The Glossy Podcast

For a company to grow, big changes must often be made. Such has been the case for Lively, a digitally native lingerie brand founded in 2015 by Michelle Cordeiro Grant. Since its inception, Lively has had much success navigating the crowded undergarment space, thanks in part to its prioritization of inclusion, community and connection, according to Cordeiro Grant.  A few years into the brand's existence, Lively was acquired by Japanese lingerie company Wacoal in 2019 for $105 million. In August 2022, Cordeiro Grant announced she was stepping down. Kristin DiCunzolo, previously vp of marketing and direct sales at Wacoal America, was appointed Lively's president and CEO.  In her new role, DiCunzolo has ambitious plans to catapult Lively's steady growth. That includes expanding the brand into new categories, diversifying its retail channels and launching it in international markets. Lively is launching e-commerce in Canada later this year.   "Our community has grown with [Lively]. They've aged with us also. But w

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, they take a look at the hoax around Adidas’s fake co-CEO, the future strength of the luxury industry in China and the reason so many brands are getting into resale.

When Olivia Landau started her educational diamond blog in 2016, she had no idea it would transform into the multimillion-dollar brand it is today. The Clear Cut brand, in its current state, officially launched in 2018 and specializes in creating custom rings for clients.  "It was through working with [my co-founder and husband Kyle Simon's] friends when creating their custom rings that I realized most people don't know the first thing about buying a diamond," Landau said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "[Kyle and I] quickly realized there must be a whitespace in the market, if strangers [in the market for a ring] were trusting me with their life savings. ... That's when we decided to commit full time to making this happen." Though Landua, a fourth-generation jeweler, initially did not anticipate working in the industry, her vast knowledge of diamonds and gemstones has fueled her company's growth. According to Landua, since The Clear Cut's launch, it's doubled its revenue every year. Building off

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. On this week’s episode, executive reshuffling at LVMH shows how the company continues to dominate global luxury, Stella McCartney reveals losses in 2021, and Uniqlo is raising the wages of its Japan-based workers by as much as 40%.

There's no denying Dao-Yi Chow's influence in the fashion industry, especially menswear. Chow's worked with Sean John and Donna Karen, and he co-founded the CFDA award-winning brand Public School. Now, along with NFL quarterback Tom Brady and Jens Grede, founder of Frame and Skims, Chow is behind Brady's namesake apparel brand, which launched in January 2022. Shaped by Chow, the brand's creative director, Brady's key attributes include intentionality and functionality. "This is the first time [I've designed pure performance wear], and it's been a really enjoyable journey. The way we approach design at Brady is a lot more intentional than in my past work. It's thinking about the end user in intentional ways and approaching development -- whether that's [a product's] silhouette or fabric textile -- in a very clear way," Chow said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "I'm not saying I haven't designed in a clear way before, but it was a lot more subjective. The design process [at Brady] is less about try

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, we take a look at Victoria’s Secret losing its CEO, Amy Hauk, after only eight months; Rolex raising its prices and the impact on the larger watch world; and Adidas suing Thom Browne for trademark infringement over the brand's use of stripes as it moves into sportswear.

Prior to launching online marketplace Verishop in 2019, co-founders Imran and Cate Khan defined a white space with strong potential: an e-commerce site catering to influencers-turned-brand founders.  “If you were an independent brand creator, and you were building a brand with a point of view and a story to tell, there was no platform [for you],” Imran Khan said on the latest Glossy Podcast. “Brands in the ‘makers' economy’ don't want to be on every platform; they want to be on a platform where they can distinctively tell their stories. They were distributing through social media. Our thesis was that social media would become more crowded, making it difficult for these brands to acquire customers.” Of course, that’s proven true. In step, Verishop has evolved its business model to provide creator brands with marketing solutions, on top of serving as an aggregator. It’s been successful: Today, Verishop sells 5,000 brands from 3,000 merchants. Its monthly merchant retention rate is over 99%, and its merchant cou

On the Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi, international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. But in this special year-end episode, the three hosts break down fashion's biggest news, themes, trends and controversies for all of 2022. Highlights include controversies at Balenciaga and Yeezy, the impact of inflation, the return of physical retail, the future of fashion week, and the rise of greenwashing. Stick around until the end to hear predictions for 2023. And thank you all for listening to the Glossy Podcast this year.

