• CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund: What It’s Really Like to be a Finalist
    Mar 22 2026

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Ashley Moubayed, founder of Don’t Let Disco and a CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist. They discuss her journey from building the brand as a side hustle to becoming a full-time founder, and the realities of growing a fashion business. Ashley shares what it’s really like to go through the CFDA Fashion Fund, from the application process to the impact it has on credibility and growth. They also break down the cost of New York Fashion Week, navigating press, and why relationships and long-term partnerships are key in the industry. The conversation explores storytelling in fashion, misconceptions around jewelry, and why visibility doesn’t always equal value.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My


    Follow Don’t Let Disco:

    IG: @dontletdisco

    Shop


    Glamsquad:

    Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off


    Rent the Runway:

    Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • OOTD: Viral Fashion Content Strategy
    Mar 15 2026

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with the team behind OOTD, one of the fastest-growing fashion media platforms capturing street style around the world. What began as candid outfit videos filmed on the streets of New York has quickly evolved into an international fashion community covering major cultural moments from Coachella to Fashion Week. They discuss the strategy behind creating viral fashion content, scaling, and monetization. No longer just online they have built a network of creators across cities like New York, Paris, and London hosting dinners and events with their community. Since they’ve scaled so quickly they discuss fashion tech and building internal technology needed for their business. Plus they’re hiring and share their vision for how OOTD could become one of the most recognizable fashion brands in the world.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My


    Follow OOTD:

    IG: @ootd

    TikTok: @ootd

    ootd.com


    Follow Cory and Nic:

    IG: @corymuroff

    IG: @wantthisnic


    Glamsquad:

    Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off


    Rent the Runway:

    Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 60% off your first month!


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    40 mins
  • Matilda Djerf: Behind the Brand
    Mar 8 2026

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Matilda Djerf, the founder of Djerf Avenue, to discuss how she built one of the most recognizable aesthetics in modern fashion. They talk about launching a brand with strong values, building community both online and offline, and navigating the realities of running a global business in your early twenties. Matilda also shares lessons on leadership, vulnerability on social media, and why taking care of yourself is essential when building a company.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My


    Follow Matilda:

    IG: @matildadjerf


    Follow Djerf Avenue:

    IG: @djerfavenue

    Shop


    Glamsquad:

    Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • NYFW isn't "dead," but it is too expensive
    Feb 22 2026

    New York Fashion Week isn’t dead, but it is changing. In this solo NYFW recap, Victoria breaks down what felt different this season and how Fashion Week is getting too expensive. From major brands like Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs showing off-schedule, Thom Browne showing in San Francisco, brands giving away show tickets leading to how NYFW could be evolving into an “Art Basel”-style citywide experience. She also shares the fashion tech + retail innovation that caught her eye, the behind-the-scenes realities of how outfits (and glam) actually happen during Fashion Week, and the pop-ups + community events that proved NYFW is increasingly about access, culture, and connection not just runway invites.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: ⁠@fashionandfounders⁠

    Podcast Substack: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠

    Podcast Website: ⁠fashionandfounders.com⁠

    Podcast TikTok: ⁠@⁠⁠fashionandfounders⁠

    Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠

    Podcast YouTube: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠

    Podcast Links: ⁠Shop My⁠


    Glamsquad:

    Code: ⁠FASHIONANDFOUNDERS ⁠for $20 off


    Rent the Runway:

    Code: ⁠RTRXVSMITH50⁠and get 50% off your first month!


    Rebecca Minkoff episode on fashion week being to expensive

    HERE


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • Ganni Chief Sustainability Officer Lauren Bartley
    Feb 15 2026

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Ganni’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Lauren Bartley. They discuss how the brand approaches sustainability and design, as they set trends rather than following them. Lauren unpacks Ganni's transparent approach to sustainability reporting, its investment in next-generation material innovation, partnerships in resale and repair, and how the brand balances trend-setting design with long-term environmental strategy. They also explore Scandinavian sustainability culture, the importance of consistency over perfection, and why innovation is key to moving fashion forward.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My


    Follow Ganni:

    IG: @ganni

    Shop HERE

    The Ganni Playbook


    Follow Boii Studios:

    IG: @boiistudios

    Shop HERE


    Rent the Runway:

    Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    36 mins
  • Copenhagen Fashion Week Trends and Takeaways
    Feb 8 2026

    In this episode, Victoria recaps her experience attending Copenhagen Fashion Week from street style and behind-the-scenes access to the sustainability frameworks shaping the future of fashion. She breaks down what makes Copenhagen different from other fashion capitals, why transparency and public access matter, and how brands are rethinking design through the lens of weather, function, and real life. Victoria also shares insights from industry panels, a Substack hosted dinner, standout designers, and why she believes climate-adapted fashion and functional pieces are the next major shift in the industry. Plus a back stage interview with designers Marie and Julie Skall of Skall Studio.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My


    Find the Brands mentioned on:

    Substack and ShopMy


    Rent the Runway:

    Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    28 mins
  • COVID Side Hustle to the Red Carpet: Undone by Kate
    Jan 25 2026

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Kate March, founder and designer of Undone by Kate. She shares how a pandemic project became a made-in-New-York bespoke, bridal, and special occasion brand. Kate shares her path from celebrity styling to teaching herself how to sew on YouTube, creating her first upcycled tees that sparked demand, and the influencer moment that drove $10K in Shopify sales in one day. They talk bootstrapping on unemployment checks, learning pricing the hard way, building a local contractor network, and why made-to-measure is both the new luxury and true size inclusivity. Plus: a last-minute Selena Gomez VMAs dress pivot, bridal trends, and Kate’s best advice for breaking into fashion.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My

    Victoria Pickle Closet: @victorias


    Follow Undone by Kate:

    IG: @undonebykate

    Shop Custom Looks HERE


    Fashion Career Playbook HERE


    Brand Spotlight: Aven Atelier


    Rent the Runway:

    Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    35 mins
  • Marina Larroudé: Reinventing the Footwear Business Model
    Jan 18 2026

    In this episode, Victoria sits down with Marina Larroude, founder of Larroudé, to unpack how she built one of fashion’s fastest-growing footwear brands by rewriting the rules. Marina shares her journey from interning at Condé Nast to leading fashion at Barneys, and how those experiences revealed the white space that inspired Larroudé. They dive into why footwear is one of the hardest categories in fashion, how vertical integration and pre-orders became a growth engine, and why the brand chose profitability over “growth at all costs.” Marina also offers sharp career advice for early builders, the truth behind “good taste,” what fashion school doesn’t teach, and why progress done daily compounds over time.


    Follow Fashion & Founders:

    Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

    Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

    Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

    Podcast Links: Shop My

    Victoria Pickle Closet: @victorias


    Follow Larroude:

    IG: @marinalarroude

    IG: @larroude

    Website


    Fashion Job Board HERE


    Rent the Runway:

    Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!


    Thanks for listening!

    Show more Show less
    39 mins