Fashion Your Seatbelt

Jessica Michault
  • 5.0 (4)
  • FASHION & BEAUTY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Fashion Your Seatbelt podcast gives its listeners the rare opportunity to hear from some of the leading voices working in the fashion industry today. Each podcast is an exclusive one-to-one conversation with a creative who is crafting the future of fashion. Hosted by the renowned and award-winning fashion journalist Jessica Michault, this podcast is designed to take its audience directly to the heart of fashion and discover what makes it tick.

  1. 096 Nadine Kanso: Reclaiming Arab Identity Through Calligraphy and Fine Jewellery

    3 DAYS AGO

    096 Nadine Kanso: Reclaiming Arab Identity Through Calligraphy and Fine Jewellery

    Nadine Kanso is a pillar of Dubai's creative community. Born in Beirut, the Lebanese designer has called the city home since the year 2000. And over the past quarter century, she has become one of its most distinctive and beloved creative voices. A talented photographer, a recognised fashion muse, and someone with an innate gift for interior design — Kanso is a born artist in the fullest sense of the word. But it is jewellery that has become her most powerful form of expression. In 2006, she founded Bil Arabi — a jewellery house built on a single, heartfelt premise: that the Arabic language is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and that it deserves to be celebrated. Better yet, worn. Drawing on her background in graphic design and her deep love of calligraphy, Kanso began transforming Arabic letters and words into handcrafted jewellery. Messages of love, strength, and beauty — rendered in gold and precious stones — worn as declarations of identity by a devoted following across the Arab diaspora and far beyond it. Nearly two decades on, Bil Arabi is considered to be one of the region’s most prominent jewellery houses. With Kanso being tapped for collaborations with leading international luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Berluit and Guerlain and being named a Forbes Middle East Fashion Innovator in 2024. In our conversation, we explore what it means to build a luxury brand around cultural reclamation — and how she has stayed true to that original vision while growing Bil Arabi into an international name. We also talk about the particular kind of resilience it takes to be a female founder in this industry, what it means to her to represent the region on a global stage, and why, after twenty years, the Arabic language still has more to say. Kanso's story is one of identity, artistry, and wearing your heart on your sleeve, with a message carved in golden words of love and self-acceptance. – 🎬 Thank you to Studio Wacked in Paris for the amazing support of my French-based podcast episodes https://wacked.fr/ and Poddster In Dubai for their amazing studio and team where this episode was recorded: https://dubai.poddster.com 💌Drop me a DM: @jessicamichault or just old school email me. 📝 My website: https://jessicamichault.com Connect with Us: ✅Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jessicamichault ✅Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicamichault You might also like: 💟https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB6DwlT70eM 💟https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3humRELI5E 💟https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQyQN7Yq7HQ Thank you for watching this video, click the "SUBSCRIBE" button to stay connected with this channel. "Nadine Kanso: Reclaiming Arab Identity Through Calligraphy and Fine Jewellery - Jessica Michault" #fashionpodcast #podcast #podcastdesigner #designer #designerpodcast More About Jessica Michault: Jessica Michault is an award-winning journalist, public speaker and Fashion, Luxury, Beauty consultant. She is an expert on the Middle East luxury market and has launched multiple luxury publications in the GCC. Michault's 60 Second Fashion Reviews were one of the first to bring fashion show criticism to the social media sphere, and her in-depth, one-on-one interviews with some of fashion's leading movers and shakers, via her Fashion Your Seatbelt podcast, have created another avenue for fashion lovers to connect with the industry. She spent 16 formative years working side by side with the renowned fashion critic Suzy Menkes, as the Online Style Editor of the International Herald Tribune, before taking C-suite positions in leading luxury publications like ODDA magazine, NOWFASHION and Antidote magazine and taking up the role of SVP of Industry Relations at Launchmetrics. Over the years, she has consulted with brands such as Miu Miu, Boucheron, Mulberry and the Puig group, and her articles have been published in The New York Times, Business of Fashion and throughout multiple Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines across the globe.

