The Fashion Translator

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Shreya Bhan, Founder of BrushCode, about what happens when a fashion designer with 15 years of industry experience gets tired of waiting for the tools she needed — and builds them herself.BrushCode is a trend intelligence platform built primarily for small and independent brands — the ones that have always been left out of the room where trend forecasting decisions get made. The platform works in three stages: locking in a brand’s DNA, surfacing relevant trends filtered through that DNA, and generating a confidence score before a single fabric gets ordered.What stands out in this conversation is how Shreya thinks about access. Rather than competing with traditional, high-barrier industry tools, she is democratizing their value. Her mission is to open closed doors, making premium direction actionable and affordable for the creators who need it most. She built BrushCode for the designers who were always talented enough — but never had the tools to match.We explore:* Why small and independent brands have been skipping the most important step in the design process — and what it’s been costing them* How BrushCode’s three-pillar approach connects brand DNA, trend data, and design validation in one workflow* The hidden waste in fashion that nobody talks about: the sample pile at the end of every season* What Shreya learned from six wasted months with a developer — and how she rebuilt the entire platform herself using AI* Why democratizing trend forecasting isn’t just about price, it’s about breaking the gatekeeping that keeps smaller designers one step behind* The bigger disruption coming: who gets to be in fashion, and why a degree was never really the pointThe brands that can’t afford to be in the room have always had taste, talent, and vision. The only thing they were missing was data. That gap is closing.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/Guest:👤 Shreya Bhan🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shreyabhan/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyabhan/Brand:🌐 https://brushcode.studio🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brushcode/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brush_bound/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Parke Ballantine — stylist, creative director, artist, and facilitator. Together, we unpack the magic of that effortless presence we all admire. Parke beautifully compares it to a serene duck gliding across the water—calm and graceful on the surface, powered by deep, intentional movement underneath. It is a stunning blend of psychology, somatic practice, color and light theory, and ancestral traditions, proving that self-expression is a rich, lifelong journey of identity and memory.Throughout her career across commercial sets, editorial campaigns, and executive consultations, Parke quietly cultivated a philosophy that operates far beyond surface curation. Her practice views dress not merely as apparel, but as an inherited visual language shaped by socio-cultural scripts. Beyond selecting garments, her work interrogates the internal gatekeeping and body assumptions that dictate what we feel permitted to wear—offering a transformative space to unlearn inherited rules and articulate an authentic self.Wardrobe Rituals synthesizes this philosophy into a structured, six-week pedagogical curriculum—moving systematically through clothing as somatic memory, bodies as sacred vessels, mirror-work phenomenology, style archetypes, ritualized construction, and communal witnessing. What originated as a concise, hour-long conference keynote has evolved into what one participant described as a “rich, seven-layer dip”—an intricate, multi-dimensional framework where each successive module unlocks deeper layers of personal identity.We explore:- How Parke approaches every project — from absorbing a brief like a sponge, to mood boards, independent boutique designers, fittings, and the moment on set when something intangible finally becomes visible- What styling actually looks like when you hold space for it: the vulnerability, the body assumptions, the inherited limiting beliefs — and why giving someone permission to just try something is sometimes the whole work- Why style functions as a primary visual dialect, and how the implicit “sentences” your current wardrobe communicates may have been authored by past expectations or external cultural gatekeeping- How to bridge ancient systems of wisdom with everyday dress—and why alternating between a commanding “power queen” tailored look and a tactile “snuggly teddy bear” knit is not aesthetic incoherence, but the legitimate expression of a multifaceted self- Why the act of getting dressed can be the most accessible daily ritual of becoming —framing the mundane act of getting dressed as an accessible daily practice of self-inquiry—a quiet, morning ritual centered on a singular question: Does this garment still honor who I am today?- Where Wardrobe Rituals is going: The expanding trajectory of Parke’s work into a multi-faceted platform—integrating 12 style archetypes, editorial content, and a movement organically outgrowing its original blueprint.When style becomes a daily ritual — not a rule to follow, but a question to ask — everything you put on becomes an act of becoming.🎟 Your next style evolution starts right here. Use the promo code FashionTranslator at checkout to get 15% off the upcoming Wardrobe Rituals Fall Cohort.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore the powerful intersection of AI, smart systems, and fashion innovation—or inquire about being featured on an upcoming episode of The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/Guest:👤 Parke Ballantine🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkeballantine/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parke.ballantine🌐 Website: https://www.parkeballantine.com/Brand: Wardrobe Rituals🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wardrobe-rituals/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wardrobe.rituals/🌐 Website: https://www.wardroberituals.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

