Inside the Brand Making Magic from Designer Leftovers

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Inside the Brand Making Magic from Designer Leftovers"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Let's Get Dressed
• Host: Liv Perez
• Episode: Inside the Brand Making Magic from Designer Leftovers
• Release Date: July 21, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this episode of Let's Get Dressed, host Liv Perez delves into the innovative world of sustainable fashion by interviewing Patricia Voto, the visionary founder of a unique fashion studio based in a townhouse atelier on the Upper East Side. Patricia is renowned for her commitment to sustainability, utilizing dead stock fabrics from iconic brands to create bespoke, made-to-order pieces. This conversation explores the intricacies of running a sustainable fashion brand in 2025, emphasizing the rejection of traditional fashion norms.

2. Origin Story and Brand Philosophy

Patricia Voto shares the inception of her brand, which officially launched in 2021 after 15 years in the fashion industry. Her motivation stemmed from observing the industry's rampant wastefulness and the declining emphasis on quality and craftsmanship. She observed that major luxury houses were contributing to overconsumption and sameness in fashion, leading her to dream of a brand that prioritizes individuality and sustainability.

"We make things that just fit people, no matter what their measurements are," Patricia explains at [06:07], highlighting her brand's dedication to personalized fashion over standardized sizes.

3. Sustainable Practices and Use of Dead Stock

A central theme of Patricia's brand is the utilization of dead stock fabrics—materials that are leftover from other brands' production runs and would otherwise be discarded. She meticulously sources these fabrics from reputable mills worldwide, ensuring that each piece is both unique and environmentally responsible.

"Dead stock often means the end of a roll or finished fabric that won't be produced anymore," Patricia elucidates at [08:41], shedding light on the origins of these materials.

Patricia prefers working with known mills to maintain the integrity and provenance of her fabrics, distinguishing her approach from third-party brokers who often aggregate assorted dead stock without regard for brand lineage.

4. Challenging Traditional Fashion Systems

Patricia's business model starkly contrasts with conventional fashion practices. She operates without holding inventory, sample sizing, or an e-commerce platform. Instead, her approach revolves around intimate, in-person connections with clients, fostering a collaborative environment where each garment is thoughtfully created to suit individual needs.

"We do not have inventory. We make samples that people can try on and call them suggestions," Patricia states at [25:10], emphasizing her brand's commitment to intentional creation over mass production.

5. Customer Experience and Customization

The personalized experience at Patricia's atelier is a cornerstone of her brand. Clients engage in one-on-one consultations where they can customize their pieces, ensuring that each garment not only fits perfectly but also resonates with their personal stories and preferences.

"Our clients become addicted to the experience. This is where I only want to shop," Patricia notes at [33:04], underscoring the deep connection her clients feel with the brand.

6. Understanding and Utilizing Dead Stock Fabrics

Patricia provides an in-depth explanation of dead stock, detailing how these fabrics originate from various sources, including leftover materials from VIP projects or discontinued textile lines. She navigates the challenges of sourcing high-quality fabrics, often using tools like reverse image search to trace the origins of specific materials.

"With reverse image search, everything's much easier to find out now," she mentions at [11:04], illustrating how technology aids her in maintaining the quality and uniqueness of her offerings.

7. The Importance of Proper Fit and Underpinnings

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the critical role of proper fit and underpinnings in achieving sustainable fashion. Patricia advocates for investing in well-fitted undergarments, such as bras, as they transform how clothing fits and feels, ultimately enhancing confidence and comfort.

"Good underpinnings, people often undervalue. Go for a good bra. Fitting like that can change the way all of your clothes fit and feel," she advises at [35:22].

8. Perspectives on Sustainability in Fashion

Patricia offers a nuanced view of sustainability, critiquing the prevalent issue of greenwashing in the industry. She believes in practicing sustainability with honesty and integrity, focusing on responsible sourcing, fair wages, and building a local economy. Her approach encompasses environmental, social, and economic sustainability, striving to create heirloom-quality pieces that last a lifetime.

"Heirloom products just couldn't be more of a sustainable thing. If it's going to be with you forever, that's great and it's well made so it will be with you forever," Patricia emphasizes at [18:47].

9. The Future of Patricia Voto's Brand and Sustainability

Looking ahead, Patricia is excited about expanding her bespoke services, allowing for greater creative freedom and deeper client relationships. She envisions scaling her business through satellite ateliers, maintaining her core values while reaching a broader audience.

"We've grown 200% year over year. We've got our own atelier in our building. We're bursting at the seams," Patricia shares at [31:20], indicating organic growth without compromising her sustainable ethos.

Additionally, she expresses optimism about wider industry shifts towards sustainability, citing initiatives like Chanel's recycled materials business and the importance of sharing resources among brands to foster a more sustainable fashion landscape.

"I think it's incredibly smart to really use what's already there, as we said, but also to share that with other brands. I hope it goes a far way," Patricia remarks at [41:56].

10. Practical Advice for Customizing Wardrobes

To listeners interested in sustainable fashion but unable to afford bespoke services, Patricia offers practical advice on customizing existing wardrobes. She recommends simple alterations like tailoring garments for a better fit and investing in quality undergarments to enhance overall appearance and comfort.

"Simple tailoring, it's like the reproportioning of something. You'll stand a little bit taller, you'll look a little bit better," she advises at [35:40].

