Tech Powered Luxury

IrelandsEye is an Irish knitwear brand that embraces technology, tradition, sustainability, and style. Founded over 35 years ago, the brand remains family-owned and creates premium knitwear at their production site in County Dublin, Ireland.Paul O’Sullivan, who is the Managing Director and one of the family founders of the brand, along with IrelandsEye Head of Design, Maria-Christina McPadden, share with us the origins of IrelandsEye, their creative and technical processes, and how their mission to create long-lasting knitwear has an inherently high-tech approach.Tech-Powered Luxury Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Farmhouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pavan Ahluwalia-Dhanjal is a world-renowned henna artist, bringing an Indian beauty ritual to the globe with a luxury and digital-first approach. With two Guinness World Records for being the fastest henna artist on the planet, Pavan was also awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018.Pavan has collaborated with major celebrities, including Alesha Dixon, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding, Perrie Edwards, and Huda Kattan. She has created bespoke designs for international runway shows, including Manish Arora and Antonio Berardi during London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, and has worked with the BBC and ITV.Pavan is also the woman behind the first-ever henna bar in a luxury department store, with her space at Selfridges in London. In this episode of Tech Powered Luxury with Ashley McDonnell, Pavan shares the story of how she created her brand and elevated henna through a luxury and digitally-driven business plan.Tech Powered Luxury Season 3 is proudly sponsored by FarmHouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From initially studying finance to pivoting to luxury fashion, Laurent Piffaut - Co-Founder and Co-CEO of luxury careers platform Dweet - has embraced the power of AI to empower a global network of luxury experts looking to match talent with opportunity. Laurent established himself as a leader within luxury, starting with a foundation in finance, entering L'Oreal Group as a Financial Controller before joining Chanel for almost 10 years, climbing the ladder internationally and reaching the position of Fashion Director of the Middle East & India.Laurent's commitment to developing his soft skills as a leader in luxury were successful, as he joined Dior in 2015 as General Manager for Central Europe, followed by Director roles at Alexander McQueen and Prada.Today, as a tech platform Co-Founder and CEO, Laurent has set himself a new challenge: scaling and connecting. Throughout his years within retail and brand management, Laurent noticed incredible opportunities in-house which brands struggled to find the talent for, as well as highly-skilled and motivated people who could not find the right opportunities. Through the Dweet platform, Laurent's goal is to streamline this process within the luxury industry, simplifying and speeding up the process by which brands and talents can be matched for short, medium and long term collaborations.TPL S3 is proudly sponsored by Farmhouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carlota Rodben, a Zillennial global nomad and former prima ballerina based between London and Paris, has distinguished herself as a two-time author before the age of thirty, and an innovation specialist in the luxury industry. This week, Carlota's second book "Beyond Luxury" was published, reaching #1 on Amazon within Retailing Industry.Rodben began her career at the House of Chanel, where she established an innovation team and worked on cutting edge new concepts for the future of retail of the brand - the exact type of missions we love to discuss on the Tech Powered Luxury podcast!In this episode, Rodben synthesizes elements of technology, innovation, sustainability, and human-focused experiences to forge a vision of purpose-driven luxury. We discuss the mission behind her latest book and the ways in which technology can be the ultimate growth and sustainability driver for existing and emerging luxury brands.Her acclaimed debut book, “Beauty As It Is”, promotes inclusivity and diversity in the beauty industry with the motto, “Beauty is a choice”, a topic even more relevant in the hyper-digital age. Currently, Carlota is invested in an entrepreneurial venture exploring the benefit of AI and IoT to optimize self-care. Additionally, she consults luxury brands and institutions on desirable futures, innovation, and transformation, and lectures at esteemed executive programs offered by IE and Luxonomy. Rodben’s ambition is to usher in a new era of luxury, leveraging cutting-edge technology, immersive experiences, and the power of emotion.You can order Carlota's book "Beyond Luxury" on Amazon.Tech Powered Luxury Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Farmhouse