Gift Wrapping Is a Love Language. Not because the paper is expensive, or the ribbon is perfectly tied, or the fold is flawless. But because someone chose to spend time on something that would be undone in seconds. That decision — to slow down and make something beautiful before it is opened — can convey as much intentionality than the present inside.A gesture that predates the gift bagHumans have been wrapping gifts with intention for thousands of years, and almost every culture developed its own expression of the same impulse: presentation as care.The earliest known use of wrapping paper dates to ancient China, where paper was invented during the Han Dynasty. By the Song Dynasty, officials were wrapping monetary gifts in special envelopes as tokens of appreciation and respect. In ancient Greece, gifts were wrapped in olive leaves and laurel branches, symbolizing victory and honor — the wrapping itself carrying meaning before the gift was even revealed. In India, the Potli method wraps gifts in fabric chosen for its symbolic colors and patterns, reflecting the occasion and the bond between giver and recipient. In West Africa, kente cloth — vibrant, handwoven, deeply symbolic — has long been used not only as clothing but as a way to present and carry gifts, each pattern encoding identity and cultural heritage. In the Western world, modern decorative wrapping paper was essentially invented by accident in 1917, when the Hall brothers — founders of Hallmark — ran out of tissue paper during the holiday season and began selling colorful French envelope linings as a substitute. The idea was an instant success, and by 1919, Hallmark had introduced its first commercial line of wrapping paper, transforming gift presentation into a widely accessible art form. What is remarkable about all of these traditions is not their difference. It is their shared premise: that how you give something matters as much as what you give.Wrapping as creative practiceIn fashion, we talk about this instinctively. The way a garment is presented — folded, packaged, delivered — is understood to be part of the product itself. The tissue paper inside the box, the ribbon around the bag, the way a piece is laid flat rather than stuffed: none of it is incidental. It is all communication.Gift wrapping operates on exactly the same logic, at a personal scale.The choice of paper tells the person something about how you see them. The way it is folded, carefully or quickly, tells them how much time you were willing to spend. The small detail added at the end, the button or the sprig of something found in a drawer, tells them that you were thinking beyond the transaction.Wrapping is where creativity becomes visible in the act of giving. It is the part of a gift that cannot be bought ready-made. It requires presence, attention, and a kind of aesthetic consideration that no amount of money replaces.How people wrap todayWhat is interesting about the current moment is the breadth of approaches coexisting simultaneously — and how each one reflects a different relationship to the gesture.There are people who spend hours on paper, ribbon, and wax seals. There are people who wrap in brown kraft paper and twine, adding a dried flower from the garden. There are people who use newspaper — the comic section for a child, the arts pages for someone else — because the paper choice itself becomes a message. There are parents who wrap with their children, turning the whole thing into an afternoon project, the result slightly imperfect and entirely personal. There are people who save tissue paper from every gift they receive, folding it back carefully, keeping it in a drawer for next time. And there are people who reach instinctively for a gift bag — fast, practical, clean — and still manage to make it feel considered with a single handwritten card.None of these is wrong. All of them are expressions of the same underlying impulse: to make the moment of receiving something feel different from the moment of buying it.That gap, between purchase and gift, is where wrapping lives. And filling it with intention, in whatever form that takes, is what transforms an object into something that carries weight.The wrapping will be undone in seconds.What it communicates lasts longer than that. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Melissa Dusenberry, Founder and Creative Director of All The Brilliants, about what it means to buy jewelry with intention — and why so much of the industry has made that genuinely difficult to do.Melissa began her career as an art director in advertising, moved to Paris to find something more personally fulfilling, and discovered the jewelry world through a private high jewelry club for high-net-worth women in London. What she found there — a mix of deep history, ethical opacity, and almost no guidance for the conscious consumer — became the foundation for everything she built after.All The Brilliants is a fine jewelry concierge built around a simple idea: that a piece of jewelry should feel uniquely meant for the person wearing it, carry the stories of where it came from, and be something that passes meaning — not just value — to the next generation.We explore:Why jewelry is one of the most powerful archives of human history — and what that means for the pieces we choose to own todayHow Melissa guides clients through selecting pieces that align with their aesthetic, their values, and their responsible sourcing principlesGreenwashing in the jewelry industry: why most consumers don’t know it’s happening, and the three questions that cut through the marketing languageThe jewelry inventory guide — why documenting the emotional story behind each piece matters as much as the financial appraisalWhat happens to family pieces when the stories behind them vaporize — and why the uncomfortable conversations about succession are best had at the happiest momentsWhere AI fits in a deeply personal, human-first business — and why Melissa’s superpower is precisely what algorithms can’t replicateThe financial value of a piece is only half of what it holds. The other half is the story — and that’s the part that gets lost when no one thinks to preserve it.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/🎁 Melissa is offering listeners complimentary access to her Jewelry Inventory Guide — a tool that helps you capture both the financial and emotional value of your collection, and the stories behind each piece.→ https://mailchi.mp/allthebrilliants.com/inventory-guideGuest:👤 Melissa Dusenberry🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msdusenberry/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadusenberry/Brand:🌐 All The Brilliants🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthebrilliants/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-the-brilliants/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

