The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
LONDON, United Kingdom — If you’re interested in building your own business, simply thinking about starting one or fascinated by fashion and entrepreneurship, BoF’s new podcast series Drive, delivered by DHL, gives you insider access to the entrepreneurs who have already done it.
Too often, entrepreneurial success stories are reported as a stroke of genius followed by overnight success. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. As you will see in these intimate and inspiring conversations, entrepreneurial success doesn’t happen in a straight line — nor does it come easy. There are ups and downs, and twists and turns, but with each unexpected challenge, there’s a new opportunity around the corner.
As Diane Von Furstenberg says, "You have to live the moment and you have to own whatever it is, a catastrophe, anything. Face it, own it, deal with it.” It’s the ability to adapt to new challenges and opportunities, as well as a special kind of passion, resilience and discipline that help to create a sustainable global enterprise. Something we call Drive.
In the first season of Drive we hear from fashion's most dynamic entrepreneurs — in their own words — to discover what it really takes to build a global fashion business from scratch. First up is José Neves. On August 14th, we will hear his inspiring story about a young Portuguese computer engineer who took his Farfetch business from a self-funded start-up in 2007 to a global fashion marketplace. "From a personal level, I was absolutely hell bent [on] creating something in the intersection of technology and fashion, and that's when the idea of Farfetch came about," explains Neves.
The first episode with José Neves launches on Tuesday 14th August. Be sure to subscribe here to never miss an episode.
The Los Angeles-based accessories label has been a well-kept secret in the industry, but founders Yang Pei and Stephanie Li are hoping to change that through new acquisitions, opening brick-and-mortar stores and using AI to speed up the design and production process.
Designer Carly Mark sparked conversation about what it takes to make it as an emerging designer in New York when she announced she was shutting her ready-to-wear line and moving to London. On Thursday she held her last sample sale.
To stabilise their businesses brands are honing in on what their particular consumer wants to buy, introducing new categories and starting conversations.
That’s the promise of Zellerfeld, a 3D-printing partner to Louis Vuitton and Moncler that’s becoming a platform for emerging designers to easily make and sell footwear of their own.