Pete Nordstrom, a fourth-generation member of the Nordstrom family, currently serves as the retailer's president and chief brand officer.  Nordstrom got in his start at the company working in the shoe department and worked his way up from there. According to hIm, the experience he gained from directly working with customers still helps him succeed in his role today. "[Working in the shoe department] is a very high-touch proposition that requires a level of commitment and service," he said on the latest Glossy Podcast. "The humility you learn from that is also helpful."  Aside from his executive responsibilities, Nordstrom also hosts The Nordy Pod, a podcast launched in February that gives Nordstrom fans an insider's perspective on all things Nordstrom, retail and fashion.  This week, Nordstrom sat down with Glossy editor-in-chief Jill Manoff to discuss how Nordstrom prepared for the holiday season, and how the company takes a unique approach to customer service, innovation and operations. 

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, fast fashion companies Zara and Shein posted big earnings, even though the downsides of fast fashion are known. Elsewhere, young adults are fueling luxury’s growth in the U.S. and the U.K. And Gucci will debut its first show without Alessandro Michele — or any creative director at all — in February.

If you're an avid fashion shopper, chances are you've heard of Lyst. The 12-year-old shopping app has the largest assortment of premium and luxury fashion online in one place, according to Emma McFerran, the company's newly-appointed CEO. McFerran joined the company in 2014 and has risen through the ranks to her most recent position, which was officially announced in July.  In her new role, McFerran is dedicated to fine-tuning Lyst's app to strengthen the user experience. "Our members are our most powerful cohorts. ... We use data and technology [from the app] to drive recommendations, which are personal to [consumers]. The more we learn about you, the better the offerings become," McFerran said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast.  In May 2021, the company announced a "pre-IPO" funding round of $85 million. As Lyst focuses on scaling its business under McFerran's leadership, eventually going public and broadening its offerings and brand partnerships will remain top priorities. 

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, Stitch Fix reported below-expected revenues, possibly indicating a flaw in its recommendation-based business model. Elsewhere, Jordan Brand is getting its first flagship as Nike tests letting the sub-brand stand on its own, and new funding in the brand-owned resale world signals a changing secondhand landscape.

According to Fabio Barreto, global CEO of Brazil-based Farm Rio, its tropical, eye-catching designs, along with its prioritization of digital and its unique brand story, have fueled the fashion brand's popularity since its launch in the ’90s.  To Barreto's point, Farm Rio's ability to connect with a younger audience through digital channels singlehandedly helped the brand stay afloat during the height of the pandemic, when customers couldn't access its physical retail locations.  "[Ours is] a unique brand. It's a new story, it's a different story, and it's a very strong story. We know a lot of what we are and what we're not and the lifestyle we care about," Barreto said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "[Our ability to tell] that story in such a strong way, with sophisticated messaging, assets, imagery and visual merchandising, is something that [resonates] with the customer."  Since Farm Rio's inception, it has opened over 90 stores in Brazil alone. And it recently forayed into international mark

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, layoffs hit H&M as the company sees rising costs, and Savage x Fenty settled a consumer protection lawsuit centered on misleading its members about payments. Also, a deep dive into the Balenciaga controversy and what it means for the future of the brand.

