Loose Threads — Consumer, retail, fashion and commerce

On the 25th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Yehua Yang, a co-founder of Pivotte, a brand creating performance apparel that women can wear in everyday life. Yehua started the brand after wanting the benefits of athletic fabrics found in yoga pants but in clothing that was more professional and work-ready. At the same time, brands were dabbling in this space by taking their men's clothes and making them in women's sizes, which created mediocre results. Yehua knew that the only way to make clothing women wanted to buy was to start designing specifically for them, which is why she started Pivotte. It was great talking with Yehua about the founding story behind Pivotte and how she is bootstrapping the brand as it continues to grow. Limited capital is often a blessing, and it sounds like they are making the most of everything they have to grow the brand the right way. This is the second edition of our Spotlight Series, which profiles emerging brands and companies in a slightly shorter interview. This is new we’re looking forward to your feedback on it. — Show Notes — Pivotte https://www.pivottestudio.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 24th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Olivia Wright, the founder of Rallier, a brand inspired by modern uniform dressing with a social mission that aims to decrease gender inequality in schools. Olivia founded the brand after hearing about how the presence of school uniforms dramatically increased the chances girls would attend school. She went to business school and then launched the brand, starting with the social mission and then working backwards. We had a great talk about the the brand’s launch; how it approach design and manufacturing; how it has explored different distribution channels, especially in person events; the power of word of mouth; and where the brand is headed. I’ve known Olivia since before she started the brand, and it’s been really exciting watch her build it over the last year. She’s taking a very sustainable and methodical approach to growing the company, which is paying dividends as she continues to expand. The brand’s laudable social mission and goal to elevate it to a contemporary level is pushing the brand into promising territory. This is the first edition of our Spotlight Series, which profiles emerging brands and companies in a slightly shorter interview. This is new we’re looking forward to your feedback on it. — Show Notes — Rallier https://Rallier.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 23rd episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Kevin Lavelle, the founder of Mizzen + Main, a company bringing performance fabrics to the workplace. Kevin founded Mizzen + Main after growing tired of the perils of cotton dress shirts. As he saw performance fabrics take off in the athletic space, he figured they could also take hold in the workplace and launched the company to fill this void. Kevin and I had a great talk about the founding story behind Mizzen + Main, why the company is focusing on all of America, not just the coasts, the benefits of manufacturing domestically, and the company’s growth trajectory going forward. I really enjoyed talking with Kevin, especially around how and where the company is looking to grow. We often pay the most attention to products that are growing in our own communities, which are often on the coasts of the country. But Mizzen + Main is building the company from the middle of America, and capturing all of the opportunities that come with it. — Show Notes — Mizzen + Main https://mizzenandmain.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 22nd episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Josh Udashkin, the founder of Raden, an emerging smart luggage company that marries the best of luggage, hardware and software into the ultimate toolkit for travel. Josh founded the company after he realized that there were few new and dominant entrants into the luggage space in almost 50 years, and bringing a younger and more modern perspective to the entrenched industry might be a crucial differentiator. We had a great talk about the challenges of integrating hardware and software; how Josh architected Raden is a true product company; how he decided on the right distribution strategy and moved far beyond a strictly direct to consumer business model; and how he’s planning to build the company for the long term. Josh was great to talk to because of his pragmatic and non idealistic approach to every part of Raden’s business. This was especially true about the company’s distribution strategy, where it took steps that were logical and didn’t worry about prevailing trends. As a result, Raden seems poised to grow over the long term rather than being yet another company that quickly rises and then quickly falls. We need more companies like that in this industry. — Show Notes — Raden https://raden.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 21st episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Matt Scanlan, the founder of Naadam, a direct to consumer brand that is reinventing the cashmere supply chain. Matt started Naadam on a chance encounter in Mongolia, which led him down a rabbit hole of launching an NGO, then a cashmere yarn company, and finally the digitally-native business that Naadam is known for today. Naadam is one of the most vertically integrated direct to consumer brands today. We talked about why this integration was necessary for Naadam to exist; how the company is approaching retail and fundraising; and how running multiple businesses under the same roof allows the company’s greater mission to come to fruition. It’s pretty cool to see all that Naadam has accomplished given the company is less than three years old. The company is yet another brand that is looking a different channels with a nuanced perspective, further proof that retail is far from dead. — Show Notes — Naadam https://naadamcashmere.