A girls’ meetup at @WHotelDubai turned into something I did not expect — a quiet education in Emirati jewelry culture.The hotel had integrated traditional Emirati aesthetic throughout the space in a way that felt intentionaL. The gold pieces displayed were references to a jewelry tradition that goes back over four thousand years and carries more cultural weight than most people realize.The UAE’s connection to jewelry dates to the Bronze Age, when the region was a major trade hub connecting the Indus Valley civilizations, the Mediterranean world, and everything in between. For centuries, Dubai’s historic trade routes and exposure to different cultures influenced the materials, designs, and shapes of traditional jewelry — with raw materials sourced from India, Europe, and the Americas, crafted into pieces that reflected an entire world of exchange. In Emirati culture, gold jewelry represents far more than wealth. It embodies heritage, identity, and an unbroken connection between generations. Historically, gold jewelry served as both adornment and security — a woman’s personal wealth that remained hers regardless of circumstance. Traditional Emirati pieces like the murtasha — a wide gold necklace with elaborate dangling chains — and the tassah headpiece worn by brides, are not simply beautiful objects. They are silent communicators of status, occasion, family lineage, and personal identity. The amount and style of jewelry a woman wore often reflected her marital status, age, and regional background — making it one of the most layered forms of non-verbal communication within the community. Traditional Emirati jewelry is renowned for its detailed craftsmanship — artisans using hand-engraving, filigree work, and stamping to create complex designs, each piece handmade and requiring patience, precision, and deep knowledge of traditional patterns. There is a difference between jewelry that decorates and jewelry that communicates.The pieces at the W reminded me which kind lasts.#AIInBusiness #ProductDevelopment #JewelryDesign #EmiratiCulture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Tracy Vontelle Green, Co-Founder & CEO of Vontelle, about what it means to build a brand that solves a problem most people didn’t even know they had.Vontelle started with a simple, physical frustration: glasses that don’t fit. Frames that press into your cheekbones, temples too short, nose bridges too narrow. Tracy and her co-founder Nancy went to Paris, measured their friends’ noses, drew sketches, and found one manufacturer willing to break the mold — literally.What makes this conversation remarkable is how Tracy talks about resilience — not as a mindset, but as a series of very concrete decisions: saying yes before you know how, applying for every grant, showing up at the Brooklyn Museum on a Saturday to sell glasses, and pivoting to a government school contract when tariffs wiped out wholesale orders overnight.We explore:How a lost pair of glasses and a trip to Paris Fashion Week became the origin of a brand now in 900+ stores across the U.S.The product complexity behind fit-inclusive eyewear — why breaking the mold wasn’t just a metaphor, it was a literal negotiation with manufacturersWhat it looks like to run a business while working a full-time job, managing a health crisis, and shipping orders at 11pmHow Vontelle became the first Black women-owned brand to design for America’s Best — and the first women-owned brand to design for NickelodeonThe cash flow reality of every channel: wholesale, D2C, retail, and government contracts — and why diversification wasn’t strategy, it was survivalWhen you build something that actually fits the people who’ve been told to just deal with it, you’re not just building a product. You’re building proof that the market was wrong about who deserved to be served.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/Guest:👤 Tracy Vontelle Green🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-v-green-89793a9/Brand:🌐 https://www.vontelle.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vontelleeyewear🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vontelleeyewear🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vontelle/🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vontelle🔗 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wearevontelle/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

