podcast

Ep 33 KIMBERLEY JENKINS TALKS FASHION & RACE

Ep 33 KIMBERLEY JENKINS TALKS FASHION & RACE

We need to talk. And we need to listen. Fashion is supposed to be modern, cutting edge, leading the way. So how come it’s stuck in old-fashioned tropes that place white culture at its centre?

Now is the time to shake things up and insist on true representation and inclusivity, and we all have our parts to play. But what does diversity really mean in the fashion context? And why aren’t we changing fast enough?

Kimberley Jenkins is a writer, educator and authority on the intersections between fashion, race and culture. At the time of this recording, Kim was teaching at both Parsons, The New School and the Pratt Institute in New York. In January 2020, she joined the faculty at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, as Assistant Professor of Fashion Studies.

She specialises in the sociocultural and historical influences behind why we wear what we wear, specifically addressing how politics, psychology, race and gender shape the way we ‘fashion’ our identity. Plus she's a massive vintage fan, and a serious fashion history buff.

Ep 32 ADVANCED STYLE'S ARI SETH COHEN, NO MORE INVISIBLE WOMAN

Ep 32 ADVANCED STYLE'S ARI SETH COHEN, NO MORE INVISIBLE WOMAN

Growing old glamorously with Advanced Style. Photographer and author Ari Seth Cohen is the creator of Advanced Style, a project devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set.” He says, “I feature people who live full creative lives. They live life to the fullest, age gracefully and continue to grow and challenge themselves.”

Ari has a longtime interest in clothing and style and a lifelong affinity for his elders. When he was growing up, his late grandmother Bluma (a librarian) was his best friend; her “energy and attitude towards life” continue to inspire him. As a result, he couldn’t help but question the absence of mature faces in the lifestyle and fashion media. “I noticed a lack of older people in fashion campaigns and street style sites,” he says. “I wanted to show that you can be stylish, creative and vital at any age.”

In this interview, you’re going to hear all about how he began, who he met along the way, what he learned and how he changed the way the world looks at older women.

It’s packed full of charm and wisdom, but best of all it’s packed full of Advanced Style ladies. From Ilona Royce Smithkin, who at 97 published a book on staying creative, and still her makes her own false eyelashes, to Tziporah Salamon, who bikes everywhere because it’s the best way of showing off an outfit, and Jacquie Murdock the former Apollo dancer who at 82 shot a Lanvin campaign and many more.

Ep 31 VESTIAIRE'S FANNY MOIZANT, SECONDHAND IS NOT SECOND BEST

Ep 31 VESTIAIRE'S FANNY MOIZANT, SECONDHAND IS NOT SECOND BEST

Vestiaire is putting the love in preloved. In her first podcast interview ever, Fanny Moizant talked about what makes her tick and building the French ‘re-commerce’ site that’s now booming.

This interview is a must for anyone who buys or sells secondhand anywhere. It’s a ‘How to make it in fashion’ episode, a tech disruptor episode, an inspirational woman episode. Fanny is a working mamma and she shares wonderful advice on female entrepreneurship. She flew up in the South of France, and studied at Institut Français de la Mode Not surprisingly, she also has fantastic style. Fanny Moizant is super chic.

Ep 30 KIT WILLOW, SUSTAINABILITY GETS GLAMOROUS

Ep 30 KIT WILLOW, SUSTAINABILITY GETS GLAMOROUS

Kindness by design. Meet the designer who pioneered earth conscious processes in Australia. This conversation was recorded after she’d just been in London for Fashion Week showing her work at Buckingham Palace, no less. Livia Firth and Emma Watson lover her, and she's always in Vogue. No wonder everybody's talking about her label KITX.

Kit is fearless fighter for fashion's eco future and a true original, who considers sustainability at every stage of her design and production process. She counts among her fans Emma Watson, Karlie Kloss and Princess Mary of Denmark, but if you ask her if she gets a special thrill from famous women wearing her clothes, she says no. In Kit’s mind, all her customers are equal.

Ep 28 KOW TOW'S GOSIA PIATEK, THE BEAUTY OF MINIMALISM

Ep 28 KOW TOW'S GOSIA PIATEK, THE BEAUTY OF MINIMALISM

A conversation about the beauty and power of minimalism, and building a sustainable brand from scratch. Founded in 2007 by Gosia Piatek, KOWTOW is a conscious label with a strong design philosophy and innate sense of comfort. Described as minimalist and effortless, the brand’s aesthetic is inspired by Gosia’s interests in art, architecture, culture, craftsmanship, landscapes and her own travels.

Kowtow fabrics are exclusive and designed in-house. The label is committed to using fair trade certified organic cotton, Global Organic Textile Standard approved dyes, mindful manufacturing with fair working conditions, ethically sourced trims and sustainable packaging.

Ep 26 EVA GALAMBOS, TRUE LUXURY and THE ART OF RETAIL

Ep 26 EVA GALAMBOS, TRUE LUXURY and THE ART OF RETAIL

Retail at all levels in a state of flux. What is the role of the curated fashion boutique today? In this episode recorded in 2017, Clare interviews Parlour X founder Eva Galambos.

They talk about who decides what’s on trend, the purpose of fashion shows, and what happens on a buying appointment and in the Paris showrooms. We cover the importance of longevity and timeless design, what the term ‘investment piece’ really means, the pressures and opportunities of online retailing. And we talk about clothes because we both love them!

We also ask, what does luxury means today. How has oversupply and the oxymoronic concept of ‘masstige’ affected the way we view luxury fashion?

Eva says, “Luxury always meant something that you held onto forever, because of the quality, craftsmanship and the price tag. And because it was rare.” Are we losing sight of that?

This conversation is a must for anyone studying fashion, working in the business or just trying to figure out how it all works.

Ep 25 THE STREETS BARBER

Ep 25 THE STREETS BARBER

On any given night in Australia 1 in 200 people don't have a roof over their heads. Nasir Sobhani A.K.A The Streets Barber skateboards around Melbourne giving free haircuts and shaves to homeless people as a part of his ‘Clean Cut Clean Start’ movement.

Today, fashion and hairdressing live in the same world, along with makeup artistry, art direction, photography. The hair stylist on a shoot, for example, is just as important as the stylist, model or photographer. But the art of cutting hair is more fundamental, and more universally experienced, than those other disciplines.

Grooming is an animal urge and an ancient art. Razors have been found in Bronze Age and ancient Egyptian ruins. In the middle ages, barbers served as surgeons and dentists; they were literally engaged in wellness and healing.

These days it’s more about counselling, though isn’t it? You know the score. The intimacy of sitting in the hairdresser’s or barber’s chair, the human contact. Who hasn’t told their hairdresser secrets?'