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A two-part conversation with Natasha Mead, a New Zealand-based Art Director and Founder of 1of1 Studio. She is the mastermind behind some of today’s most referenced visual identities across independent fashion, lifestyle, skincare, interior and hospitality companies. Her collaborators and projects include: Lesse, Binu Binu, F. Miller, Reome, Baina, Jess Hannah, Anyone Girl and Leigh Patterson's Moon Lists. In Part 1 of this conversation, we’ll learn about: The role of naivety and isolation on the development of Natasha’s studio Utilitarian and archival references inspiring her work Natasha’s approach to craft as a commitment to expressing care The 1of1 Studio client filter

A preview of an uncut workshop with the Los Angeles-based designer, Jess Hannah. Recorded in London in May 2024 and joined online by 10 diverse business owners, we discussed Jess's decade of learnings with her brand, J.Hannah, and reflected on mindful growth, de-growth, and “honest capitalism.” Topics - How Jess’s social media following grew - What lays beneath the social media numbers - Non-linear financial reality - Off-line marketing - Wholesale post-covid - Prioritising profitability over growth - "Honest capitalism"

Carmen de Baets reflects on how she met her husband and business partner Joris ter Meulen Swijtink, establishing their guest house, shop and kitchen Carmen Amsterdam and the much respected visual signature of their company.

Family-run womenswear brand Muse demonstrates how ambition, conscious values and a personal touch can draw unexpected paths to building a fashion company. Founder, Christine Kourim is a natural self-starter and a life-long creator of fashion. When she attempted to sell her high-quality garments at a Melbourne market stall the success was immediate prompting Christine to enlist the help of her daughter, fashion designer, Sarah Kourim. Together they translated the label to a permanent home online and created a touchpoint for their growing community. In this episode, we're joined by Sarah to learn about her and her mother’s independent journeys, nurturing a market stall into a growing e-commerce business, and the under-representation of modest voices in fashion.

ArtEZ University teachers, Hanka van der Voet and Chet Bugter, discuss their recent open source paper: A Fruiting Body Of Collective Labour: Working Towards A De-Hierarchised System For Fashion Education. The document looks to the collaborative world of fungi and mycelium networks to find inspiration for de-hierarchised models of fashion education. We’ll learn how lichen networks influenced their approach to the management of the Critical Fashion Practices Master’s course and discuss how fashion designers, entrepreneurs and practitioners can encourage more collaborative ways of working.

St Rose founder, Belinda Smith, saw a space in the fragrance market for a conscious, luxurious and long-wearing fragrance brand rooted in the art of nature, and set out to steer the industry towards a transparent and gentler future. We speak to Belinda about the realities of crafting your own brand and why giving back and looking at things holistically is key to the sustainability conversation.

Strategic brand management consultant Thalia Tserevegou established TT Collective to share her holistic vision with a multitude of value-aligned fashion brands. She takes us through her learnings on how to build modern, conscious fashion companies in an ever-more turbulent market and shares with us the moment she decided to step back and pursue more balance and purpose.

Desert Vintage stands out with its graceful nomadic style and a contemporary point of view. Co-owners Salima Boufelfel and Roberto Cowan discuss their introduction to the world of vintage and the twist of fate that led them to inherit a much-cherished local business. Speaking from the store’s hometown Tucson, Arizona and New York, they reflect on the multitude of skills it takes to reinvent a business and the significance of supportive retail communities.

Artisanal soap brand ORRIS is rooted in holistic plant-based practices and artistic collaborations. Questioning their careers in fashion the founders, Lani Le Berre and Kenneth Koo, acted on an instinct and created a series of cold-pressed soaps that truly serve our skin. We look at how independent brands can pave the way for sustainable business models, tackle issues of waste and resist the pressure to perpetually bring out new products.

Boutique skincare brand ROWSE deconstructs complicated lotions and unrealistic advertising to bring customers natural ingredients in their purest form. Speaking from Spain, CEO Gabriela Salord and Creative Director Nuria Val share their approach to building a dynamic beauty company and explain how entrepreneurial ambition can benefit nature, people and creativity.

Claudia and Isabella del Olmo and long-time collaborator Cécile Denis imagined a modern European guest house and artist residency in Casa Balandra. We discuss multiculturalism, creativity, relationships and moments of indulgence.

Austin Austin is a British line of organic body care products crafted by the father and daughter duo Richard and Bessie Austin. We discuss integrity, longevity, and the value of social media in growing a thoughtful brand.

Ilse Cornelissens, co-owner of lifestyle boutique and restaurant Graanmarkt 13, shares how a moral and financial decision to step away from discounting fashion led to physical and mental space to question how one becomes a better retail business.