    49 min
  2. 095 Farnoush Hamidian: The Model Who Is Redefining The Industry

    04/12/2025

    095 Farnoush Hamidian: The Model Who Is Redefining The Industry

    Model and poet Farnoush Hamidian has that unquantifiable something, what the French call je ne sais quoi, that only fashion’s most iconic muses possess. All eyes turn towards her when she enters a room, and anyone who has seen her walk a couture catwalk can confirm she dominates the runway with a presence born not just from beauty, but inner strength. Born in Iran, Farnoush’s path to the world’s biggest fashion stages has been anything but straightforward. It’s a story threaded with courage – of leaving home, of finding her place, and of redefining what beauty looks like on her own terms. In an industry that’s still learning to celebrate difference, she has become something rare: a woman who embodies both mystery and meaning. Farnoush, whose face has graced the cover of Vogue Arabia, Emirates Woman and L’Officiel, has collaborated with brands like Dolce Gabbana, Cartier, Tiffany Co, Chaumet and L’Oreal. And walked the Paris Couture runways, most notably as a muse for Stephane Rolland, not to mention the red carpeted steps of the Cannes Film Festival. But behind the editorials and couture fittings lies a deeper narrative — one about resilience, identity, and the power of representation. In a time when the fashion world is finally beginning to open its eyes to diverse forms of beauty, Farnoush stands as both muse and mirror. Reflecting a new generation of women who are rewriting the definition of elegance. Today she is using her voice and her platform to champion a more inclusive and thoughtful vision of beauty. From the quiet discipline of her early years to the creative freedom she’s now embracing, Farnoush has proven herself to be so much more than just a pretty face.

    1hr 4min
  3. 094 Alexis Mabille: Fashion’s Debonair Couture Designer

    27/11/2025

    094 Alexis Mabille: Fashion’s Debonair Couture Designer

    The debonair Alexis Mabille is a renowned French designer known for his innovative work in both fashion and interior design. Born into a big family, he learned early from his mother how to sew clothing, dressing both friends and family in his creations. Later, he would enroll in the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, graduating early because of all the hands-on sartorial experience of his childhood. From there, he worked at prestigious fashion houses like Ungaro and Nina Ricci before being tapped by John Galliano to come work with him during his time at Dior. He also collaborated with Hedi Silmane during his tenure at Dior Homme. Finally, in 2005 Alexis decided to launch his signature brand and found fans in artists like Dita Von Teese, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. He gained a reputation for pushing the envelope when it came to the idea of unisex dressing and turned the bow into the signature motif of his maison, making it a modern fixture of fashion. He would also go on to explore interior design with his equally successful company BEAU BOW Paris. In this episode, Alexis explores his approach to building a lasting legacy as he begins a new chapter with his signature brand. Also, we examine what it truly means for originality to transcend market trends and whether creativity alone is enough to make a lasting impact in today’s fashion industry. As always, Alexis is full of stories, full of insights, and full of fun.

    53 min
  4. 093 Stéphane Rolland: The Designer Whose Heart Beats for Haute Couture

    20/11/2025

    093 Stéphane Rolland: The Designer Whose Heart Beats for Haute Couture

    There are fashion designers, and then there are couturiers – those rare artists who understand how to sculpt emotion from fabric or create drama from a single silhouette. Stéphane Rolland is one of those exceptional few. From the moment he stepped onto the haute couture stage, Stéphane made it clear that he wasn’t interested in playing it safe. His signature collections are bold, architectural, and cinematic – full of sweeping trains, sculptural volumes, and unapologetic glamour. His creations don’t just walk into a room; they command it. But behind the red-carpet-ready gowns lies a deep-rooted respect for craftsmanship. A graduate of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture and the youngest ever Artistic Director at Balenciaga, Stéphane brings a razor-sharp technical skill to the visionary designs of his eponymous fashion house. He is a master of cut, proportion, and impact – dressing women like Beyoncé, Celine Dion, and Queen Rania with the kind of elegance that refuses to go unnoticed. Based in Paris but with an eye always on the world, Stéphane merges the discipline of haute couture with the sensibility of sculpture and the drama of the stage. Each look is a story – powerful, feminine, and unforgettable. Stéphane Rolland doesn’t just design clothes. He creates moments.

