Ep. 22 | JUS10H | Justin Haynes | Journey of a Fashion Designer: From Retail to the Runway

In this episode of the Realistic CEO Podcast, host welcomes fashion designer and tailor, Justin Haynes, to discuss his unique journey from a high school retail job to owning a global fashion brand. Justin shares insights into the fashion industry, how he navigated his career path, overcame initial failures, and built a sustainable brand. The conversation covers the challenges of starting from zero, the importance of believing in your brand, the significance of networking, and the role of inspiration in fashion. Justin also shares his experiences preparing for fashion shows, the process of designing unique clothing, and finding loyal collaborators. Tune in to learn more about Justin's dedication to his craft and the lessons he learned along the way to becoming a renowned designer. 00:00 The Dream of Becoming a CEO 00:23 Welcome to the Realistic CEO Podcast 00:35 Meet Justin Haynes: Fashion Designer and Tailor 01:11 Justin's Journey: From Retail to Global Fashion 03:01 Believing in Your Brand 03:58 Creating Unique and Sustainable Fashion 07:00 Overcoming Early Failures 14:46 The Importance of Networking in Fashion 15:29 The Experience of Being on Magazine Covers 16:25 Top Five Favorite Runways 16:44 Fashion Show Experiences: The Best and Worst 17:14 From Retail to Running a Fashion Business 18:15 Key Traits of Effective Leadership 18:47 Hiring the Right People in Fashion 19:24 Building and Maintaining Strong Work Relationships 20:37 Handling Client Feedback and Design Adjustments 21:30 The Challenges of Fashion Design 23:19 Print vs. Runway Modeling 24:10 Finding and Nurturing Modeling Talent 26:19 The Importance of Loyalty in the Fashion Industry 27:42 Learning from Life's Lessons 29:55 Staying Motivated and Pushing Forward 30:58 The Long, Boring Work Behind Success 31:45 Fun Facts and Final Thoughts