Clothing Coulture

The future of fashion is going digital. We talk with guest Valentin Karabanov, founder of digital fashion brand VALENTINS, on topics such as the unlimited creative freedom that comes with using 3D technology, to protecting your art and designs.

In this episode of Clothing Coulture hosts, Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane learn how Valentin Karabanov became a pioneer in 3D design, his point of view on the evolution of technology, and his collaboration with LVMH prize winner Hed Mayner to take their 3D designs straight to the runway.

For many, starting a brand sounds like a dream come true. Yet, that dream will slip away if the right steps aren't taken during the early stages of creating your brand.

In this episode of Clothing Coulture, Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane walk through the fundamental facts of what it takes to start your brand, and the core concepts business owners should know prior to starting their journey in the apparel industry.

Motivating and empowering a team to achieve a common goal is the foundation of a company’s culture and ultimate success. Good leaders do it naturally.

Leadership in the fashion industry is a bit more complex, requiring skills to manage both creative and analytical personalities, and also navigate the multi-cultural dynamics that comprise a global supply chain workforce.

In this episode Bret Schnitker, CEO/President of Stars Design Group shares the fundamentals of successful leadership and management of global teams.

In the year 2021, a lot has changed. With the desire to drive sales, in the fashion industry, the role of the Fast Turn model has grabbed the attention of many brands and retailers. Companies like Zara have shifted the paradigm with their approach to fast turn. With preparation, dedication, planning, and intention it can be done.

In this episode of Clothing Coulture, host Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane discuss how retailers pull off the Fast Fashion model and the compromises that can come. Though mistakes can be made there are tools in the industry that can be used to help make this model a success.

Fashion is a global industry, when policies like tariffs and trade agreements enter the picture it can have great implications. U.S. tariffs placed on other countries largely return to the U.S. companies who then raise prices, passing the costs on to consumers. In this episode, Bret and Emily discuss the damaging effects a rise of nationalism can have on U.S. brands, the benefits of a free trade agreement, and the important role other nations play in creating a global economy.

The apparel industry employs nearly 11,000,000 people, with approximately 349,000 factories globally. With day-to-day challenges, navigating this space can be complicated enough, yet adding further stresses such as COVID and dynamic shifts in consumer behavior create a staggering impact on this industry at all levels of the supply chain.

In this episode, we explore what it means to embrace responsible production, the impact of decisions made during turbulent times, and worker's welfare.

The rise of boutique brands has taken the fashion industry by storm. In this episode, Bret and Emily walk through what boutique brands have to offer, the common misconceptions start-up brands have, and the importance of understanding your vision and plan in the beginning stages.

Welcome to the world of marketing and advertising. In this episode, the CSO of Stars Design Group, Emily Lane, dives into the beauty of how brands and companies can stay relevant and break through the noise by embracing the fundamentals of marketing. She hits topics such as the importance of authenticity in the market space, the truth behind SEO, influencer marketing, the evolution and science of marketing, and more.

There are many challenges in the fashion industry, but with challenges comes opportunity. In this episode, we touch base on topics such as 3D design & technology, bringing science to fit, and the core challenges of the fast fashion model.

In flawless, mindful manufacturing, proper vetting of factory partners is essential as the success of your business in apparel depends on it. From navigating cultural differences to evaluating lines, equipment, and skill levels, to understanding what makes a factory "hum" in all the right ways, this episode dives deep into the process of evaluating factories for production.