    56 min
  5. 092 Mariam Yeya: The Fabulous Force Behind Mrs. Keepa

    13/11/2025

    092 Mariam Yeya: The Fabulous Force Behind Mrs. Keepa

    There’s a certain kind of designer who doesn’t just make clothes – she builds a world. Mariam Yeya, the French-Egyptian force behind the fashion label Mrs. Keepa, does exactly that. Her creations aren’t just garments; they’re declarations of individuality, freedom, and fearless femininity – a colorful and creative visual dialogue that is a sartorial dance between structure and spontaneity. Launched in 2016 with Mariam’s husband, Bassel “Keepa” Komaty … thus the name Mrs. Keepa – was born out of a desire to create clothing that felt both modern and timeless. What began as a ready-to-wear brand with a cult-like following among the region’s most discerning dressers has now evolved into an international label known for its eclectic silhouettes, impeccable tailoring, and some serious statement shoulders. Her designs don’t whisper — they speak loud and clear. To women who are confident, eccentric, and unapologetically themselves. The best way to describe the “Mrs. Keepa girl” is that she isn’t a woman defined by trends; she defines them. What ties the brand all together is the designer’s instinctive understanding of contrast — the harmony between masculine and feminine energy, the vintage and the avant-garde, the uninhibited and the meticulously crafted. It’s this melange that makes her work so compelling. As a designer, she brings together her Egyptian heritage and French sensibility with a modern, cosmopolitan slant. And her recent expansion into menswear only cements this idea. But at the heart of Mrs. Keepa’s success is something deeper: a commitment to sustainability as a central creative philosophy. Each collection is built around longevity with pieces designed to live many lives in one wardrobe. Today, the Mrs. Keepa brand stands as one of the most dynamic independent labels to come out of the Middle East — proof that authenticity and imagination can still be a business model. Mariam’s story is, at its core, about freedom, the freedom to create without compromise, to lead without imitation, and to inspire a generation of women to take up space, beautifully and boldly.

    57 min
  6. 091 Mohammed Aqra: The Strategist Uplifting Designers in the Middle East

    06/11/2025

    091 Mohammed Aqra: The Strategist Uplifting Designers in the Middle East

    There are visionaries who predict the future — and then there are those who quietly build it. Mohammed Aqra belongs to the latter. As the Chief Strategy Officer of the Arab Fashion Council, he has become one of the most influential figures shaping the evolution of fashion across the Middle East and beyond. Equal parts strategist, connector, and cultural diplomat, he is redefining what it means to turn creativity into economic power. Born in New York to Jordanian parents, Aqra embodies the duality of East and West — a sensibility that has become the foundation of his work. With degrees in International Business and International Business Law, he approaches fashion as both art form and infrastructure, understanding that beauty means little without the scaffolding of sustainability and vision. At just twenty-five, he became one of the youngest executives in the global fashion industry when he co-founded the Arab Fashion Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to building a unified fashion ecosystem across the twenty-two Arab nations. As its Chief Strategy Officer, Aqra is leading initiatives that bridge diplomacy, technology, and design, and his trajectory has been defined by ambition paired with execution. Under his leadership, the Arab Fashion Council has transformed from a regional platform into a global player. Partnerships with industry giants like Meta, Microsoft, Dyson, DHL, and Mattel have expanded the reach of the Middle East’s creative economy, while collaborations with legendary houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Moschino, Marchesa, and Carolina Herrera have elevated the Arab fashion narrative onto the international stage. Aqra was also instrumental in founding Dubai Fashion Week alongside Dubai Design District (d3), solidifying the city’s position as one of the five major fashion capitals in the world. But what sets Aqra apart is not only his ability to forge alliances; it’s the way he reimagines the purpose of fashion itself. He sees it as a global language — one that transcends borders and builds bridges. His vision positions the Arab world not as a satellite to the West, but as a central, driving force in the global creative economy. Aqra represents a new kind of industry leader: analytical yet imaginative, disciplined yet daring. His work is not about fashion for fashion’s sake, but about the long game — building creative economies, fostering cross-cultural collaboration, and proving that design can be both a commercial and a diplomatic force. As Dubai continues to rise as a global hub for art, culture, and innovation, Aqra stands at the crossroads — shaping not just how fashion looks, but how it functions, connects, and endures.