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Conclusion

Patricia Voto's approach to fashion embodies a harmonious blend of sustainability, craftsmanship, and personal connection. By utilizing dead stock fabrics and fostering intimate client relationships, her brand not only reduces waste but also champions individuality in a saturated market. This episode of Let's Get Dressed offers invaluable insights into building a sustainable fashion brand that prioritizes quality, fit, and meaningful storytelling over conventional industry practices.

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Notable Quotes:

• Patricia Voto [06:07]: "We make things that just fit people, no matter what their measurements are."
• Patricia Voto [08:41]: "Dead stock often means the end of a roll or finished fabric that won't be produced anymore."
• Patricia Voto [25:10]: "We do not have inventory. We make samples that people can try on and call them suggestions."
• Patricia Voto [35:22]: "Good underpinnings, people often undervalue. Go for a good bra. Fitting like that can change the way all of your clothes fit and feel."
• Patricia Voto [18:47]: "Heirloom products just couldn't be more of a sustainable thing. If it's going to be with you forever, that's great and it's well made so it will be with you forever."
• Patricia Voto [31:20]: "We've grown 200% year over year. We've got our own atelier in our building. We're bursting at the seams."
• Patricia Voto [41:56]: "I think it's incredibly smart to really use what's already there, as we said, but also to share that with other brands. I hope it goes a far way."

Transcript

[Audible]

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[Liv Perez]

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of let's Get Dressed. It's your host Liv Perez. I hope you're all having a great start to your week. Thank you so much for tuning in today. Today's episode is with someone who I really admire in the fashion space. Not just because she designs some of the most incredible clothing out there, but also for the new vision that she is carving for herself in the fashion industry. Her name is Patricia Voto and she is the founder of one of her studio is on the Upper east side in a townhouse atelier where she is quietly reshaping what the future of fashion could look like. She works exclusively with dead stock fabrics from iconic houses like Prada and Dries Van Noten to create one of a kind made to order pieces for her customers that might have been the trash of another brand but could be our treasures. But more than that, she is building a brand that just completely rejects the traditional fashion system. She has no inventory, no sample sizing, no e commerce platform and no fashion calendar. Just one on one in person connection and shopping and creating with intention. In today's episode we talk about what it means to really run a sustainable brand in 2025 and if it's possible. If you're not a luxury brand. We also talk about how to find clothes that actually fit your body and her best tip to do so, which is something you really might not expect. And of Course, we talk about the origin story of her brand and how rooms of forgotten fabrics became the foundation for something quite different and revolutionary in fashion. I know you guys are going to love this episode. Let's go get dressed with Patricia Voto of one of. Welcome to the pod.

[Patricia Voto]

Thank you. Happy to be here.

[Unnamed Guest]

I'm so happy to have you. Obviously, I've followed your work and have adored you and the brand for so long. So it just feels kind of kismet that we finally got to meet and do this. I obviously walked into the hallway and saw you wearing this incredible outfit. You have to walk me through it because it's so beautiful.

[Patricia Voto]

I pattern print color. Very important to me personally. I also love using interior fabrics within a lot of our clothing. So this is actually primarily for couches and chairs and wall coverings. So that's what I did. At the front. We have a matching shoe on today that goes back to it. And then the back is a bonded fabric that we had left over. And then this old Marc Jacobs polka dot silk as the skirt.

[Unnamed Guest]

So what is your lip color?

[Patricia Voto]

Oh, gosh, it's Jones Road. Something I will look for you after. But it's Jones Road. I know that.

[Unnamed Guest]

And show the YouTubers it goes. No, like, that's crazy. That's crazy.

[Patricia Voto]

We love a matchy matchy, head to toe, everything.

[Unnamed Guest]

I love when my guests come prepared for the show. It means a lot to me. You really showed up for the show. I'm obsessed with that. Also, if you are watching on YouTube and I'm like, pink in the face, it's because it is 100 degrees outside.

[Patricia Voto]

Yes. Literally one wearing this today.

[Unnamed Guest]

I was gonna say, like, you're really doing the most, but I'm assuming that you, like, took a car here from up high street. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah, I walked here. I was doing a podcast on the other side of Canal Street. Like, on the other end.

[Patricia Voto]

Brutal.

[Unnamed Guest]

And a seven minute walk, really. My phone stopped working.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

It was like, it's too hot.

[Patricia Voto]

I am. I am inside for as long as.

[Unnamed Guest]

I can be inside. Well, I would love to live inside your brain. So that makes a lot of sense because you make some of my favorite clothes in the fashion industry. Like, I love everything you touch. I just think everything that you make is truly art.

[Patricia Voto]

Thank you.

[Unnamed Guest]

Even the shirt that you're wearing. I love that you were like, it's made for interiors.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah. We're always trying to turn things on its head and I think we're having fun while we do it, which is super important. To me, you know, I've been in the industry for over 15 years, so to be able to really spend time on each creation and make it really personal, I think that people can feel that in the clothes. It's like this was a lot of thought and care was put into each piece, so.

[Unnamed Guest]

And you have this beautiful, like contrast collar on.

[Patricia Voto]

Yes, I forgot about that.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, please don't forget about that. Is that a separate piece?

[Patricia Voto]

No, no. I can see it's very intentional. It's attached, but we did raw edge on it because I wanted there to be like something a little gritty. I was like a little weird to be in our pieces. So a bit little. A little bit of a raw texture up here.

[Unnamed Guest]

It's so good.

[Patricia Voto]

Thank you.

