The Business of Fashion Podcast

Andrew Mukamal, stylist who popularised method dressing for red‑carpet press tours, including Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Wuthering Heights looks. He explains intentional narrative-led styling, balancing character, fashion history and brand partnerships. The conversation covers research-driven moodboarding, pitching houses, bespoke collaborations and how the super press tour reshapes celebrity marketing.

Kathleen Chen, BOF reporter who explains how tariff swings scramble operations. Mark Bain, BOF reporter who tracks trade and company strategy. They discuss the sudden policy reversal, how shifting tariffs freeze pricing and shipments, C-suite war rooms juggling supply, and the legal maze around seeking refunds.

Dave Benett, veteran London society and party photographer now launching the Dave Benett Agency, reflects on nearly four decades photographing celebrities and culture. He recounts moving from Fleet Street to nightlife, building trust with figures like Princess Diana, tactics for covering events, and how smartphones and Instagram reshaped party photography. He also discusses mentoring a new generation and protecting editorial quality.

Joan Kennedy, Retail correspondent at Business of Fashion who tracks luxury pricing and strategy, breaks down how Dior and Chanel are adjusting after steep post-pandemic hikes. She discusses their shift toward smaller leather goods and playful low-price items. The conversation covers merchandising tactics, storytelling and whether creative leadership can reignite desire among aspirational shoppers.

Ib Kamara, a Sierra Leone–born stylist, editor and creative director who reshaped Dazed and led art at Off-White, reflects on moving to London and forging a global creative voice. He recounts breaking through with a Beyoncé commission, transforming a London-centric magazine into a worldwide platform, and urging young creatives to reject Eurocentric hierarchies and build with peers.

Mike Sykes, BoF correspondent on fashion and culture, and Haley Crawford, BoF reporter on marketing and consumer trends, discuss how brands activate around the Winter Olympics. They explore tactics like outfitting teams, influencer squads, capsule drops, and creative workarounds to strict advertising rules. The conversation highlights winterwear as a booming fashion category and new paths to visibility during major sporting moments.

Listeners ask about luxury’s downturn, and he points to oversaturation, pricing excess and eroded trust. The collapse of multi-brand wholesale platforms and its impact on indie brands gets explored. India and Africa’s fashion potential and why growth narratives can be misleading are discussed. Practical career advice covers fashion school, journalism, and balancing broad skills with deep specialization.

Diana Pearl, Senior News and Features Editor at Business of Fashion and author of a new case study on influencer marketing, explores how the creator economy has evolved. She discusses the shift from follower counts to granular performance data. She highlights trust and creator relationships as the real currency. She outlines creators diversifying revenue and AI’s role in reshaping content and competition.

A rundown of Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 highlights, from a bold Dior reinvention that blended art and craft to Chanel’s pared-back focus on construction and movement. Valentino’s theatrical panorama staging and Schiaparelli’s high-voltage spectacle get attention. The conversation centers on ateliers, operational creativity and how couture moments translate for clients.

Sophie Soar, careers specialist at BoF Careers who advises fashion and beauty companies on hiring trends. She discusses the swing back to in-office work and why employers now have more leverage. She explores generational tensions over attendance and how early-career candidates are being squeezed. She outlines alternative routes into fashion, like retail and service roles as pathways to HQ opportunities.