    59 min
  7. 090 Nicolas Santi-Weil: The Fashion CEO Who Leads With His Heart

    30/10/2025

    090 Nicolas Santi-Weil: The Fashion CEO Who Leads With His Heart

    In this episode Nicolas Santi-Weil, the CEO of AMI Paris, discusses what it takes to build a global multimillion dollar independent fashion brand today, how Asia helped shape AMI’s future, and why his carpe diem approach to business has proven so successful… Nicolas Santi-Weil is not your typical fashion CEO. Equal parts strategist and storyteller, he’s the architect – alongside founding designer Alexandre Mattiussi – behind the rise of AMI Paris, the effortlessly cool French brand that’s become the gold standard for Parisian nonchalance. In an era where major luxury conglomerates are reporting their worst results in years Nicolas has been instrumental in shepherding AMI to some quite impressive wins. The 15 year old company now counts 700 wholesale partners and points of sale in over 100 countries. And just last year the brand saw 300 million euros in turnover – an increase of 10 fold in just four short years. With a background that bridges finance, entrepreneurship, and fashion Nicolas brings a rare clarity to an often chaotic industry. He understands how to scale a brand without losing its soul, take daring, yet calculated risks and knows how to craft a growing fashion empire that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. This is a man who likes to choose the unconventional path… like leaving his job at a multimillion-dollar business to join AMI – when it was still a little-known label. Under his leadership, the company has expanded internationally, come up with some unexpected and energizing collaborations with creative heavyweights, and maintained a fiercely loyal following without compromising its roots. But beneath Nicolas’ work lies a deeper story of risk, reinvention, and quiet resilience. This episode is about truly discovering the man behind AMI’s success. Exploring what it takes to lead a brand through personal sacrifice, cultural shifts, and high-stakes markets like China. And as luck would have it…we also finally get to discover his go to karaoke song.

    39 min
  8. 089 Burc Akyol: The Designer You Need to Know

    23/10/2025

    089 Burc Akyol: The Designer You Need to Know

    In the latest episode of the Fashion Your Seatbelt podcast, up and coming fashion designer Burc Akyol shares his unfiltered views on the fashion industry, his nascent signature brand and what it’s really like to work with Cardi B. There are some designers that feel like lighting in a bottle. Burc is without a doubt one of those. The poetic way he talks about fashion, his clear sense of self awareness and his raw honesty make him captivating to listen to and I could have easily spoken with him for hours. With roots in France and Turkey, and a foundation built in the ateliers of some of Paris’s most storied maisons, including Christian Dior and Balenciaga, Burc launched his namesake label in 2019 with a vision as bold as it is refined. His work speaks in a fluent, sensual language – fluid silhouettes, razor-sharp tailoring, and a near-couture level of craftsmanship. It's a wardrobe designed not for the faint of heart, but for those who want to stand elegantly apart. From his now-iconic tuxedo jeans to his sculptural bustiers, Burc brings a magnetic energy to everything he touches. His designs celebrate dualities: masculine and feminine, strength and vulnerability, structure and seduction. It’s no surprise his work has already found fans among fashion’s most daring tastemakers like Cardi B, Cate Blanchett, Kendall Jenner, and Gabrielle Union. But beyond the silhouettes and the styling, there’s a deeper conviction behind the brand – one of sustainability, intentionality, and making garments that last beyond trends. A 2023 LVMH Prize finalist and this year’s winner of the Pierre Berger prize at the ANDAM awards, Burc isn’t just designing clothes; he’s crafting a new kind of bold elegance for a new generation. And fashion – quite frankly – is better for it.

    54 min
See All (96)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Fashion Your Seatbelt podcast gives its listeners the rare opportunity to hear from some of the leading voices working in the fashion industry today. Each podcast is an exclusive one-to-one conversation with a creative who is crafting the future of fashion. Hosted by the renowned and award-winning fashion journalist Jessica Michault, this podcast is designed to take its audience directly to the heart of fashion and discover what makes it tick.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Michault
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Fashion Your Seatbelt