[Unnamed Guest]

If you're listening audibly, I highly recommend you go watch this on YouTube because it is probably my favorite outfit worn on the show thus far.

[Patricia Voto]

Thank you.

[Liv Perez]

Anytime.

[Unnamed Guest]

So, as I mentioned, big fan. I've been following you for a few years. I think my first one of piece was like in 2021. I wore it in Milan and fell in love.

[Patricia Voto]

Oh, I forgot about that. Yes. It was the bronze skirt.

[Unnamed Guest]

It was, yeah. And the bra and the skirt. And it was like. It just felt so me and so fun. I love the way that you design and so a longtime fan and I would love to hear the origin story of one of.

[Patricia Voto]

So we actually launched in 2021. So you were like really one of the early adapters to the brand.

[Unnamed Guest]

I think I was wearing.

[Patricia Voto]

You wore the blue dress too. Do you remember? It was like a blue column dress. Yeah. It looks so great on you.

[Unnamed Guest]

I forgot about that dress. I wore it to a sustainability award.

[Patricia Voto]

Yes, exactly.

[Unnamed Guest]

So that dress was magic.

[Patricia Voto]

Yes. It was beautiful on you.

[Unnamed Guest]

I have never gotten more compliments. People were coming up to me. Yep. And it had the belt, like, kind of like the empire waist matching belt. Oh my gosh. That was. That dress was so good. So, yeah, basically I've been a long time fan.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah. From the beginning.

[Unnamed Guest]

Please tell me more about the origin story.

[Patricia Voto]

So we launched the brand in 2021, but the idea had been with me for a really long time. I started in the industry 15 years ago and I think over the years I really started to notice how wasteful the industry was. And I think I. I was also noticing a lot of change in quality and craftsmanship being less important and sameness becoming more important. I think when, you know, we look to the luxury houses for inspiration and also they kind of guide what's happening within the industry. They're very, you know, culturally relevant. And it all started to look the same and kind of made me sad in a lot of ways that, you know, we're over consuming, we're overproducing, and we're all starting to look identical to each other. And that had been with me for a long time. And I think, you know, I was never truly sample sized. So I also loved the idea of making things that just fit people, didn't matter what their measurements were. So kind of taking all these things, and with all the brands that I worked for, I was responsible for the raw materials. I had these amazing relationships with mills all over the world. And when I reached out to them with this idea, I was like, I want to buy up your leftovers. Like, what's on the shelves? They're like, Patricia. No, like, you design the fabrics. Why are you buying our leftovers? You can just create your own. It's like the idea is to use what's already out there, and there's like a real beauty in that. And so it was important to me to build a brand that focuses on really intentional creation. And so everything's made to order and made to measure using deadstock fabrics from all over the world. And we produce in New York, which was really important to me too. It's where I'm from. But also it's really important because the product is very. The quantity of fabrics we're working with are finite, so you can't really screw that up. You've got one shot often to cut the fabric. So we wanted to keep it really close to home and really make craftsmanship a focal point in New York, which it's often not.

[Unnamed Guest]

You mentioned dead stock, and I actually recently have had a lot of people ask me, what is dead stock? I think it's definitely something you know of if you're in the industry. But can you explain what it is and where it's first from?

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah. Dead stock often means, like the end of a roll or a finished fabric, so they're not going to produce any more of it. So that's why you'll find, you know, there's always leftover from brands and there might not be enough to do a full production run of a garment. So it'll often get tossed aside or discarded. Or maybe they developed a fabric and then they ended up not proceeding with the production of it. So it's really those end of rolls and, like, things no longer be produced. It's just these, like, remnant yardage.

[Unnamed Guest]

And so where does that go? Like, say, You're a brand that's like using, you know, a beautiful silk, but you only use 3/4 of it.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

Do they sell it back? Do they sell it to a place? Where do you buy it from? Tell me more.

[Patricia Voto]

There's a lot of different avenues you can buy from. There's definitely third party sellers that kind of aggregate fabrics from multiple brands. There's like brokers almost that are in between, or they call them.

[Unnamed Guest]

I'd love to be a dead stock broker. What are you thinking about? Incredible, beautiful things.

[Patricia Voto]

So true. So they're called brokers, jobbers. They're like these go betweens and they kind of. They buy up a lot of the stock because they'll buy big, lots of it without even checking what the fabrics are. They don't care if it's old this or old that. You know, the brands don't necessarily matter. They're like, you've got thousands of yards, Great. We'll take it and we'll sell it to other people. We buy a lot directly from the mills. So what will happen is they'll develop textiles for brands over the years and they might cancel it. The artworks are from their archives, so they end up just sitting on it. And I prefer to work that way because I love to know the true provenance of where our fabrics come from. But it really just depends. Like, sometimes I buy fabrics on ebay, I go to antique shows and I buy fabrics. You know, there's so many different lanes you can go down. I also, a lot of brands have VIP areas in their stores. So the brands might send fabrics to for their VIPs and then there'll be some leftover so that, that ends up going into a store in New York City. Like, you'll find random Tom Ford, Valentino, like all these brand name fabrics. And it'll just be enough to make a skirt, a top, a little something out of it. But it's usually left over from like a VIP project.

[Unnamed Guest]

But that's so interesting that you're saying these third party people don't really check a lot of the time. So could you end up in a factory or like in a store that has like both dead stock from Prada and like Ralph Lauren?

[Patricia Voto]

Like, you could totally.

[Unnamed Guest]

You could have a wide range. You would.

