquad are redefining both access and the way creatives work. If you’ve ever wondered how people always have glam for events, shoots, or fashion week this is how.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow Glamsquad:IG: @glamsquadFollow Giovanni:IG: @giovannivaccaroGlamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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Building a Brand That Means Something: Sali Christeson Founder of Argent
Apr 2600:46:13Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with Sali Christeson, founder and CEO of Argent, to discuss what it really takes to build a fashion brand over the long term. Sally shares her path from tech to launching Argent, and how a gap in the workwear market led her to create a brand rooted in both function and purpose. They get into raising venture capital in fashion, navigating the “messy middle” of growth, and why most brands don’t make it past the early years. Sally also shares how Argent went from strong growth to zero revenue during COVID and the unexpected moment that turned things around. The conversation covers hiring, trusting your instincts as a founder, evolving workwear culture, and why there’s no shortcut to building a brand that lasts.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow Argent:IG: @argentShop ArgentFollow Sali:IG: @salichristesonBrand Highlight: Alexandra MadisonGlamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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Vestiaire Collective: the $1 Billion Resale Platform
Apr 1300:37:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with the Chief Business Officer of Vestiaire Collective, Klemen Drole. They discuss how the company evolved from a niche resale platform into a global leader in secondhand luxury. He was previously the Chief Technology Officer and shares the tech innovations Vestiaire is implanting to keep up with demand. They break down the realities of building a fashion resale company over 15+ years, from overcoming early stigma around secondhand to reaching profitability and scaling globally. The conversation explores how Vestiaire balances supply and demand, pricing millions of unique items, and the keys to their growth. They also dive into how trends emerge in real time on resale platforms, the role of AI in authentication and curation, and how luxury brands are increasingly partnering with resale platforms. Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow Vestiaire Collective:IG: @vestiairecoShop: vestiairecollective.comBrand Highlight: MelisseGlamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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The Business of Being an Influencer with Hannah Lizzy
Apr 500:36:25Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with Hannah Krohne, Hannah Lizzy on TikTok, a fashion creator who turned TikTok into a launching point for her career. Landing roles at David Yurman, Danielle and Alix in styling, and ASOS in merchandising and trend analysis before ultimately going full-time as an influencer. They discuss her path from posting in her college dorm to building a platform that now functions as both content and portfolio. Hannah shares what it really looks like to balance a 9–5 with content creation, from filming multiple videos a day to navigating the transition out of corporate. They also get into the financial realities of influencing, including inconsistent income, brand deals, and the unexpected costs behind “free” product.The conversation breaks down how brands actually choose influencers, the behind-the-scenes of Fashion Week dressing, and why so much of what you see online isn’t as it seems. They also explore the role of content in building a career in fashion, why you don’t need a traditional fashion background, and how to position yourself for opportunities in the industry.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow Hannah:IG: @hannahlizzy_TikTok: @hannahlizzy_Brand Highlight: Paris64Glamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund: What It’s Really Like to be a Finalist
Mar 2200:46:46Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with Ashley Moubayed, founder of Don’t Let Disco and a CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist. They discuss her journey from building the brand as a side hustle to becoming a full-time founder, and the realities of growing a fashion business. Ashley shares what it’s really like to go through the CFDA Fashion Fund, from the application process to the impact it has on credibility and growth. They also break down the cost of New York Fashion Week, navigating press, and why relationships and long-term partnerships are key in the industry. The conversation explores storytelling in fashion, misconceptions around jewelry, and why visibility doesn’t always equal value.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow Don’t Let Disco:IG: @dontletdiscoShopGlamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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OOTD: Viral Fashion Content Strategy
Mar 1500:39:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Victoria sits down with the team behind OOTD, one of the fastest-growing fashion media platforms capturing street style around the world. What began as candid outfit videos filmed on the streets of New York has quickly evolved into an international fashion community covering major cultural moments from Coachella to Fashion Week. They discuss the strategy behind creating viral fashion content, scaling, and monetization. No longer just online they have built a network of creators across cities like New York, Paris, and London hosting dinners and events with their community. Since they’ve scaled so quickly they discuss fashion tech and building internal technology needed for their business. Plus they’re hiring and share their vision for how OOTD could become one of the most recognizable fashion brands in the world.Follow Fashion & Founders:Podcast IG: @fashionandfoundersPodcast Substack: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Website: fashionandfounders.comPodcast TikTok: @fashionandfoundersPodcast YouTube: Fashion and FoundersPodcast LinkedIn: Fashion and FoundersPodcast Links: Shop MyFollow OOTD:IG: @ootdTikTok: @ootdootd.comFollow Cory and Nic:IG: @corymuroffIG: @wantthisnicGlamsquad:Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 offRent the Runway:Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 60% off your first month!Thanks for listening!
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