On the intersection of creative direction and sourcing — and what it looks like when the two are finally the same conversation.Some materials communicate before they are ever cut and sewn.Creative direction and sourcing are the same conversation.We help brands find the materials that match the vision — and bring it into product.If your collection exists in your head but not yet in your hands, let’s talk. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Taylor Artman, Co-Founder & CEO of Surf & Turf Golf, about what it really means to build a brand from a social club logo that went viral to 650+ wholesale accounts, all without outside capital.What stands out in this conversation is how Taylor thinks about growth. Not as a destination, but as a discipline — knowing when to say no, when to double down, and how to get out of your own way so the company can actually scale.Ten years in, bootstrapped, and just now hitting what he calls the tipping point. The story of how he got there — and what almost stopped him — is worth hearing.We explore:How a members-only social club accidentally became a wholesale apparel brand — before it even had a websiteThe cash flow lesson every growing brand learns the hard way: your best year ever and your tightest cash can happen at the same timeWhat it actually took to go from founder doing everything to CEO operating on the business instead of in itHow AI compressed a one-hour order entry process into two minutes — and what that unlocked for the whole teamThe balance between evolving and staying focused: when to say yes to new markets, and when doubling down is the smarter moveWhy building while you fly isn’t reckless — and why waiting for the right moment might be the biggest mistake of allThe brands that last aren’t the ones with the best plan. They’re the ones that kept going, kept adjusting, and learned to get out of the way of their own growth.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/Guest:👤 Taylor Artman🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okcta23🔗 X: https://x.com/okcta23🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@okcta23🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorartmanBrand:🌐 Surf & Turf Golf🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surfandturfclub🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@surfandturfclub✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Cynthia Kim, Founder of Love Classic, about what it really takes to build a niche fashion brand from a single product — and grow it with intention.Cynthia started with thigh-high socks. Not randomly — but because she understood the product from the inside out: the fiber, the construction, the feel. That foundation is now informing how she approaches her first clothing line, launching in capsule collections this August.What stands out in this conversation is how Cynthia thinks about quality and timing — how she navigated COVID’s disruption, rebuilt her supply chain, and made the deliberate decision to expand only once the foundation was stable again.We explore:* How a passion for athletic socks — hiking, snowboarding — became a full fashion brand* The product development process behind something as specific as thigh-high socks: trend research, fiber selection, factory communication, and wear testing* What’s different operationally when you move from socks to clothing — and why fit is where most of the complexity lives* How Cynthia is using AI today (for SEO, captions, and marketing research) and what she wishes she could automate* The messy reality of running everything solo — and the vision of tying all those small tasks into something coherentBehind every product that looks effortless at launch is years of trial, fiber research, and starting over — and that discipline is what makes the difference between a good product and a brand that lasts.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/Guest & Brand:👤 Cynthia Kim — Love Classic🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveclassic_com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loveclassic/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

For a long time, Paris was the plan.It made sense on paper.Fashion capital. Creative energy. The city that shaped so much of what I thought I knew about this industry.But life has a way of offering you something better than the plan you had.Dubai was not what I expected to choose.And then, it chose me — and everything shifted.Not because Dubai is more glamorous,But because it asked something different of me.It asked me to build from a different foundation.To think about fashion, about business, about what I actually wanted to create — without the weight of expectation that comes with a city that already has a very clear idea of what fashion should look like.Paris is extraordinary. And this week, as the industry gathers there for Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2026, the pull of that city is impossible to ignore.But home, right now, is Dubai.And I think I needed to go somewhere unexpected to understand what I was actually building.If you have ever chosen the city that surprised you over the one that made sense —I would love to hear about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

Ariane and I have known each other for years — long before Lys Link, long before any of this made professional sense.What started as a friendship in Montréal eventually became something else entirely: a working relationship built on mutual trust, shared standards, and the kind of honesty that only comes from knowing someone well enough to tell them the truth.We are a flight apart. We have never worked in the same room.And yet this past year has been one of the most aligned professional experiences I have had.There is something particular about working with someone who already knows how you think — and who pushes back when they disagree, not to create friction, but because they care about the outcome as much as you do.This Canada Day felt worth marking.Not because of geography or celebration — but because of what this year has quietly become. