Fashion & Founders The Podcast

Victoria Smith
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Updated Weekly

Fashion & Founders is a media platform exploring how fashion is actually built. Hosted by Victoria Smith, the show sits at the intersection of fashion, technology, and capital spotlighting the founders, investors, and operators shaping the industry’s next era.Through long-form conversations, we go beyond trends to unpack fundraising, manufacturing, resale,  AI,  sustainability, career, and the evolving business of fashion. This is where fashion’s builders speak, share, and connect. 

  1. Make a Career out of Taste with VP of Partnerships at ShopMy

    3d ago

    Make a Career out of Taste with VP of Partnerships at ShopMy

    This week on Fashion and Founders Podcast, I’m joined by Caley-Rae Pavillard, VP of Partnerships & Business Development at ShopMy. If you've spent any time around creators lately, you've probably heard the same thing: "Get on ShopMy." But why has it become such a powerful platform for creators, brands, and tastemakers? In this episode, we discuss why creators are becoming the new retailers, how affiliate marketing is reshaping the industry, and why follower count matters far less than most people think. Caley shares what brands are actually looking for, how creators can turn recommendations into recurring revenue, and why human taste may become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. Consider this your ShopMy Success Guide and Masterclass in Influencer Marketing.  We cover:  How creators are making millions through affiliate revenue The shift from attention to influence What brands really want from creator partnerships Why authenticity still wins The future of shopping, discovery, and personal brandsWhether you're a creator, founder, marketer, or simply curious about where commerce is headed next, this episode is packed with insights. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: ⁠@fashionandfounders⁠ Podcast Substack: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠ Podcast Website: ⁠fashionandfounders.com⁠ Podcast TikTok: ⁠@⁠⁠fashionandfounders⁠ Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠ Podcast YouTube: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠ Podcast Links: ⁠Shop My⁠ Follow ShopMy: IG: @⁠shopmy⁠ Join ShopMy as a creator ⁠HERE⁠ Join ShopMy as a shopper ⁠HERE ⁠ Follow Caley-Rae: IG: @⁠heycayrae⁠ Caley’s ⁠ShopMy⁠ Rent the Runway: Use code: ⁠RTRXVSMITH50⁠and get 50% off your first month! Glamsquad: Code: ⁠FASHIONANDFOUNDERS ⁠for $20 off Thanks for listening!

    57 min

  2. Jun 14

    Answering Your Biggest Fashion Career Questions: Solo Episode

    This week, I’m answering your questions in a solo episode. I asked you to send in your biggest questions about working in fashion, founder tools, networking, fashion tech, and building a career you actually love, and we're covering all of it. From how to pivot into fashion from a different industry or degree, how to attend New York Fashion Week, the tools I’ve used to grow on social media, and the fashion tech companies and trends I'm watching closely right now. Whether you're trying to land your first fashion job, grow your platform, or simply understand where the industry is headed, I hope this episode gives you a few practical takeaways you can use immediately. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: ⁠@fashionandfounders⁠ Podcast Substack: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠ Podcast Website: ⁠fashionandfounders.com⁠ Podcast TikTok: ⁠@⁠⁠fashionandfounders⁠ Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠ Podcast YouTube: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠ Podcast Links: ⁠Shop My⁠ Links for mentioned items in the episode: ⁠Fashion Career Playbook⁠⁠Copenhagen Fashion Brands⁠Dressing Professionally on a Budget ⁠Flatter BlazerNo Blister FlatsEarrings Rent the Runway: Use code: ⁠RTRXVSMITH50⁠and get 50% off your first month! Glamsquad: Code: ⁠FASHIONANDFOUNDERS ⁠for $20 off Thanks for listening!

    23 min
  3. LoveShackFancy: Fashion Editor to Empire with Rebecca Hessel Cohen

    May 24

    LoveShackFancy: Fashion Editor to Empire with Rebecca Hessel Cohen

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of LoveShackFancy. They discuss how Rebecca went from working as a fashion editor at Cosmopolitan to building one of the most recognizable brands in fashion. Rebecca shares the story behind the original bridesmaid dress that launched the company, the early years before opening a retail store, and how LoveShackFancy evolved from a niche aesthetic into a full lifestyle universe. They also discuss the viral ruffle skirt that became one of the most copied fashion pieces online, navigating dupes and copycats, scaling without diluting the brand, building immersive retail experiences, and what makes collaborations actually work. Plus Rebecca’s advice for standing out in fashion, building a recognizable point of view, and turning aspiration into community. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders Podcast Links: Shop My Follow LoveShackFancy: IG: @loveshackfancy TikTok: @loveshackfancy Shop Follow Rebecca: IG: @becknyc TikTok: @becknyc_ Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Thanks for listening!