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 20th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Giancarlo Paternoster, the founder of Giancarlo Studio Furniture, a workshop that is pushing wood to the absolute limit. Studio Furniture, like Couture in the fashion world, is the highest possible form of art. Pieces are made in small, if not entirely unique, quantities, and are comprised of the best materials. Giancarlo and I grew up together and he’s ascended to the top of his craft in a rapidly short amount of time. He’s driven to excel past any inherent limits to produce work that few others would dare to see through. This is the first furniture designer I’ve interviewed on the podcast, but there are striking similarities to the fashion and apparel space when it comes to talking about craft, process and form. Giancarlo and I talked about his journey to the top of his field, driven by curiosity and a lack of interest in conventional wisdom. Craftsmen who are pushing the limits are always inspiring to talk to, and it will be great to watch Giancarlo tackle new products and materials as his business grows. His work is exquisite and I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you can in person. He will be at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair May 21st to 24th at the Javits Center in New York City.  — Show Notes — Giancarlo Studio Furniture https://giancarlopaternoster.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 19th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Rachel Shechtman, the founder of Story, a company that has the point of view of a magazine, that changes like a gallery and sells things like a store. Story is headquartered in a 2000 sqft store in Chelsea, Manhattan, and runs themed installations that change every few months. These installations feature everything from experiences to products to talks and events, acting as a lab that is merging the best of offline retail with the benefits of online media and commerce. Rachel has one of the more forward looking and open-minded perspectives on physical retail that I have encountered, and it was great talking with her about how Story is carving its own path in the dynamic retail landscape. We talked about the evolution of Story over the years and how it's used the limits of a 2000 sq ft space to make a massive, far reaching impact with brands and shoppers alike. Retail is not dead, it’s just evolving, and examples like Story are important proof that bringing new thinking to old industries is powerful and profitable, rather than sulking about the demise of how everything once was. The next Story is now open in Chelsea and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in New York, and even with a trip if you’re not. — Show Notes — Story http://thisisstory.com 144 10th Ave. at 19th Street Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 18th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Andrew Lipovsky, the founder of Eponym, a company that designs, manufactures and sells eyewear for a range of fashion and apparel brands. Luxottica is the omnipresent name in the eyewear space, which many know from the now infamous 60 Minutes special on the company’s dominance. But Eponym set out to build a vertical eyewear license focused on brands that the big guy ignored. It’s a really interesting story about new players entering an age-old space, and how the internet has opened up the surface area for competition no matter how big a company’s monopoly seems to be. It was great talking with Andrew about the evolution of Eponym into a vertical licenser, and how such a move made perfect sense for the eyewear market. Focus is one of the most underrated aspects of business. it’s important that the industry has companies like Eponym that are specialized and lend that expertise to brands who can benefit but shouldn’t go it alone. — Show Notes — Eponym https://www.eponymous.co/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 17th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Amanda Curtis, a co-founder of Nineteenth Amendment. Her company is leveling the playing field for independent designers by streamlining everything from production to infrastructure. Emerging designers are often at a disadvantage when it comes to funding their business, securing competitive pricing for production, and integrating technology to help scale. Luckily, this is Nineteenth Amendment’s focus and the company has helped hundreds of designers grow. Nineteenth Amendment is focused on the long tail, a concept that explains how smaller brands are able to succeed on the internet because of the ability to find and serve niches that desire specific products. The company’s vertical integration is impressive, as is the persistence that has gotten them to realize their vision and now focus on scaling it. I definitely recommend checking on the designers on Nineteenth Amendment and reading more about all they are doing for independents. The more small businesses that are independent and thriving, the better, and Nineteenth Amendment is helping make this a reality. — Show Notes — Nineteenth Amendment https://www.nineteenthamendment.