Fresh. #techpoweredluxury Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and fashion-tech thought leader Niamh O’Donoghue has been navigating between the realms of offline and online luxury fashion for the last decade. From her role as the acting social media editor at British Vogue, to her involvement with the fashion styling app Drest, and now in her current position as Head of Editorial and Social for the one and only Victoria Beckham - I’m asking Niamh about everything, from career tips to skill development, and how she’s carved out a path that balances business and digital creativity within the worlds of fashion and media.I’ve been following Niamh’s career from afar for many years and have been in awe of the roles she's taken on. Niamh shares a lot of behind-the-scenes moments from her life on Instagram with her killer style and wit, so I’m really looking forward to interviewing her in-depth about how she manages it all and how she’s developed a 360-degree understanding of the world of fashion.From studying journalism to becoming a content creator, styling and photographing shoots, to exploring Web3 and metaverse fashion, even working at the pinnacle of the fashion publication world during her time as the acting social media editor at British Vogue, and now, based in London, Niamh is collaborating with the absolute icon Victoria Beckham as the head of editorial and social for her fashion house.TPL S3 is proudly sponsored by Farmhouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the realm of fear to the trenches of economic hardship, and amidst the fragile walls of immigration, Paboy Bojang unfurls his kaleidoscopic dreams and cheerful visions within his designs. Born in Gambia, Paboy embarked on his journey into the art of tailoring at the tender age of 13, under the guidance of his uncle in their atelier. Faced with limited resources, Paboy made the difficult choice to compromise his formal schooling to become the primary provider for his family.From his eyes in the countryside of Gambia, Paboy developed a discerning eye for colors. While living with his grandmother, he honed his skills in sewing as he saw people dressed in brightly colored scarves and dresses. Intrigued and hopeful, his inspirations combine the spirit of Gambia, alongside living in his studio in Naples. In 2020, the brand started on Instagram and only moves forward. The colour combinations in Casa's creations are unexpected; from technicolor dreams, Paboy's story is rooted in the ruins of the tyranny of Gambia to the joys of pushing the envelope of passion. In today's episode of Tech-Powered Luxury, host Ashley McDonnell takes us through the excruciating pains of starting in Gambia, changing cities, and beginning from nowhere to the exhilarating joys of creating one's course of success at In Casa By Paboy Bojang, with the support of the internet, self-belief, and craftsmanship.TPL S3 is proudly sponsored by Farmhouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FarmHouse Fresh is a brand cherished by millions: from Hollywood stars to the world's best estheticians and makeup artists, top-tier hotel spas, and millions of customers around the globe. But it's more than skincare; it's a testament to the beauty and power of nature, the celebration of life, and, above all, rescuing animals in need. Shannon McLinden founded FarmHouse Fresh 19 years ago with a single product that made its way directly into Oprah's magazine, and her brand story has grown stronger every single year. Now headquartered on their own ranch in Texas, FarmHouse Fresh has the space to grow its own potent plants with just-harvested botanicals bursting with nutrition for your skin. The ranch also serves as a haven for the animals that they have rescued over the years.Today, Shannon shifts the language of skincare and beauty transformation while maintaining a strong focus on natural, safe, organic products developed in a cruelty-free, farm-friendly environment.Listen to Shannon's incredible story of adventure, curiosity, passion, and care as she navigates the worlds of beauty, brand building, and animal rescue, recorded from her hilltop ranch in McKinney, Texas.Tech Powered Luxury is proudly sponsored by FarmHouse Fresh.TPL S3 is proudly sponsored by FarmHouse Fresh. #techpoweredluxury Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayurveda's alternative perspective on beauty propels the spiritual path of wellness for the creative and conscious beauty entrepreneur, Nikita Mehta. From studying languages to completing a Computer Science and Business degree, Nikita's trajectory to beauty and haircare collided with many turns, reflection, and learnings from eight years of working at pioneering houses of fine fragrance: from Patou to PUIG. These experiences resonate with her today, adding to the conscious understanding of the luxury rhythm, amidst the noise in a saturated world of beauty. Nikita knows exactly who she is, and knows who she