[Patricia Voto]

I mean, there's many times where I'll get a fabric in and I'm like, this feels so familiar. And I'll stare at it and I'm like, you're gonna figure this out. Now with the reverse image search, everything's much Easier to find out. But when I started the brand, that wasn't as useful of a tool.

[Unnamed Guest]

It's so smart to use that, by the way.

[Patricia Voto]

Oh, now it's my go to. But I remember looking at this old fabric and I was like, what brand is this from? Like, I knew the mill actually, which is funny. Like, I can often identify where who made the fabric just based on some characteristics, the way it was woven, but I couldn't figure out the brand. And like, Leandra came into the studio. It's actually the bra fabric that you wore with the yellow velvet skirt in Italy. It was an old Celine fabric. And she came in and she said, this is Celine Resort 2017, I think it was. I looked at her, I said, thank you.

[Unnamed Guest]

Thank you so much for scratching the itch and figuring it out. Oh, my God.

[Patricia Voto]

So it's funny, sometimes you don't get the provenance or know the brand, and it takes some time. And it might be a client that comes in and they're like, wait, I recognize this. So that's also really fun is because a lot of them come in and love to play the guessing game. We have a huge wall of fabric with all the swatches on it. Is that old Dries? Wait, that kind of reminds me of that Valentino collection. And they're, like, trying to figure out and piece together where they might have seen the fabric before.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, I'm gonna move into your atelier. Yeah, that sounds like a dream wall.

[Patricia Voto]

It's fun. It's very colorful and very interactive. You're supposed to touch and play with it.

[Unnamed Guest]

It's amazing. I think. I don't think this is one of those jobs in fashion that makes, like, my stomach flutter. Like, I think there are jobs that don't that a lot of people maybe don't know about. Like, where does everything go at the end of the day? And, like, it's in your atelier and you're making brand new garments from it. And I think that's really cool.

[Patricia Voto]

Thank you.

[Unnamed Guest]

Of course.

[Patricia Voto]

It's so joyful. I think that's what I wanted to get out of this. It's like, it's a serious job, but we're not saving lives, you know? So I want this to be a really fun experience for the clients, but also through to the team that's working on it, like, that they're really proud of what they're creating.

[Unnamed Guest]

So you're incredibly creative. I wonder what do you do with, say you get a roll and, like, you're using three fourths of it. Again, what if you have, like, a little bit left over? What do you do with it?

[Patricia Voto]

My favorite part. You make shoes, you make little bags. You make all sorts of stuff out of it. We save all of our remnant pieces that are big enough to. To make something out of. So we have drawers that basically archive everything. So there might be, like, a small panel of this. And if a client's like, I'd love to make a bag with, like, a citrine color fabric. Great. We'll go through the drawer and we'll.

[Unnamed Guest]

Pull out the options so nothing gets wasted.

[Patricia Voto]

Nothing.

[Unnamed Guest]

What are some of, like, the craziest? I mean, even hearing you talk before about the craziest places that you've sourced things from, like, what is the craziest sourcing experience you've had?

[Patricia Voto]

I mean, I don't know if I have a ton of, like, really crazy ones. I think sometimes when I go to Italy and I start climbing on things, they get a little nervous. I'm like, what about that fabric way up there? They're like, patricia, stop. We'll get it for you. I'm like, no, but I need to.

[Unnamed Guest]

See anything in the name of good fashion.

[Patricia Voto]

Exactly. But I think sometimes I get really inspired when clients bring in their own fabric. I think that can be really interesting. We had a client bring in fabric that. She's of Korean descent, and her mom just had these in her attic. Two random small bolts of silk. And she was like, I want to do something with this to pay, like, an honor to my mom and make garments out of it so that I can wear them proudly. And I was like, this is so. It's less crazy, but more, you know, really touching and inspiring, I'd say, for the most part.

[Unnamed Guest]

My mom recently, like, we had this beautiful tapestry in our house growing up, and when my parents split, the tapestry, like, went into storage, and recently, she was like, I don't know why that's in there. I'm gonna cut it up and turn it into pillows. And now everyone in my family has a pillow from this tapestry that we had growing up.

[Patricia Voto]

That's it. I love that.

[Unnamed Guest]

That's it for me, I think so much.

[Patricia Voto]

Meaning.

[Unnamed Guest]

There's always a way to reuse something.

[Patricia Voto]

Absolutely. We do so much upcycling now, and we did some in the beginning, but I think more and more people are like, I have this beautiful garment. It might be my mom's. It might be a relative's, or they might have found it at vintage. And they're like, I just want to be able to Wear this and, like, have something like, carry on the life of it. And so it's really important to me to, like, always try and incorporate personal meaning, whether it is an upcycled piece or like, we also recently for bride, her father had passed, so she brought in a denim shirt of his that he always used to wear. And we took a small piece of that and embroidered their names on it and put it inside of her jacket. Like, any little touch that we can give to create that personal connection and that storytelling is like, it does it for me.

[Unnamed Guest]

That's the dream.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

That's so nice.

[Patricia Voto]

Connection. That's what it's all about, human connection.

[Liv Perez]

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[Unnamed Guest]

Your business is really unique to me and I think kind of one of those, like, rare unicorns in the fashion industry. And as someone who is really doing sustainability right to a T, like, you are not producing anything new. You're using old, dead stock. Like, you are producing at a level that I wish so many brands did. Are you fatigued by the sustainability conversation in fashion? Like what do you think about it when you see it out in the world right now?