When Melinda Roberston moved to the U.S. to work on Wall Street in 2012, she didn't expect to receive high praise for her wardrobe. Unlike her American counterparts, Robertson almost exclusively wore Australian fashion brand Scanlan Theodore, which specializes in workwear for women. To her surprise, however, Scanlan Theodore's chic aesthetic was a hit, and it led Robertson and her business partner, Sarah Blank, to approach Gary Theodore, the brand's founder, with a pitch: to launch the company in the U.S.  "[Scanlan Theodore Americas] was very much born out of [my and Sarah's] personal need and the feedback we were receiving [from female bankers]," Robertson said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. "One of the trickiest things [when launching in a new country] is knowing whether the product will translate. First: Is it going to translate internationally? We felt confident on that front, because all these women [on Wall Street] were so excited about our suits. Then, once you're [in the U.S.], the ques

For Mary Alice Malone's luxury footwear brand, Malone Souliers, making shoes the "hard way" is what has set the company apart since its inception in 2014.  Launched in London, Malone Souliers has become a sought-after brand due to its extremely high level of craftsmanship. Malone got her experience as a shoemaker at the famous Cordwainers shoemaking school in East London. After graduating, she began her journey of building a footwear company that has since evolved into a premium brand.  Though Malone Souliers does sell an assortment of footwear, including sneakers and flats, its signature style is a high heel named Maureen. When Malone created the now-bestselling shoe in 2015, she knew the intentional design and engineering would win over consumers. After some hesitation from buyers due to the unique silhouette, Maureen debuted as part of Malone Souliers' spring-summer 2015 collection and became a hero product.  "Creating the Maureen was a feat of engineering. It is a really supportive shoe, and it's beautifu

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and U.K. reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, COP27 revealed the dire need for more urgent action from the fashion industry to reduce emissions. Amid brands' lofty promises, greenwashing is still common and many big brands are raising, rather than reducing, their emissions. Also, Nike launched its big web3 project, called .Swoosh, and retailers in the U.S. and U.K. are preparing for lowered holiday spending.

In 2005, Jennifer Meyer decided to take a leap and bet on herself. Though Meyer had no previous experience in design, her dream was to become a jewelry designer. With support from her family, she learned how to create jewelry and eventually launched a company. "I wanted to design pieces that I wanted to wear and that I knew my friends wanted to wear," Meyers said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "I wanted classic, beautiful, everyday pieces that would be in your jewelry box forever and that you could layer or keep on, and that you could live in."  Fast forward, and Meyer is now the founder of her 17-year-old namesake jewelry line, which has since expanded into new categories, including fragrance. And she collaborated with Canadian luxury outerwear brand Moose Knuckles to create an 18-piece collection, in 2021. In Oct. 2018, Meyer opened her brand's first physical retail location in L.A.'s Palisades Village shopping center.  In terms of next steps, the core of Meyer's company will always be fine je

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi is joined by Glossy editor-in-chief Jill Manoff to talk through some of the biggest fashion new stories of the week. This week, Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance in Rihanna's Savage x Fenty show, prompting criticism after he was accused of domestic assault. Elsewhere, The RealReal announced some of its plans to reach profitability sooner, including offering a warranty program for bigger purchases and data monetization. Finally, Condé Nast, the publisher of Vogue magazine, is suing Drake and 21 Savage over a fake Vogue cover.

Though Chris Riccobono didn't have any fashion experience when he launched menswear brand Untuckit, he managed to solve a problem in the business casual space. The company's dress shirts designed to be worn untucked have been copied by a plethora of competitors and fueled its profitable business. Since entering the market 2011, the NYC-based DTC brand has seen its fair share of highs and lows: Prior to the start of the pandemic, Untuckit had expanded to 90 retail locations around the world, including six in Canada and a new store in England. But subsequent lockdowns forced Riccobono to temporarily close all locations. "There wasn't one time during the pandemic that we gave in and said, 'I wish we didn't open these stores.' We stood behind them," Riccobono said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. "You can't operate a massive growing men's retail business without having stores." The slight setback didn't stop Untuckit's growth. Once the quarantine and guidelines lifted, and consumers began feeling comf