    42 min
  4. The Brand Behind Acquired Style’s Viral Bachelorette Trip: Swan Beauty

    May 10

    The Brand Behind Acquired Style’s Viral Bachelorette Trip: Swan Beauty

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Colby Mitchell, founder of Swan Beauty, the AI beauty tech startup that went viral after sponsoring Acquired Style’s bachelorette trip. They discuss the strategy behind the partnership, the inbound after the trip, and the theories circulating the internet. The conversation explores the intersection of beauty and technology, the future of AI-powered skincare, and the journey to building Swan Beauty. If the bachelorette trip content left you wondering what is Swan Beauty, listen here and learn what’s next for them after their viral moment. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders Podcast Links: Shop My Follow Swan: IG: @swanbeauty_us Swan Beauty Website Try the app Follow Colby: IG: @colbytmitchell Family Office Episode Mentioned HERE Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Thanks for listening!

    24 min
  5. The Future of Beauty with Glamsquad founder Giovanni Vaccaro

    May 3

    The Future of Beauty with Glamsquad founder Giovanni Vaccaro

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Giovanni Vaccaro, co-founder of GlamSquad, to talk about the future of beauty and how access is changing everything. What used to be reserved for celebrities and top influencers, getting your hair and makeup done at home, is now available on demand. Giovanni breaks down how GlamSquad made that shift possible, turning luxury beauty into something people can actually use in their everyday lives. They discuss the rise of convenience-driven services, the connection between beauty and confidence, and how platforms like GlamSquad are redefining both access and the way creatives work. If you’ve ever wondered how people always have glam for events, shoots, or fashion week this is how. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders Podcast Links: Shop My Follow Glamsquad: IG: @glamsquad Follow Giovanni: IG: @giovannivaccaro Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Thanks for listening!

    45 min
  6. Building a Brand That Means Something: Sali Christeson Founder of Argent

    Apr 26

    Building a Brand That Means Something: Sali Christeson Founder of Argent

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Sali Christeson, founder and CEO of Argent, to discuss what it really takes to build a fashion brand over the long term. Sally shares her path from tech to launching Argent, and how a gap in the workwear market led her to create a brand rooted in both function and purpose. They get into raising venture capital in fashion, navigating the “messy middle” of growth, and why most brands don’t make it past the early years. Sally also shares how Argent went from strong growth to zero revenue during COVID and the unexpected moment that turned things around. The conversation covers hiring, trusting your instincts as a founder, evolving workwear culture, and why there’s no shortcut to building a brand that lasts. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders Podcast Links: Shop My Follow Argent: IG: @argent Shop Argent Follow Sali: IG: @salichristeson Brand Highlight: Alexandra Madison Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Thanks for listening!

    46 min
  7. Vestiaire Collective: the $1 Billion Resale Platform

    Apr 13

    Vestiaire Collective: the $1 Billion Resale Platform

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with the Chief Business Officer of Vestiaire Collective, Klemen Drole. They discuss how the company evolved from a niche resale platform into a global leader in secondhand luxury. He was previously the Chief Technology Officer and shares the tech innovations Vestiaire is implanting to keep up with demand. They break down the realities of building a fashion resale company over 15+ years, from overcoming early stigma around secondhand to reaching profitability and scaling globally. The conversation explores how Vestiaire balances supply and demand, pricing millions of unique items, and the keys to their growth. They also dive into how trends emerge in real time on resale platforms, the role of AI in authentication and curation, and how luxury brands are increasingly partnering with resale platforms.  Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders Podcast Links: Shop My Follow Vestiaire Collective: IG: @vestiaireco Shop: vestiairecollective.com Brand Highlight: Melisse Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Thanks for listening!

    38 min
  8. The Business of Being an Influencer with Hannah Lizzy

    Apr 5

    The Business of Being an Influencer with Hannah Lizzy

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Hannah Krohne, Hannah Lizzy on TikTok, a fashion creator who turned TikTok into a launching point for her career. Landing roles at David Yurman, Danielle and Alix in styling, and ASOS in merchandising and trend analysis before ultimately going full-time as an influencer. They discuss her path from posting in her college dorm to building a platform that now functions as both content and portfolio. Hannah shares what it really looks like to balance a 9–5 with content creation, from filming multiple videos a day to navigating the transition out of corporate. They also get into the financial realities of influencing, including inconsistent income, brand deals, and the unexpected costs behind “free” product. The conversation breaks down how brands actually choose influencers, the behind-the-scenes of Fashion Week dressing, and why so much of what you see online isn’t as it seems. They also explore the role of content in building a career in fashion, why you don’t need a traditional fashion background, and how to position yourself for opportunities in the industry. Follow Fashion & Founders: Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders Podcast Links: Shop My Follow Hannah: IG: @hannahlizzy_ TikTok: @hannahlizzy_ Brand Highlight: Paris64 Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Thanks for listening!

    36 min
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About

Fashion & Founders is a media platform exploring how fashion is actually built. Hosted by Victoria Smith, the show sits at the intersection of fashion, technology, and capital spotlighting the founders, investors, and operators shaping the industry’s next era.Through long-form conversations, we go beyond trends to unpack fundraising, manufacturing, resale,  AI,  sustainability, career, and the evolving business of fashion. This is where fashion’s builders speak, share, and connect. 

Information

  • Creator
    Victoria Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fashion & Founders The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Fashion & Founders The Podcast

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