Fashioncast

Fashioncast® Episode #57, December 2, 2025 Adam Taubenfligel, Co-founder of Triarchy, Leading the Next Generation of Responsible Denim ManufacturersIn this episode, you will meet Adam Taubenfligel, Co-founder of Triarchy, a U.S.-based sustainable women’s denim manufacturer. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Adam and his co-founder siblings, Mark and Ania, have been developing and refining the business since 2011.In the interview, Adam discusses the key challenges involved in launching a startup fashion brand, such as ensuring business continuity, upholding the brand’s mission, achieving product and process differentiation, and managing organizational growth. He further explains how Triarchy sets itself apart from other denim brands, maintaining that no competitor—domestic or international—equals Triarchy’s leadership in environmentally responsible denim manufacturing. Adam’s extensive knowledge of denim and fashion comes from his self-driven learning and experiences in Italy and China. In this podcast, he thoroughly examines several topics such as identifying target markets, forming strategic retail partnerships, and advancements in manufacturing innovation. It is always fulfilling to interview a master of their field, particularly Adam Taubenfligel, whose denim expertise truly distinguishes him. He continually leverages his skills to improve both products and manufacturing methods, making significant advancements for environmental sustainability. Notably, RIVET magazine included him on its list of the 50 most influential people in the denim industry. Whether you’re new to fashion or have years of experience in the industry, you'll find Adam Taubenfligel to be among the most impactful guests ever interviewed on Fashioncast. Enjoy the show! https://triarchy.com @triarchy @adamtaubenfligel  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast® Episode #56, November 21, 2025 Tracey Panek, Historian at Levi Strauss & Co., Iconic American Fashion Brands (Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, Part 1) In this episode, listeners are introduced to Tracey Panek, Historian and Archivist at Levi Strauss & Co., as Fashioncast commences its tribute to renowned American fashion brands. Since 2014, Tracey has served as an authoritative source on all matters related to Levi’s. With both undergraduate and graduate degrees in history, coupled with extensive experience as an archivist and historian for major corporations, Panek currently holds one of the most sought-after positions in the fashion industry.Panek's dedication to her profession is evident as she recounts Levi Strauss's immigration from Germany to New York in 1853, where he established a dry goods store before relocating to San Francisco to further the business during America's Gold Rush era. This narrative highlights a journey marked by resilience and ambition amidst the challenges of a rapidly growing nation. Levi Strauss & Co., both as a business and a distinguished fashion brand, represents the essence of Americana. To showcase and preserve its history, Levi’s is among the select companies in the United States to operate a substantial public museum, “The Vault,” located at its San Francisco headquarters. The company also maintains an extensive private archive containing thousands of items related to Levi’s. Both the museum and archive are regularly utilized by Levi’s designers as sources of inspiration and guidance for design. Listening to Panek systematically outline the extensive history of Levi’s is informative. The discussion covers significant milestones such as the introduction of the pocket rivet patent in 1873, the brand’s emergence into casual fashion through Vogue, its cultural influence during the 1960s, and subsequent international growth driven by World War II and the Vietnam War. Furthermore, ongoing innovation is an integral aspect of Levi's corporate identity and has contributed to the company’s continued success over its 172-year history. We invite you to enjoy this first episode as we kick off our celebration of America’s 250th anniversary by honoring Levi Strauss & Co., recognized as one of the nation’s most distinguished and iconic fashion brands throughout its history. https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceyepanek/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTkLUPTtL2Y Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #55, August 1, 2025Amy Leverton, Founder Denim Dudes, Fashion’s Diva of DenimOn this episode, you will meet Amy Leverton, the fashion industry’s foremost expert on denim. Born and raised in England, Amy attended the London College of Fashion, then spent years searching for her place in fashion.  After a series of jobs, she followed her passion into denim style, design, and trend forecasting.  Her company, Denim Dudes, is the byproduct of two street-style books published in 2015 and 2019.  With twenty years of experience in design and trend forecasting, Amy has catapulted Denim Dudes into a unique niche within fashion as the go-to consultant on the denim market and culture.We are certain you’ll love listening to Amy’s extensive knowledge of the denim ecosystem as she regularly consults with leading denim brands including Levi, Wrangler, Esprit, Guess Jeans, American Rag, Target, GAP, Old Navy, and H&M.  