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Dario Markovic Ristic, CEO of Eric Javits, about leading a heritage accessory brand through D2C transformation, operational complexity, and the next layer of AI-driven growth.Eric Javits has been built over more than four decades, but the brand’s recent evolution reflects a very modern reality: even established fashion businesses cannot rely only on product, reputation, or wholesale visibility anymore. When physical retail was disrupted, the company had to move quickly from a primarily B2B model into a direct-to-consumer structure — building customer data, digital operations, and a leaner business model while continuing to manage design, manufacturing, retail partnerships, supply chain pressure, and seasonal product timelines.From supplier consistency to inventory forecasting, the conversation highlights how growth in accessories is no longer only about adding more products or entering more categories — it is about understanding where complexity lives, where money is tied up, and where better systems can make the business healthier.We explore: • How Eric Javits shifted from a wholesale-led model into D2C during a moment of major market disruption • Why owning customer data became a critical operational layer for a long-established brand • The hidden work behind accessories — from materials and testing to sampling, supplier reliability, and production timelines • Why consistency, speed, and long-term manufacturer relationships still matter in a market under constant pressure • How AI, automation, connected infrastructure, and inventory intelligence are shaping the next phase of more profitable growthIn accessories, the story behind the product is increasingly tied to the systems underneath it — from supplier decisions and stock planning to the way brands use data to grow with more discipline.✨ If you’re growing a fashion or accessory brand and trying to move from momentum into healthier, more structured scale, feel free to reach out🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thefashiontranslatoror Substack: https://substack.com/@clairelysbastienwald/notesGuest: 👤 Dario Markovic 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dario-markovic-ristic/Brand: 🌐 https://ericjavits.com/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericjavits/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eric-javits/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Joseph Alexander Rein, Founder and CEO of LW PEARL and LW PEARL Atelier, about building a fashion business at the intersection of luxury craft, textile development, digital product workflows, and retail expansion.Joseph brings a rare perspective into the conversation: one shaped by couture-level garment work, embroidery, luxury, and the realities of bringing a brand into market. Through LW PEARL Atelier, his team works across high-touch textile development, embellishment, embroidery, swatches, prototypes, and runway-driven deadlines. Through LW PEARL Brand, that same craftsmanship is being translated into a scalable lifestyle and womenswear business with retail potential.The conversation moves beyond the usual conversation around creativity and technology. Joseph speaks directly to the tension many fashion businesses face: how to preserve artistry while making decisions around costing, repeatability, merchandising, buyer materials, production, and commercial viability.From hand embroidery and Swarovski surface treatments to 3D rendering, AI-generated imagery, and buyer lookbooks, the conversation highlights how the next phase of fashion will depend less on choosing between craft and technology — and more on knowing where each one belongs in the process.We explore:• Why emerging designers often struggle to translate editorial creativity into commercially viable product• How PLM, 3D CAD, Adobe tools, and AI can support the pre-production process before sampling begins• Why embroidery, shine, texture, and textile movement still require physical swatches and deep material expertise• How LW PEARL Atelier operates behind the scenes with luxury clients, rapid prototyping, and specialized artisans• Why buyer lookbooks, retail presentations, and AI-assisted content are becoming key growth tools for fashion brandsThis episode looks at luxury fashion through the full system behind it: the textile craft, the product development discipline, and the commercial shift pushing brands to make creativity more precise, repeatable, and retail-ready.✨ If you’re translating a highly crafted product into retail, buyer presentations, or a more scalable commercial structure, feel free to reach out.Guest:👤 Joseph Alexander Rein🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephalexanderrein/Brand:🌐https://lwpearl.com/🌐https://lwpearlatelier.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwpearlatelier/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwpearlbrand/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lw-pearl-brand/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Janice Tam, Co-Founder & CEO of TrueToForm, about how body scanning, 3D fit prediction, and sizing data are reshaping the way apparel brands approach fit online.Fit is often treated as a size chart problem. But for apparel brands, it sits much deeper — inside customer confidence, e-commerce conversion, product development, return rates, and the emotional first experience someone has with a brand.Janice shares how TrueToForm helps brands measure customers remotely, predict fit through 3D avatars, and make size charts more accurate over time. The conversation also explores why static sizing data is no longer enough, especially for emerging brands serving specific body types, niche demographics, or digitally native customers.We explore:• Why sizing and fit remain one of the biggest friction points in online apparel• How 3D body scanning can help customers understand fit before purchasing• Why size charts built on static datasets often fail to reflect real target demographics• How fit technology can support both e-commerce teams and product development teams• Why the next layer of apparel AI still needs human judgment, QC, and fit expertiseAs apparel commerce becomes more data-informed, the real shift is not only in helping customers choose the right size — it is in turning fit from a reactive return problem into an evolving product development system.