[Patricia Voto]

I think it can often be insincere. I think it is still. There's a lot of greenwashing, there's a lot of, you know, marketing put towards sustainability which I'd rather be like quiet about it and just do it with honesty and integrity. I don't need to be shouting it from the rooftops. That's why we actually in a lot of our branding will say responsible instead of sustainable because we. Not that there's a negative association with the word. I think it's overused and it can mean so many things to different people. But we try and check off all the boxes, you know, fair wages, using existing materials, building the local economy, like keeping things local is really important to me and just being able to like, you know, create community around it. So like the social impact, the economic impact and obviously in the environmental impact are really important. Like heirloom product just couldn't be more of a sustainable thing. Like if it's going to be with you forever, that's great and it's well made so it will be with you forever.

[Unnamed Guest]

I think it's very important to think of sustainability beyond just the environmental impacts. Like can you actually sustain the people in your business? And I remember during COVID this conversation that Aurora James really did. It really stuck with me. And she was talking about sustainability from just a larger perspective. She was like, look at how many businesses are crumbling right now because not only could they not sustain their product, but they also couldn't sustain their people. They couldn't continue to support the people in their ecosystem if they weren't just constantly producing. It gave me a really a very newfound perspective on sustainability.

[Patricia Voto]

Definitely. I think that's where time and intention and I think we've gotten so used to having like immediate satisfaction and receiving things in one day, two day, you know, same day turnaround. And I think that if we slow down our consumption more slow and steady is better for everybody, especially from a manufacturing standpoint because there's peaks and valleys often or you're just producing so much constantly, which is never good for anybody. So I think in regards to that, like this ability to just take our time with making things, the more you rush like it's one, it's less special. And I think it doesn't create the same product. And so if we made half as much stuff and did it in half as fast, of time. I don't know, things might be a little bit. There might be less stuff and people might be consuming in a more thoughtful way.

[Unnamed Guest]

Sometimes I think that sustainability can only be done in the luxury space. What do you think?

[Patricia Voto]

I mean I definitely think it's easier to check off boxes in the luxury space. I mean I often too wonder like how sustainable can from especially a community and like social standpoint, an economic standpoint if you're making thousands of something and you want to charge $30 for it. Like the math doesn't really add up to me. Like how much are you paying that person to make that garment? So it's tricky. I think if we are really being truthful about it, luxury is probably the closest that you're going to find to sustainability. And there's still issues within the luxury industry. There's overproduction. I think I read in business of Fashion that LVMH produced over a billion dollars in leftover inventory a year. A billion dollars in leftover inventory. How luxury used to be about scarcity of product, craftsmanship, well made goods that weren't, they were exclusive, they weren't easily accessible. I love that there's more inclusivity, but it's coming at compromising the environment ultimately.

[Unnamed Guest]

At the end of the day, that's a shocking statistic. Yeah, a billion dollars.

[Patricia Voto]

I'll double check. Yeah. But I'm pretty sure it's a billion dollars regardless.

[Unnamed Guest]

Even if it's somewhere, even up there, like that is such an excess of goods and where do they go?

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah, it's something that I'm always thinking about. It's like we don't want inventory in our space. We don't have inventory. We make samples that people can try on and we call them suggestions. We want people to be inspired by them but then put their own spin on it. If we had inventory, it just is so counter productive to me. Like I want people to be inspired and creative and collaborative. I think the luxury brands could start to do a little bit more of that. Or at the very least maybe they don't need to make all of those pieces and like offer things in a little bit more of an exclusive in a tight knit way.

[Unnamed Guest]

My biggest qualm is like why are we still having 60 look collections go down runways? Yeah, like I don't need 60 looks.

[Patricia Voto]

Right.

[Unnamed Guest]

Like it drives me nuts. I'll be at a show and look like I'm so grateful to be there. But six minutes of looks and I'm thinking about all the buyers that are there that are maybe selecting 10 to 20 of those pieces at most. Like, even the smaller boutiques are maybe picking five to eight. Like, we just don't need that much twice a year from a brand we just don't like. Scale it back.

[Patricia Voto]

Exactly. I think having more of a tight perspective, I think people will appreciate it more. We're overwhelmed, we're oversaturated. It's made it, I think, harder for people to have their own point of view because there's so much choice. There's a perfume brand that I recently started or stumbled upon called Serviette. It's very niche, and he posts these great reels. In one of the reels, he talks about the lack of discovery now and more, about how we as consumers and people, we have to filter more and edit more and how overwhelming that is. And it's really stuck with me because you talked a lot about the friction and discovery where you used to say, like, do I like this? Do I not like this? And now it's just about being there first. I found the brand first, I've worn it, toss it aside. And it's so fascinating, but it's so real. It's like you want to be there first and not actually there because you actually like it and you're interested in it. And so I think that that just comes across in all product categories. And the way that we consume nowadays is just, I need to be there first. Who cares if I actually like it? I'm in, I'm out, and I move on. And that's contributing to how these brands operate. It's just constant consumption of what's new, what's cool, versus establishing your own kind of niche of brands. And like, what? You're actually interested in developing your personal style more and just having a tight curated wardrobe.

[Unnamed Guest]

Way too much choice. Today I go on a website and I'm sifting through 60 pages of clothes.

[Patricia Voto]

But do you find anything you like?

[Unnamed Guest]

No, because I'm seeing too much.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

I bet you if it was half that, I'd be like, okay, I liked this. Maybe I liked this. But for me as a shopper, when I see too much, I can't figure it out.