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 16th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, the founder of Fitz, a company that starts by helping people organize their closets. From there, it recommends new products and services and helps people donate and resell old clothing all while learning more and more about its customers. It became clear early on in our discussion that Fitz is one of the most direct to consumer companies ever. The the relationship it has with its customers is incredibly intense and intimate. At the same time, the service is agnostic to shifts in trend and brands, acting as a service layer on top of all of the noise. My head was kind of spinning after this interview because Fitz seems to nail everything that is relevant in the fashion and consumer space today while also having the flexibility to evolve with time. Even though the company only officially launched a few months ago, I would definitely keep an eye on what they’re working on. Once the technology becomes visible to customers, what seems like an already great service only gets better. This was one definitely of the most fascinating discussions I’ve had in a while. — Show Notes — Fitz http://yourfitz.com — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 15th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Matt Orley, a co-founder of Orley, a knitwear brand based in New York City that Matt runs along with his wife Sam and his brother Alex. It’s less common for brands to start with knitwear, since it’s much harder to produce and often has a steeper learning curve than cut and sew garments. But Orley intentionally started this way, primarily because it allowed them to realize the brand with a limited number of pieces, and then grow from there. We had a great talk about the founding story of the brand, how it's grown and evolved over the last five years, and how the internet and the direct to consumer market is changing everything. — Show Notes — Orley http://orley.us — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 14th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Seph Skerritt, the founder of Proper Cloth, a company using tons of data and technology to make customized men's apparel affordable and accessible. Proper Cloth is one of those companies that has both the technical and creative chops needed to thrive today. My talk with Seph focused on the attention to data and detail that makes Proper Cloth what it is and the journey from what some considered a stupid idea to the ever expanding company that exists today. It was really cool to hear about the persistence across all aspects of the business that got Proper Cloth to its current state, and Seph’s determination to power through every new obstacle, be it technical, logistical or creative. — Show Notes — Proper Cloth http://propercloth.com — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 13th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Stephan Ango, a co-founder of Lumi. Stephan’s company is simplifying the process of designing and producing all sorts of packaging, with a focus on digitally native brands. Packaging is what I would consider a visible yet invisible industry. It something people see everywhere but often know very little about. Stephan and I had an awesome talk about everything from the founding story behind Lumi to the company’s quest to be a packaging company that eventually sells less packaging. And it was great to dive into how Stephan's design background informed Lumi as it exists today and how some parts of the industry that people find boring are sometimes the most interesting. — Show Notes — Lumi http://Lumi.com — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, a fashion and tech entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics, lasting about an hour. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

On the 12th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, I talk with Steven Alan, the founder of his eponymous brand that started as a retail store in 1994 and grew into the international empire it is today. We had an awesome talk about how Steven got started; how he grew the brand over the last two decades, adding stores, a showroom and many different verticals along the way; how the his customers have evolved over time; how direct to consumer brands are changing the landscape; what is was like selling on Amazon in the early days of its fashion play; why the brand entered into the optical market; and how 2017 is the year of reinvention. — Show Notes — Steven Alan stevenalan.com — About Loose Threads — Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, a fashion and tech entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics, lasting about an hour. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.xyz

On the 11th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, I talk with Vishaal Melwani, CEO and co-founder of Combatant Gentlemen, about the brand's founding; how the team decided to build a suiting essentials brand meant to scale; how they incorporated technology into the company from the ground up; why they decided to vertically integrate to an extreme degree; how the brand approaches its own retail and relevant partnerships; how its products are priced affordably while still being produced ethnically; what opportunities are on the horizon for the brand; and what have been some of the most exciting parts of the journey to build a global apparel brand. — Show Notes — Combatant Gentlemen https://combatgent.com/ — About Loose Threads — Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadsxyz The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, a fashion and tech entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics, lasting about an hour. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.xyz