Making an "Odd" Impression: Pretty Packaging, Messy Messaging

From collapsing collars to collapsing ethics… this episode of Factory Settings with special guest Mallory Brooks (@plzdontbuythat) pulls back the curtain on fast fashion, influencer culture, and the marketing tactics brands don’t want you to question.Mallory and I dig into:Parke’s viral crewnecks - what happens when hype and scarcity marketing outweigh quality, and why those “mock necks” look like bacon.White labeling & knockoffs - how brands buy blanks, slap on tags, and sell them as “premium.”Greenwashing - why “sustainable” and “ethical” are often nothing more than shiny labels.Factory transparency - what we’ve actually seen behind the scenes (including child labor in “ethical” factories).Influencer culture - PR boxes piling up in trash rooms, brands prioritizing influencers over actual customers, and why I left influencing even though it was “stupid money.”Children online - the dark reality of parents turning their kids into content, and why “children are not content” needs to be the baseline.Better ways forward - how to actually spot quality as a consumer, and my $1-per-day shopping rule.This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and important. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell when a brand is lying to you- or why so much of what you see online feels off- this episode will change the way you shop, share, and think!Instagram: @factorysettingspodTiktok: @factorysettingspodcast

Chelsey and Marinda return from Asia with more than just jet lag—they come back gutted. This episode pulls the curtain back on the shiny branding and reveals the truth: child labor, sweatshop floors, and factories that some “woman-owned” brands don’t want you to see. From a close brush with jail over a single Instagram post to watching people sleep next to the machines they operate, Chelsey talks about the trip that broke her and reshaped her standards for good. If you think that a “woman-owned” label means anything without boots on the ground, think again.Instagram: ⁠@factorysettingspod⁠Tiktok: ⁠@factorysettingspodcastWebsite: Curio Blvd

In Factory Setting’s premier episode, Chelsey and Marinda dive headfirst into the drama surrounding cult-favorite fashion brand, Odd Muse. What started as a few videos has spiraled into a social media spectacle, complete with never-before-seen screenshots and some serious questions about transparency and accountability. Did Odd Muse's founder prevent a smaller founder from visiting their same factory? We’re breaking it down with 100% Truth and 0% Bias. Also—big shoutout to Mallory from @plzdontbuythat on TT, IG and YouTube AND her business @malwearit on IG for holding our own brand accountable and always inspiring us to do better. She is the original creator who called out Odd Muse online for their sustainability claims.Instagram: @factorysettingspodTiktok: @factorysettingspodcast

Not every brand is a scam—but some are built on marketing magic.Factory Settings breaks down your favorite brands, how things are made, what goes wrong behind the scenes, and how to tell the difference between a product worth buying… and one that just looks good on social.Hosted by Chelsey Brown, founder of Curio Blvd, and Marinda Frazier, the two have been through it- the two have been scammed by manufacturers, dragged into legal battles, blindsided by production disasters, and made mistakes they’re not just admitting to- but dissecting. While building a brand of their own, they started questioning how others were built.Especially the ones that get hyped by influencers overnight, only to turn out to be the same mass-made products found in a manufacturer’s catalog and slapped with a new logo. Or brands calling themselves “sustainable,” or “luxury”- while churning out goods made of questionable materials.Expect interviews with ex-employees, private investigators, whistleblowers, and insiders who know exactly what brands are hoping you’ll never find out.This isn’t another feel-good founder podcast.