Designing the Future of Fashion | Mikelle Drew-Pellum | F.I.T. Professor, Designer & Entrepreneur

Mikelle Drew-Pellum is a fashion designer, educator, entrepreneur, and adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. With a career that’s taken her from freelance designer to working with brands like Hanes, Champion, and C9, she’s now shaping the next generation of designers while running her own fashion education business. Mikelle shares her journey into the fashion industry, how she found her niche in activewear, and why she believes technology and smart buying will define fashion’s future. She talks about teaching digital fashion design, the realities of working in the industry, and how creatives can leverage technology to open new opportunities.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Mikelle Drew-Pellum

03:20 From University of Delaware to New York Fashion Scene

07:45 Building a Career in Activewear Design

12:15 Working with Hanes, C9, and Champion

16:37 The 2 A.M. Email That Changed Everything

20:25 From Freelance Designer to F.I.T. Professor

24:50 Launching a Fashion Education Business

29:30 Teaching Digital Design with Illustrator & Photoshop

33:40 Why Technology is Reshaping Fashion

37:15 Smart Buying and the Future of the Industry

41:05 Lessons from Michelle Obama’s Becoming

45:50 Why Conversations Create Change

50:15 Leveraging Technology for Creativity

54:20 Advice for Emerging Designers

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

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