wants to be: 'You don't need to be masculine; you can be feminine and lead.'Nikita, as the creative head of Fable and Mane, coined the name from her childhood nostalgia of "storytime with haircare." Since its launch in 2020, Nikita's mission with Fable and Mane has been to captivate consumers with the meaningful persona of the brand, rooted in her intuition as the cornerstone of her significant success. This journey is akin to the story of Ayurveda, aligning with one's inner peace. By modernizing Indian ingredients in Western parlance, Nikita Mehta's story of leadership and creativity is captivating and impactful in the shifting digital and luxury worlds. With Tech-Powered Luxury, Nikita leans in on her learnings, her catapulting views on branding, and how she evolves as the 'guardian of the brand.'Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you in partnership with FarmHouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by myself, Ashley McDonnell, host of Tech Powered Luxury.After two seasons of delving into the cutting edge of technology and modern luxury, it's time to turn the mic and share a glimpse of my own journey. This episode was recorded during my last few days in Geneva, where I relocated to take on the role of Global Digital Media and E-Commerce Director at luxury group PUIG's international holding before I move back to Paris. In the course of our conversation, my aim is to carve out a space within the realms of fashion, beauty, and luxury, welcoming everyone with their dreams and differences.My first full time role was as Digital Project Manager at Dior at their headquarters in Paris. At first glance, my journey may look like a luxury and tech fairytale. After Dior, Google, LVMH, and now at PUIG. In due course of time, I’ve also joined advisory boards for beauty brands and a fashion rental start-up. I currently serve as Chairperson of the board of Digital Business Ireland and have given lectures on luxury and tech around the globe. However, throughout my roles, I have faced many challenges and rejections, navigated my fears with resilience and hope.From being a mere observer to standing at the crossroads of bringing luxury brands and campaigns to life with innovation and technology, my journey begins with a transformative visit to an exhibition at London’s Somerset House: "DIOR ILLUSTRATED," in 2010. Since then, my life has evolved with fashion, beauty, many facets of the luxury and tech worlds and beyond.In this episode, I aim to illuminate the intricacies of my journey—the learnings, the dreams, the failures, and many milestones in the world of tech and luxury. Also, in the spirit of transparency, I’m using the Tech Powered Luxury podcast to learn from the best. It allows me to ask all the questions I have for true leaders in the many specialized areas of luxury and technology. I hope you enjoy this episode, and the beginning of Season 3 - a new chapter for Tech Powered Luxury. Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you in partnership with FarmHouse Fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Season 2 Finale of Tech Powered Luxury dives deep into the role of education within the luxury industry, with a particular focus on luxury watches and fine diamond jewellery, with Ireland's Paul Sheeran, renowned fine diamond jeweller with over 33 years in business. Paul Sheeran is a trained jeweller and watch maker, but most importantly, he is an entrepreneur and a storyteller.Leaving school at 15, Paul Sheeran studied at the Irish Swiss Institute of Horology and went on to create one of Ireland's most loved fine diamond jewellery brands and luxury watch retailers. Paul Sheeran's newest chapter involves the opening of a multi-brand luxury watch showroom on Dublin’s Chatham Street including Cartier, Breitling, IWC, Panerai, Jaeger-LeCoultre, TAG Heuer, Tudor, Hublot & Montblanc.Listen to our final episode of Season 2 of Tech Powered Luxury, sponsored by Seoulista Beauty, as Paul Sheeran recalls his euphoric moments of brand building to spells of sombre economy in his 33 years of developing the business of luxury in Ireland.Tech Powered Luxury is noted as one of the top fashion podcasts, top beauty podcasts and top luxury podcasts, as well as ranking globally as a top business, tech and entrepreneurship podcast. Tech Powered Luxury has ranked number one within the fashion and beauty podcast category in Ireland and Singapore, and number 3 within the fashion and beauty podcast category in India, as well as entering the Top 10 podcast charts internationally. This podcast is sponsored by Seoulista, a multi-award winning beauty brand, bringing innovative skincare expertise to the conversation. The TPL community benefits from 15% off skincare and supplements from Seoulista Beauty with the code TPL15.Tech Powered Luxury's social campaigns are powered by GladCloud, an AI-driven social marketing platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.