[Patricia Voto]

Right.

[Unnamed Guest]

Which is actually why I really appreciate when I go on your website, there's no E commerce, nothing.

[Patricia Voto]

We get in so much trouble for that.

[Unnamed Guest]

I actually think it's really smart. It's more about the concept versus, like, oh, and I like that you just said it's a suggestion. Yeah, I think that's really interesting, especially from, like, a customization perspective. It's like, here's your suggestion, but you can build on it. I'm not going to sell you my preconceived idea of the piece.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah. And that's where, you know, every client who comes in, their experience with us is different. Someone might come in and say, I love that shirt. I just want that shirt right cut and dry. Yeah. Someone else might come in. Wait, I can do that shirt in a different fabric and I can shorten the sleeve and maybe I do a collarless. Yeah, I want to do that. Great. As long as we create something that they keep reaching for in their closet, then I feel like mission accomplished. And that they're excited about. We also don't do any transactions in person, which really weirds people out. I send them home with swatches, we send them a recap, and then they think about it. They're often taking out a credit card. They're like, can I pay for it? Nope. Go home, Think about it. Think about it.

[Unnamed Guest]

Make a conscious choice to buy it or not buy it.

[Patricia Voto]

Right. And like, nine times out of 10, they still want it. But there's been a few times too, where they go home and they're like, you know what? You were right. I have 10 red dresses in my closet. Maybe I'll do it in the blue instead. Like, good. I'm glad you did the homework.

[Unnamed Guest]

What a novel concept this is. I wish every store did it because.

[Patricia Voto]

I think people aren't. They're just trying to close a sale. And that's not what I wanted to do with this brand is I want it to be really thoughtful. And so that requires to make people work a little bit more. So you can't really click and buy on our website. You have to come in, in person. Will that change over time? Probably. You know, I think we do want to make it a little bit more accessible because that's also important to me is that we're approachable. But I can imagine to many people it's intimidating to come into a showroom, but we're very low pressure. It's like coming into someone's house, hanging out. We get to know you, and then if you want to buy something, that's great.

[Unnamed Guest]

Are there any brands that you admire in this space that you think are also doing it right?

[Patricia Voto]

I mean, I have to give Gabriella Hearst a lot of credit.

[Unnamed Guest]

Absolutely.

[Patricia Voto]

You know, having worked there and like seeing behind the scenes, like, there is a lot of effort being put into, like the day to day operations of the company. And then also the product is just Beautiful and so well made. And these are heirloom pieces. So I have to give a lot of credit to her. And I think there's a lot of. Vintage is also really interesting to me. And so, like, maybe it's not always about the brands themselves with these people who are really collecting beautiful pieces and getting them out there for people to buy. It's kind of. It's a very similar clientele, but also approach to fashion where it's like, already out there, it's beautiful. Wear that. Instead of even making something with us, I'm always encouraging people, like, vintage is great. You should wear that so you don't have to be your first choice.

[Unnamed Guest]

You mentioned earlier that you don't do sample sizing, and I just love to hear how unconventional you are across the board. You don't show on the fashion calendar. You are seasonless. You don't launch quote, unquote, quote collections. You don't do sample sizes. And, you know, even Gabriella Hurst does all that. So I wonder for you, why that choice, but also, why do you think more brands are not doing it their own way?

[Patricia Voto]

I think if you want to be really present in the industry and go about it, there's a traditional way for a reason. You get on the calendar, you get reviewed by the publications, you get pulled by the stylist. There is almost a formula to all of it. And I think that I wanted to exist in this kind of gray area between fashion and, I'll say, like a couture space or an atelier space. Like, I didn't want to follow all of the traditional and as you said before, conventional rules of how to operate a fashion brand. Because I had a lot to say about it. I wasn't happy with how we were operating. I think I'm also disappointed. Like, during the pandemic, brands had to adapt a lot, right. They had to make those smaller shows. They had to be more edited. They, we're doing buy now, wear now. What did we do? We reverted back. The second it was okay, everybody kind of reverted back to.

[Unnamed Guest]

I was really hoping we would stick it through at some point there.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah. And we didn't. And so I think for me, I really said, like, what do I want to counter? What do I want to be a reaction to? And so all of our choices are based around that. Like, what is a. Not really just a different way, but what way feels right to me to operate this? So it gives me so much joy when any client comes out of the dressing room and they're like, I can't believe this fits or the zips, because I've been in that position where I'm putting something on and I'm like, oh, this brand doesn't fit me, or I don't look good in this. Like, it gets really tough after a while when you can't shop off the rack or you never find things in your size. We had a client in the other day and she said, she's busty. And she said, you know, I've never been able to buy a jacket that closes. And I said, well, here we are. And we closed her jacket on her and it was emotional. She was like, wow, it seems like such a novel thing, but I think because we are working so one on one with these clients, you know, it was really important to me that everybody who comes in has something they can put on and feel excited about. So there was no question. It was like, yep, we're not doing sample size. You know, we're making things in a range of sizes. And it's also from. Not that we do a ton of celebrity dressing, but the celebrity stylists we do work with, they're like, it's so refreshing that you have options and you're not just making things in one size. And it seems to me like a. Yes, of course, like, why wouldn't we do that? But, yeah, to your point, so many brands still just make, you know, sample size 24 zeros, and once in a while you'll get, you know, the more inclusive brand. But it's still common practice to have them all for your 5 foot 10 model size going down the Runway.

