

Fashion & Founders The Podcast
Victoria Smith
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 12, 2024 • 45min
19. Colorifix & The Business Opportunity of Investing Early in Material Innovators
This week I spoke with Nora, the marketing manager at Colorifix. Colorifix is a business creating a natural dye solution through a biological process using bacteria as opposed to the toxic chemical dyes currently being used by most of the fashion industry. These dyes have multiple environmental consequences like water pollution which was the genesis for the founders of Colorifix to begin on this journey. Nora breaks down how Colorifix creates dyes that mimic nature and I know it’s science but it also kind of seems like magic to me. They are able to sequence the DNA of the color wherever it is found in nature, transfer that DNA code into a microorganism that the can produce that color then through fermentation, and without using any additional harsh chemicals to fix the dye onto a fabric.We discuss material innovation in the fashion industry, what is going on behind the scenes in the supply chain to help move the industry forward, the scalability of such innovations and the the big potential business opportunity in investing.ColorifixIg: @colorifix_Follow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesFeatured intro story:@cbyevoli@_clementine_music_Vintage find:Diane Freis Dress on Vestiaire Collective which can be altered with Sojo!Share your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have! Get featured and submit your own story here!Thank you for listening!

Jun 6, 2024 • 56min
18. The New York Fashion Act and Fashion Policy with Michelle Gabriel
This week I spoke with Michelle Gabriel an educator, researcher, and sustainability strategist in the fashion space. We met at The Sustainable Fashion Forum back in April as she kicked off the conference with a workshop on policy. Michelle has been involved with the New York Fashion Act and in this episode shares her insight and breaks down the act. Michelle shares her diverse range of experiences in fashion and what lead her to where she is now in education and academia. For anyone not on a linear path with multiple interests who wants to work in fashion you will definitely find comfort and inspiration in hearing her background.I find the New York Fashion Act to be a really exciting piece of legislation as it written in a way that attempts to tackle global issues the entire fashion industry faces on a state level since the fashion economy in New York is one of if not the largest in the world. Whatever component of sustainable fashion you are interested in you can learn something from this episode and the different facets of this bill. More on Michelle!New York Fashion Act Links!The Fashion ActIg: @nsifashion2030Follow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesFeatured intro story:Upcycled jeans by Sadie!Vintage find:Dolce & Gabanna Jacket that Victoria Beckham woreShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have! Get featured and submit your own story here!Thank you for listening!

May 22, 2024 • 40min
17. Fashion Revolution: Education, Community, and Transparency in the Fashion Industry
This week I am joined with two amazing leaders at Fashion Revolution on the US team, Kelly, who manages education and Madison who leads the community work. Fashion Revolution is a nonprofit founded by Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013. Fashion Revolution has a global reach with teams all over the world and is a go to source for educating yourself on ethical practices and they have lead a multitude of campaigns, you may have seen people holding signs that say “who made my clothes?” Or “what’s in my clothes?” With many efforts towards creating more transparency in the fashion industry, the organization also releases an annual report called the Fashion Transparency Index where they rate the biggest fashion brands based on key indexes of disclosure, supply chain practices, and many other factors in ethical and sustainable practices. Fashion Revolution has many ways for anyone to get involved and they are opening up their ambassador program and looking for city leads so check out the link in bio to apply to get involved. Fashion Revolution Links!Ambassador ApplicationIg: @fash_revFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesVintage Fashion FindsDressIg: @thegreatvintagescavengerhuntFeatured intro story!Ig: @cg.dezignShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have! Get featured and submit your own story here!Thank you for listening!

May 6, 2024 • 16min
3, 2, 1: Vintage Fashion on TikTok Shop, Chanel Sueing Upcyclers, Luxury's Returns Problem, and a Poshmark Bidding War
Introducing the first episode of my new series Fashion 3, 2, 1: News, Trends, and Vintage FindsThis week covers3 pieces of fashion news 1. Pre-loved luxury items being sold on TikTok ShopIs this a step forward for secondhand, or a step back for slow fashion?2. Chanel’s legal battle with upcyclers Is there a way for fashion houses to work with upcyclers and resellers to give their products another life?3. Luxury’s returns problemWill brands decide for themselves that even though it's not the industry standard yet, they’re going to pioneer sustainability efforts and find solutions in what seem to be their problems?2 Secondhand Finds Linked to the trend so you can stay on trend and shop secondhand. Depop & Poshmark1 Fashion TrendThe Charlotte Russe Leopard Print Sequined Shorts that took TikTok by storm creating a bidding war in the comment section of a Poshmark listing that began at $6 and went to over $100.