It’s breath taking to hear Amy casually mention and detail assignments she has collaborated on around the globe.  Few people possess such extensive knowledge about denim, the world’s most popular and best-selling fabric. The feisty Leverton also delves deep into the Los Angeles denim manufacturing culture, the global denim supply chain, historic, current, and near-term denim trends, the Sidney Sweeny American Eagle ad controversy, and start-up denim brands using interesting, and at times, amusing anecdotes about each topic.  Whether your role in fashion includes denim or not, this episode is a masterclass on understanding the complexities of bringing an idea from design to retail while paying strict attention to some of the most competitive market forces in fashion.Please enjoy the beautiful personality of Amy Leverton, and all the knowledge she brings to the fashion industry!https://denimdudes.com/[email protected]@denimdudes Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #54, February 4, 2025Isabel De Sousa, Founder Akalia and Business Brand ConsultantOn this episode, you will meet the energetic and brilliant Isabel De Sousa, Founder of Akalia, and business brand consultant. De Sousa, based in Miami, Florida, has walked the walk in building her brand the old fashion way—with grit and determination.Launched in 2021, Akalia was scaled with amazing speed, and is now found in major retailers including Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Hudson Bay, and countless boutiques across the globe. Be prepared to hear how this young fashionprenuer bootstrapped her way into global boutiques and notable retailers.  Her experience was so enlightening, she now assists other business startups complete their journey regardless of the industry. It’s fun and compelling listening to De Sousa passionately explain her process including the high highs of entrepreneurship and inevitable low lows.  Through it all, Akalia was born and has thrived making inroads and connections usually left for major brands.Please enjoy another interview with an up and comer in the world-of-fashion. Akaliaofficial.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #53, November 12, 2024Alden Wicker, Toxic Textiles (Part 3): Has Toxic Apparel Become Fashion’s Watergate?This episode is Part 3 of a three-part series on toxic textiles and features Alden Wicker, award-winning author, freelance investigative reporter, and environmental blogger.  The discussion covers Wicker’s career in the fashion industry since 2011, including her introduction to fashion, the launch of her website EcoCult, and her first book released in 2023, To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick and How We Can Fight Back.This is a highly informative and fast-moving interview. In many ways, Wicker is like the authors who have appeared on the show before her. She’s exceptionally intelligent, articulate, and speaks from experience and knowledge. In addition, Wicker is passionate about the surprising discoveries made during her research, and the listener can hear the urgency in her voice.While reading To Dye For, Wicker’s investigative journalism instincts are pervasive throughout the book.  From her invitation to investigate Alaskan Airline flight attendant complaints about new uniforms, to her trip to India dye houses, Wicker uncovers endless layers of the proverbial onion.  Of course, all the while being scoffed at by gatekeepers and bureaucrats from the airline, medical, legal, and fashion industries.  To Dye For is a reader’s journey of intrigue, surprise, frustration, and anger.  If the outcome weren’t so tragic, the book was so well-written and full of unique characters, it could have passed as fiction.  Fortunately, I am not the only one who noticed, Wicker recently won the Society of Environmental Journalists Rachel Carson Book Award for reporting on the environment. Sure, Rachel Carson’s1962 book Silent Spring, challenged the use of chemical pesticides and sparked the environmental movement, but decades later big industry never got the memo, particularly the fashion industry.  However, one can only hope, To Dye For, may be the catalyst that sparks a new and serious movement in the fashion industry about toxic apparel with Alden Wicker leading the charge!  Enjoy this special episode.www.Aldenwicker.comwww.ecocult.comTo Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick--and How We Can Fight Back https://a.co/d/jl27WNk Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #52, October 8, 2024Dr. Alison Matthews David, Toxic Textiles (Part 2): Fashion’s History of Silent ConsentThis episode is Part 2 of a three-part series on toxic textiles and features Dr. Alison Matthews David, award-winning author, professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, and fashion activist.  Dr. Matthew David’s ground-breaking fashion history classic Fashion Victims, will mark its tenth anniversary in 2025 and has become the go to art fashion history text in fashion colleges around the globe.Tying together over a hundred years of the fashion industry’s indifference to the toxic manufacturing of apparel, Matthews David explains in spell-binding detail the dangers of fashion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  For example, she highlights damning evidence that the industry was aware of the effects of mercury poisoning in workers for 200 years!It’s fascinating to listen to Matthews David’s passion about the comparison of toxicity in apparel between the 20th and 21st centuries.  