[Unnamed Guest]

What does that look like for you, though, in terms of, like, scalability, like, how far can you go with it? And also, even from a price perspective, obviously we were talking earlier, the more you make, the cheaper it gets. Of course, there's obviously a barrier to entry, to coming into one of like, what does that look like for you when you're thinking about your customers and where the business goes?

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah, I mean, it's a question we, we ask ourselves all the time. You know, we talk about, do we go into more wholesale? Do we, you know, are we more present online? What are we trying to, to do? And I think for now, if there was a way of, of scaling this in the way that I find without compromising on values, probably be more of like a satellite atelier. You know, it could be somewhere where more of our clients are and they can come in and have the want of experience in a destination that's more convenient for them. But I Just can't compromise right now. So scale. There's an ability to scale. I think we can eventually hire more people. We've grown 200% year over year. We've got our own atelier in our building. We're bursting at the seam, so we kind of need more room. So it's happening naturally. And I think that slow and steady approach is really important to me and not compromising on those values. I don't need to be making a lot of stuff. I don't need to be a hundred million dollar business that's not interesting to me because that certainly means I've compromised. So I think figuring out what that sweet spot is that's manageable is important.

[Unnamed Guest]

So, yeah, it's interesting to see. I love to hear that you're like, atelier is bursting at the seams. And it just sounds like I can't wait to visit. I haven't been yet, but it just sounds like a really enjoyable experience. And I think it feels like there's been a big rise in these kind of one on one personal experiences. I recently went to the Bodhi Tailor Shop. These are like highly personal, customized experiences. What do you think is the like, public appetite for that?

[Patricia Voto]

I think it's growing, like you said. I feel, you know, we had some early adapters in the beginning who really caught on. And then we've had people who've waited five years to book an appointment with us. You know, they come in, they're like, okay, I'm here now, I get it. And then people certainly become like addicted to it in a way. They're like, this is where I only want to shop. I think people want to not look like everybody else. You know, a lot of our clients, especially in the Upper east side, they're going to the same events. And so it's important for them to feel like they know when they go to it, they're not gonna bump into somebody wearing the same thing as them, which has happened and will continue to happen. But what I love is that we're more of a. We're not a reaction to not finding anything anymore. We're their first choice. And I think that that's happening more and more. You know, people wanna know, like, okay, this is gonna fit me really well. I know everything about the product itself because I chosen things. You know, sometimes we let our clients choose the button if they want. We'll provide options for them. So I think that there's a real comfort and confidence that comes with making custom pieces. And I think individuality is becoming More and more important to people, especially now with all of this oversaturation and sameness. So I can only see it growing from here. And I know a lot of ready to wear brands are starting to offer more and more custom. So I think it's gonna happen a lot.

[Unnamed Guest]

Also, guys, I mentioned the Bodhi tailor shop earlier and for people who don't know what that is, Bode has a custom appointment only tailor shop here in New York in the Lower east side.

[Liv Perez]

Very cool experience.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah, I love that. And that's walk in or is that by appointment?

[Unnamed Guest]

I thought it was by appointment.

[Patricia Voto]

Okay. I'm not sure.

[Unnamed Guest]

I went like two years ago and it was by appointment. It might have changed now. So if we're being real, the customer experience isn't for everybody. Both from a creative standpoint. I feel like even, you know, I've tried to do custom things before and I end up crashing out because I'm like, I don't know. It's a lot of work.

[Liv Perez]

It's a lot of work.

[Unnamed Guest]

And you really have to, in my opinion, have like a vision.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

And also patience to see it all the way through. But second, obviously financially it's a huge investment. So I'd love to hear your best advice for people who maybe want to customize things from home but aren't able to afford the price tag of going to a place like yours or maybe like a Bodie tailor shop.

[Patricia Voto]

Totally. I think just alone having things tailored, like go to your local dry cleaner. Tailoring things to fit you better can be life changing. Also, good underpinnings, people often undervalue. Go for a good bra. Fitting like that can change the way all of your clothes fit and feel.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yes.

[Patricia Voto]

You'll have a bra for a long time. Like it's a worthy investment to go get that like well fitted bra. And then I think that simple tailoring, it's like the reproportioning of something. You'll stand a little bit taller, you'll look a little bit better. So, you know, maybe you can't afford to do the full custom route or even the made to order. But the pieces that you do have, like even refreshing them by updating some of the fit and the construction.

[Unnamed Guest]

Well, I've like taken sleeves off of things.

[Patricia Voto]

Exactly.

[Unnamed Guest]

I've raised the cinch on things. I think you can get really creative with a great tailor to make things that feel more like you.

[Patricia Voto]

Absolutely. There's small tweaks that can go a long way. You don't have to have everything made for you and you can get really crafty and creative. Like I said, I bought fabrics on ebay. Like, you can easily do that at home. And, like, bring that to your tailor and add a patch, make that your cuff. Like, I think people should feel really, you know, involved with the creative process. And if you have a good tailor, it's great. Some of these dry cleaners have amazing tailor.

[Unnamed Guest]

I go to my dry cleaner every day. Yeah, they know me.

[Patricia Voto]

It's.

[Unnamed Guest]

They have stolen my bank account at this point.

[Patricia Voto]

It can also get expensive depending on what you want to do.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, you have to be really specific with what you want to tailor. Make sure you're going to wear it. If you're going to tailor it, make sure that it's something you're wearing for the long run.