May 2, 2024 • 33min
16. Rachel Kibbe on the Americas Act, a Bipartisan Bill for Textile Circularity & Innovation
Excited for this week’s episode and with Rachel Kibbe. We met at the Sustainable Fashion Forum in Austin in April and I’m so glad we had the opportunity to keep talking about her work.We discuss the Americas Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in March 2024 and the textile circularity portion Rachel wrote, incentivizing innovation in the US. Rachel is the CEO of Circular Services Group and American Circular Textiles with members leading the circular fashion space such as The RealReal, Rent The Runway, Reformation, Trove, and many more. Follow Rachel:Ig: @circulargurlFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesFeatured intro story!Ig: @katie_capozziShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have! Get featured and submit your own story here!Thank you for listening!

Apr 25, 2024 • 35min
15. Social Media’s Impact on Shopping, Overconsumption, and Personal Style with Content Creator @thecolourfulthrifter
This week I spoke with Marika a content creator who shares her thrifted outfits on instagram. We talk about how social media has impacted shopping behaviors and outfit repeating, and our own personal style as we are flooded with content. From upcycled jumpers, a coach bag passed down from her mom, to a jacket she loved so much she actually bought it from her sister, which I find hilarious and something anyone with a sister can probably relate to.If you’re interested in starting out as a sustainable fashion content creator and looking for a creative outlet definitely listen to this episode and you can watch the video version on Spotify to see the pieces we talk about and follow along. Follow Marika!Ig: @thecolourfulthrifterFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have!Thank you for listening!

Apr 8, 2024 • 21min
14. Top Depop Seller Fairycity on Blumarine, Rare Runway Pieces, and Curating a Designer Vintage Collection
This week I spoke with Xyee, the founder of Fairycity. A luxury vintage boutique specializing in the most stunning clothes from lux French designers to rare runway Blumarine. She expertly curates pieces for girls around the world, with even Matilda Djerf following her. With over 15K Depop followers, her pieces are not ones to miss. Definitely check out her instagram and depop for some incredible vintage inspiration that definitely embody “fairycore.” Xyee is passionate about giving clothes a second life and sharing the the timeless beauty and quality of the vintage pieces she sources. Definitely check out her page on Depop and Instagram for some incredible vintage inspiration. I hope you enjoy this episode getting to know the the stories behind the brand Fairycity. Follow FairyCity!Ig: @FairyCityxDepop: @FairyCityFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have!Thank you for listening!

Mar 31, 2024 • 40min
13. Everything Fashion Rental with Sarah Founder of Our Pinterest Wardrobe and By Rotation Ambassador
This week I am joined by Sarah, the founder of rental company Our Pinterest Wardrobe based in the UK. She is also a By Rotation ambassador and exemplifies how to you can still be sustainable as a fashion lover and even make money from it. We talk all things rental fashion and Sarah offers tangible tips on getting started and the business side of renting out her closet. Although somehow Sarah has never seen the Sisterhood of the traveling pants movie, she shares stories behind the experiences girls create through her shared wardrobe from birthdays, nights out, to potential proposals. If you needed a reason to book your first rental or starting making money off the clothes sitting in your closet, keep listening.Follow Sarah!Ig: @ourpinterestwardrobeUse code SARAHINTHECITY15 for 15% off your first By Rotation rental!By RotationFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have!Thank you for listening!

Mar 15, 2024 • 36min
12. The Adventure and Joy of Charity Shopping with Jenn of SusieSecondhand
If you’ve ever needed inspiration to pop into your first charity shop or thrift store I truly believe Jenn can convince you. Jenn shares so many wonderful stories about how fun secondhand shopping can be and how as a parent she shares this with her kids in a super special tradition she has created. She also shares some really great tips on getting started secondhand shopping and the joy of the search, not knowing what you’ll come out of the charity shop with. Jenn is an avid charity shopper based in the UK and shares her finds on her instagram @susiesecondhand. Follow Jenn!Ig: @susiesecondhandFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have!Thank you for listening!

Feb 29, 2024 • 41min
11. Sourcing and Styling Vintage 101 with Isabel of 7drawers
I am joined today by Isabel, a vintage curator and seller based in New York City, who runs the brand 7drawers.Isabel shares her best tips of sourcing and authenticating vintage designer pieces from heels to handbags. Vintage designer handbags and heels are her speciality as you can see from the amazing array she has curated on her Depop page. If you’ve ever wanted to get started selling or curious about the process this episode is for you. She shares a lot of tangible tips on how to get started, branding, sourcing, how to get authentication, and more. She has a great eye for sourcing and styling with an incredible collection of vintage designer handbags, shoes, and clothes so definitely check those out on her page linked in this episode because they’re truly one of the kind. Follow Isabel!Ig: @7drawersTikTok: @7drawersDepop: @7drawersFollow Interwoven!Instagram: @interwovenstories.podTiktok: @interwovenstoriesShare your own stories about vintage, thrifted, preloved, secondhand, rental, and any meaningful pieces you have!Thank you for listening!