Unfortunately, given advances in plastics and the chemicals used to manufacture synthetic textiles, not much has changed--fashion is still one of the most polluting industries on earth.Matthews David does concede there is a small movement within the industry about the overuse of cheap toxins.  Fashion college students seem adamant about making meaningful progress by insisting on the use of non-toxic fabrics in design. Further, a slew of upstart fashion brands is manufacturing non-toxic clothing and making inroads in educating the public and the industry about the real health effects of toxic apparel.When Matthews David isn’t teaching, researching, and writing, she can be found coordinating collaborations with museums about the history of toxicity in fashion.  Currently, she has an exhibit at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada.While the use of toxic textiles is a grave issue within the fashion industry, understanding the history of the ongoing problem is critical to gain perspective and make future changes.  Matthews David exhaustive research methodology and prolific authorship on the topic continues to be a godsend to the industry and will undoubtedly prove to be extremely helpful in solving this menacing problem.  Enjoy!Alison Matthews David | Department of Art History (utoronto.ca)Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present https://a.co/d/b8wemri Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #51, September 17, 2024Lydia Dupree, Toxic Textiles (Part 1): A Biochemist Unravels Fashion’s Toxic Secrets Put your thinking caps on fashionistas!  On this episode, you’ll meet Lydia Dupree, the brilliant and affable biochemist who is tackling one of fashion’s most opaque topics—toxic textiles. Dupree is a notable cancer researcher and has several research papers already published. And while her entrance into fashion came about unexpectedly, for the industry, Dupree’s intelligence and passion could ultimately change what we wear.  This episode is the first in a three-part series exploring how toxic apparel impacts individual health.Fashion’s poor environmental reputation is well documented, but oddly enough, toxic textiles have evaded serious scrutiny until now.  The health scare related to the issue is just beginning to gain traction within the fashion community and Dupree does a masterful job explaining the lengthy list of toxins that are knowingly part of the apparel manufacturing process. It is fascinating to listen to a biochemist unapologetically explain the toxic tsunami confronting fashion.  Her credibility and proven research make it clear there are serious public health issues to weigh including the effects on children, fertility, and the long-term consequences of toxins absorbed through the skin. But Dupree takes her research skills well beyond blogging her findings on social media, she’s created the website Day Into Eve where she conducts a deep vetting of companies that claim their fashion or lifestyle products are toxic-free.  As of this episode, the Day Into Eve platform lists over 40 companies that have passed Dupree’s stringent specifications.Lastly, not surprisingly, Dupree hopes to expand her messaging about toxic textiles through further educating consumers and collaborating with the fashion industry.  Given the fashion industry's history on environmental issues, toxic-free fashion is only a long-term goal rather than a short-term mandate.  In the meantime, the industry should amplify the important work of a young biochemist from Milford, Connecticut!  Enjoy the show!www.dayintoeve.comInstagram @lydia.dupreeTikTok Lydia I Non-Toxic Fashion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #50, August 20, 2024Somy Madani, Haute Couture Makes A Comeback With London’s Next Generation DesignerThis is the 50th show anniversary of Fashioncast®, and we couldn’t think of a better guest to share our success with than Somy Madani, the award-winning London-based international designer.Born and raised in Medina, Saudi Arabia, Somy’s fashion journey is a remarkable story of entrepreneurial grit and determination.  Brilliant and affable, she’s a woman on a mission. In her brief stint in London, she has completed her fashion education, launched her fashion business, launched a non-profit organization (Somy Talent Academy), and continues raising her two children. Her brand, Somy London launched in 2021, is known for its bespoke evening gowns worn by London’s celebrity class.  The brand recently ventured into ready-to-wear with The Time Is Now line and follows a strict sustainable methodology while emphasizing body positivity and inclusion in its design.Beyond Somy’s amazing story and bonified business success, she is an outspoken advocate for mental health and self-care for the creative community.  Included in her approach has been Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), the use of horses in the therapeutic process.  In fact, her next fashion show in September 2024 will incorporate and offer therapy for local children struggling with mental health symptoms.  A beautiful reminder that giving is its own form of healing.Lastly, Somy is more than just an awe-inspiring fashion designer, she’s an extraordinary human being with boundless energy and creativity.  