[Patricia Voto]

Exactly. That's where you know people who buy a lot of their daily wardrobing pieces with us, you know, we have a wonderful client. And she was like, I'm struggling to find a pant that's like a workhorse pant for me. She has a tiny waist. She's fuller in the hips and then muscular in her legs. And she's like, I just want a really great pair of pants. She's making five pairs right now because she's like, I need them in multiple fabrics. I'm gonna wear them every day. We did a test pair first. She's like, these are my favorite pants. I'm ready to move forward with others. And so I think just figuring out what your fit is too, and, like, leaning into that is really important because, again, it's flattering, it looks good, and, like, you just are more confident when you have pieces that fit you really well. So I think it's an important thing to really look at fit and not just the novelty elements of a garment. And I go back to those underpinnings. Good underpinnings.

[Unnamed Guest]

That's a great, great tip. I feel like that's really underrated. Like, when I was growing up, you'd, like, go to Victoria's Secret, and they'd measure your bust, and it was like a rite of passage. But, like, who's doing that for us now?

[Patricia Voto]

Well, exactly.

[Unnamed Guest]

I'm probably not going and doing that.

[Patricia Voto]

At Victoria's Secret because it was traumatizing in some ways a little bit.

[Unnamed Guest]

They did it in front of everybod, and I'm like, can you not put this ruler on my bust?

[Patricia Voto]

Kind of don't fit into it at the end. You're, like, spilling out the bottom or the top or really padded like a little you know, it's like a three inch thick pad.

[Unnamed Guest]

Even now, transparently, like, I think I wear a bra that's too big for me. Like, I don't think it fits me. Well.

[Patricia Voto]

Yeah. You're not alone.

[Unnamed Guest]

No, I know. I'm from a generation of Victoria's Secret. Overall.

[Patricia Voto]

Exactly.

[Unnamed Guest]

Over your bra.

[Patricia Voto]

Hiding from getting a proper bra fitting?

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, I'm putting that on my to do list.

[Patricia Voto]

Yes. I force clients to go so smart and they're. We do. If we make them a corset, especially because we build that bra and if that bra fits them really well, that becomes our base. Yeah, exactly. And then their shoulders are back. They're not worried about spilling out of the cup or.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah. Is my bad posture because I'm wearing.

[Patricia Voto]

The wrong size bra often. Yeah. I had a client again, keep going back to these clients, but she. Young girl, graduated from Berkeley, incredibly smart and talented, about to go into the workforce. Mom was treating her to a couple of looks. We were trying on things in the studio and she's like, nothing looks good on me. I look in her shirt and I'm like, well, it's because you're wearing a dry rotted lace triangle bra. And I like yank it up and I pin it and I say to her, is this starting to look better? She's like, yeah. So I sent her to go get fitted for a bra. She came back and a few weeks later, she looks. And it's not about weight. She looked 25 pounds lighter. I said, wow, I'm sorry, what's going on? She's like, these bras show people that I have a waist because it was all just hanging out and now she's like lifted and supported and she looks great and her confidence has completely changed. Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

Let's have a bra revolution, guys. Please go back in there, please. It's crazy. What's exciting you right now? Is there a project you're working on? And then also what's exciting you about the future of sustainability? Like, what do you think chapter two or the next chapter should look like?

[Patricia Voto]

I'm excited by a lot of our. We're doing a lot more bespoke this year. The clients are really letting me guide them more and I'm getting to be a bit more creative. Where I'd say originally a lot of those projects were more execution based, but I think people are really trusting us and trusting the vision that we've created. And so I'm getting to sketch into my ideas, my direction a bit more. So I'm really excited about that. And from a sustainability standpoint, I mean, I loved seeing you were asking about brands that are doing it right. Like, I loved seeing Miu Miu doing like more upcycling. That to me is great.

[Unnamed Guest]

Did you see that Chanel just launched a recycled materials business?

[Patricia Voto]

No.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah. So it's not even a program under Chanel. It's a separate business entity that Chanel owns. Oh, this is called Nevilled, like never old. And I guess that their hope is to right now, I guess that they're incorporating recycled materials into their tweed and then their classic Chanel slingback. The heel of it is actually made from recycled materials.

[Patricia Voto]

Great.

[Unnamed Guest]

And they're hoping long term to be able to take those materials and then be able to sell them to other businesses too. To not just use them at Chanel, but also hopefully sell them to other luxury businesses.

[Patricia Voto]

I think that's so incredible. And I found, you know, one of the biggest things in sustainability is not to gatekeeper. You know, there are some bigger brands that were like keeping sustainable materials proprietary, not sharing. Because I know, because I would reach out at Gabriela Hearst, hey, we're interested in this product. We'd love to find a way to use it. Sorry, it's exclusive to so and so brand and that's the antithesis of sustainability. Like we need to information share and resource share as much as we can. That's why I'm not shy. If people want to know what mills we work with, go see them if you can. Like I want people to know about it and other brands to work with them. But I think it's incredibly smart to really use what's already there, as we said, but also to share that with other brands. I hope it goes a far way.

[Unnamed Guest]

I hope so too. It's also so expensive to invest in that it's like share the wealth if you can. Literally.

[Patricia Voto]

Absolutely.

[Unnamed Guest]

Thank you for coming on the show. It was a treat to finally get to meet you and talk about this business that I love so much.

[Patricia Voto]

Thank you. Such a pleasure. Thank you for having me. Sam.

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