Mark Pilkington, Part I: A Retail Therapist's Diagnosis the Industry's Maladies
Fashioncast
Part I of a two part series detailing the changing global retail industry and its impact on fashion.
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Elizabeth Semmelhack: The World's Foremost Shoe Curator
Fashioncast
An art historian falls in love with curating footwear and changes history.
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Diane Pernet, First Lady of Fashion
Fashioncast
Diane Pernet is the definition of fashion royalty. Even in this era of COVID-19 induced social distancing, face masks and Zoom meetings, one is immediately struck by her grandeur. Her worldly intellect, her soft but confident voice, her disarming wit, and her ability to simply relate make Pernet semidivine. Beyond rank and poise, Pernet’s deliberate and unmistakable appearance, shrouded in black often wearing a mantilla-esque veil, rewards her as one of the most recognized fashion dignitaries in the world. A consummate creative, the multi-talented Pernet continually works on a plethora of...
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Rocco Leo Gaglioti, Fashion Outlier: From Modest Model to Media Mogul
Fashioncast
From the outside looking in, Rocco Leo Gaglioti is the epitome of American success. The tall (6’5”) handsome fashion celebrity seems to know everybody who’s anybody in the world-of-fashion. But, Gaglioti’s story is more of intrigue and personal triumph than fashion lore. While Gaglioti describes his 26 years in the fashion industry in a very linear, matter-of-fact way, it’s been anything but an unencumbered ride to the top. In fact, Gaglioti is so humble, the listener may get the impression nobody is more surprised he ended up an influential fashion media mogul than Gaglioti himself!...
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Lauryn Vaughn, Against All Odds: Building a Resale Fashion Giant in the Canadian Prairies
Fashioncast
From the western Prairie Province of Alberta, Canada, in the oil boom and bust city of Calgary, Lauryn Vaughn, Founder and CEO of The Upside, joins Fashioncast via Zoom to share her amazing story of online retail success. In 2015, against all odds, the smart and savvy super entrepreneur launched The Upside the old fashioned way--from her basement, and never looked back. Today, the business is the largest luxury online consignment retailer in the nation. Once you meet Lauryn Vaughn, you’ll know why. Vaughn is full of endless positive energy, articulate, knows the resale business, and most of...
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Iris Brosch, Vive La Résistance! A Feminist Role Model for Photography, Fashion and Art
Fashioncast
From her 18th century apartment in Paris, France, internationally acclaimed photographer, Iris Brosch, the impassioned articulate intellectual of art imagery, joins Fashioncast via Skype to share her multifaceted photography experience in the world-of-fashion. Brosch, the German-born photographer and filmmaker, specializing in fashion, nudes, art, and performance art, has been shaped by both the German and Italian Renaissance periods. Her portraits are instantly recognizable as they clearly show Brosch’s reach for artistic expression and spirit. In addition, her work is celebrated for giving...
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Ali Rose VanOverbeke, Genusee: Forging the Future of Fashion in Flint
Fashioncast
From Flint, Michigan, under a continued COVID-19 quarantine, Ali Rose VanOverbeke, Founder and CEO at , the first circular economy eyewear brand, joins Fashioncast via Zoom to share her inspirational and motivational story of struggle, renewal, and awakening in her quest to build a company that matters. There’s no denying Ali VanOverbeke is on a mission. The Parsons School of Design graduate began planning her fashion career in the second grade and set her sights on Parsons in the fourth grade! Innovative, intelligent, visionary, and driven, the articulate VanOverbeke leaves the...
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Mia Macfarlane and Julien Crouigneau, Building an Artistic Legacy in the Fashion Capital of the World
Fashioncast
From Paris, France, under a COVID-19 quarantine, the fashion photography artist couple Mia Macfarlane and Julien Crouigneau join Fashioncast via Skype to share their amazing careers as art photography creatives living in the fashion capital of the world. The couple describes themselves as “self-taught” fashion art photographers, but don’t be fooled, they are both highly educated artists who happen to love photography and are clearly two of the most creative people we have ever had the pleasure to interview (see links to their work below). Combining their diverse and extensive...
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Thomas Werner, An Unrivaled Photographer Discusses the International Art of Fashion Photography
Fashioncast
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Thomas Werner, renowned international fashion photographer, author, professor, and consultant calmly and dutifully made it to the Fashioncast studio and delivered one of the most compelling and entertaining podcasts to date. In this amazing episode, Werner weaves a dramatic and authentic narrative to his rise in the world-of-fashion and gives new meaning to the word perseverance! He’s been through lean times, had great success and is clearly comfortable with his current myriad of fashion endeavors. In fact, his curriculum vitae is 24 pages! Knowing...
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Andrea Arndt, Acclaimed Patent Attorney Explains the Slipperiest Legal Slopes in Fashion
Fashioncast
Listen up Fashioncast fans, court is in session! Whether you’re steeped in the fashion industry’s legal jargon or not, this week’s guest, Andrea Arndt, Patent Attorney at Dickinson Wright, informs and demonstrates why anybody in the fashion industry with something to protect should get their legal house in order. Arndt, with degrees in biomedical engineering, computer engineering, and law is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and specializes in foreign patent prosecution and intellectual property law in the fashion...
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Elizabeth Semmelhack: The World’s Foremost Shoe Curator
Go ahead, try it, Google the following, “the world’s foremost shoe curator?” Who appears on your screen? Elizabeth Semmelhack! And, it’s no surprise. The Creative Director and Senior Curator at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada, began her career at the renowned gallery in 2000 with little knowledge in footwear and has become the shoe sage of the world. Since her tenure, Semmelhack has curated over 20 exhibitions, written more than 30 articles and authored eleven books about historical and contemporary footwear.
Semmelhack’s knowledge of the varied subjects related to footwear including key historical events, generational culture and fashion, manufacturing processes, and even societal class hierarchies is extraordinary. Her shoe and fashion anecdotes are so mesmerizing, it’s impossible not to be captivated and left yearning for more. In one segment, Semmelhack provides one of the most enlightening explanations for fashion attire and social class you’ll ever hear.
Adding depth to shoe knowledge and design on this special episode was guest host Aki Choklat, Fashion Accessories Chair, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan, and international shoe designer. Aki provided a robust collegial shoe discussion with Elizabeth as the interview spanned the invention of high heels in the 10th century to the latest collaboration between celebrities and famous sneaker brands.
Semmelhack’s passion in her quest to discover every last relevant detail about the ubiquitous shoe is obvious. It’s fascinating, and fun, to hear her wax eloquent about human history in such an accurate manner based on footwear. Indeed, in her latest book, Sneakers x Culture: Collab, released in 2019, Semmelhack brings her 20-year shoe curating knowledge full circle to contemporary dress and culture masterfully explaining the art of sneaker brand and celebrity collaboration. From concept and design to manufacturing, marketing and sales, the book casts new light on the dominant role sneakers play in fashion and culture.
Finally, Semmelhack ends the interview offering rare honest advice to those entering the pursuit of art history, curating, fashion or design--"it’s hard work!” Those words should leave little doubt how Elizabeth Semmelhack became the world’s foremost shoe curator! Enjoy!