Listeners will be captivated by the many topics covered in this interview from her wish to collaborate with Lady Gaga to the most exciting and challenging issues facing the fashion industry.It was a great honor to speak with Somy Madani about her true passion, and it will be an equal pleasure to hear.  Please enjoy the 50th Fashioncast® episode!https://somylondon.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/somy-madani-7046b5133/@somyofficial_ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #49, July 16, 2024Stacy Igel, Fashion’s Queen of CollaborationListen closely fashionistas! On this episode we introduce you to “fashionpreneuer” extraordinaire Stacy Igel, Founder Boy Meets Girl apparel company and best-selling author of Embracing The Calm In The Chaos.   As Stacy says, she was interested in fashion while “still in the womb,” and her history since birth reinforces her prenatal yearning to build a career in fashion.  What makes this episode so appealing is that Igel is both a steadfast businessperson and a creative.  Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Igel made her mark as a hosiery salesperson when Marshall Fields hired her while still in the eighth grade!  She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she tripled majored in design, merchandising, and retail.  She soon moved to New York City to learn the fashion business from the ground up, and in 2001 she launched the Boy Meets Girl apparel company.Whether interviewing Igel, or writing about her, one always is in high gear.  Igel is kind, intelligent, professional, and yes, humorous.  But more than anything else, Igel is full of positive energy, and constantly multitasking like the entrepreneur, designer, and mother you would expect!Fashioncast could have easily produced two episodes out of this interview, one focused on Igel’s phenomenally successful company, Boy Meets Girl, and another on her equally successful book, Embracing The Calm In The Chaos. The book details Igel’s fashion journey including the launch of her brand.We found Igel’s interview full of one surprise after another.  This is after all, someone who has made her way in New York’s fashion world through twenty years of grit and determination.  Boy Meets Girl sports a Who’s Who list of collaborations with industry heavyweights from Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to Bergdorf Goodman and the Chicago Bulls.  Igel has come a long way since dressing classmates in grade school!Of course, Fashioncast probed Igel about sustainability, the lack of a business curriculum in fashion colleges, and the big issues she believes are headwinds for the industry.  We are certain you will find Stacy Igel as energetic, knowledgeable, and entertaining as we did!Please enjoy the show!www.boymeetsgirlusa.com                www.stacyigel.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Calm-Chaos-Perseverance-Collaboration/dp/140023493X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fashioncast®Episode #48, May 21, 2024Rachel Erickson, Riding High in the World of Performance ApparelHold on fashionistas! On this episode we introduce you to manufacturing performance apparel consultant Rachel Erickson.  As Founder and CEO of Unmarked Street, Rachel, and her team specialize in fashion consulting to the sports performance market, especially cycling. Enthusiastic about fashion at an early age, with some maternal nudging, Rachel has made fashion more than a career, it’s her identity. But of course, there have been challenges along the way.  “Burned out” from mind numbing work in corporate apparel manufacturing, after 17 years, Rachel launched Unmarked Street and began blazing a new path as a fashion apparel consultant. The company specializes in consulting for performance wear and cycling in particular, a rare niche market within the world of fashion. And the reason Unmarked Street has been so successful.  Sometimes it pays NOT to play to the masses!Erickson is easy to listen to, she’s energetic, humorous, articulate, and is knowledgeable about the fashion industry way beyond her niche.  It’s exciting to hear Rachel discuss a broad range of topics including branding, how to construct apparel for flawless fit, competition, difficult assignments, and sustainability. We especially enjoyed Rachel’s discussion of Major League Baseball’s ongoing uniform controversy with Nike and Fanatics.  Only from a performance apparel consultant, could you receive the “inside-baseball” of such a debacle.After interviewing Erickson, we had a newfound appreciation for the technical side of the business.  Understanding the use a performance of specific textiles is as critical to the business as marketing and distribution—nothing can be left to chance. And Erickson tells the story well.  Constantly weaving in personal anecdotes, it’s clear this is an entrepreneur who loves her work!Lastly, when Erickson was asked to take off her “consulting hat” and reflect on the fashion industry at large, she was particularly insightful about the unwanted side effects of fast fashion placed on her and many others within the industry.  It’s part of the discussion you won’t want to miss!We loved interviewing the very lively Rachel Erickson! Please enjoy!www.unmarkedstreet.com@unmarkedstreet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.