✨ If you’re building an apparel brand and trying to reduce returns without losing sight of customer experience, fit data, product decisions, and sizing systems need to work together from the start — feel free to reach out.Guest:👤 Janice Tam🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-hy-tam/Brand:🌐 https://www.truetoform.fit/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truetoform_fit/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truetoform-fit/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Cayla O’Connell Davis, CEO & Co-Founder of Subset, about the operational reality behind sustainable fashion — and why material standards, certifications, chemical safety, and supply chain decisions are becoming impossible to separate from brand credibility.This conversation goes far beyond marketing claims.From organic cotton sourcing and customer education to textile recycling systems and the hidden chemicals in everyday garments, Cayla shares what it actually looks like to build a product around long-term responsibility instead of short-term convenience.We explore:• Why sustainability becomes meaningless without supply chain transparency• How material choices, certifications, and chemical safety shape brand trust• The hidden operational cost behind building “better” products• How fast fashion reshaped consumer expectations around price and consumption• Why education is becoming one of the biggest responsibilities for modern brands• How textile recycling systems are evolving beyond landfill modelsIn fashion, the next shift is not only about what brands say — it is about whether their systems can support the claims they make.✨ If you’re navigating how sustainability translates into real operational decisions inside a fashion business, feel free to reach out.Guest: Cayla O’Connell Davis📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caylaoc/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cayla-o-connell-davis-b919a823/Brand:🔗 https://wearsubset.com/📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearsubset/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearsubset/✨ Exclusive offer for The Fashion Translator community:Use code: TFTPOD20Receive 20% off your order on Subset.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Martin Engster, Founder of Engsta Rides, about building a brand rooted in automotive culture and translating that passion into apparel.What began as a personal connection to cars — shaped by early exposure, environment, and experience — gradually evolved into something broader. Not just clothing, but a way to express identity through what you drive, how you live, and what you connect with.Rather than approaching fashion through trends or traditional inspiration, Martin built his brand by pulling from a completely different world — automotive culture — and translating that into design, messaging, and product.From personal passion to product experimentation, the conversation highlights how brands can emerge from outside the fashion system — and why that perspective brings a different kind of depth.We explore:• How automotive culture shapes a brand beyond product• Why lifestyle positioning creates stronger connection than apparel alone• The process of translating personal interests into design direction• The role of experimentation in finding the right product and quality• How AI can support design while keeping the creator in controlIn lifestyle-driven brands, where identity comes from outside the industry, the real challenge isn’t creating apparel — it’s translating a personal world into something others can recognize and connect with.✨ If you’re building a brand rooted in passion and looking to translate it into something tangible and scalable, feel free to reach outGuest:👤 Martin Engster🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/engsta/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinengster/Brand:🌐 https://engstarides.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/engsta/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/engsta-rides/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Jaclyn Brautigam, Founder of Fordham Fashion, about the operational blind spots that prevent emerging designers from turning strong creative work into viable businesses.Many designers are trained to develop products — but not to sell them. They are often left navigating wholesale, pricing, margins, and distribution without a clear roadmap.From wholesale entry strategy to pricing structures, the conversation highlights how commercial viability in fashion depends less on the product itself and more on the systems built around it.We explore: • Why many designers underestimate the complexity of B2B wholesale • The operational foundations required before approaching retailers • How pricing and margins shift when moving from DTC to wholesale • Why expensive showroom strategies often fail emerging brands • How designers can leverage direct outreach and network-driven growth insteadAt its core, this conversation reframes fashion not as a product-driven industry, but as a system-driven one — where understanding distribution mechanics, financial structure, and market timing determines whether a collection becomes a business or remains an idea.For those looking to move from collection to commercial strategy and growth:✨ Exclusive offer for The Fashion Translator community Use code: FTC26Receive $500 off The Fashion Visionary Experience, Jaclyn’s signature package designed to help fashion brands grow and strategically build their business.Valid through year-end.Guest: 👤 Jaclyn Brautigam 🔗 Instagram: @fordham_fashion🔗 LinkedIn:Jaclyn BrautigamBrand / Platform: 🌐 Fordham Fashion 🔗 Website: https://www.fordhamfashion.com/🔗 Substack: If you’re currently trying to turn a collection into actual sales and feel stuck on what to do next, feel free to reach out. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

Most people ask about price and lead time. I look at something else first.Most people ask about price and lead time. I look at something else first.When a brand asks, “Can you recommend a factory?” they usually mean capacity, pricing, and lead times.I look for something else first.I look for how the factory thinks when something goes wrong.Because in production, something always goes wrong: A fabric arrives slightly off. A trim is delayed. A measurement doesn’t behave the way it did in the sample.The difference between a painful season and a scalable one isn’t “perfect execution.” It’s response quality.Strong partners don’t just produce. They communicate risk early, document decisions clearly, and protect the timeline without sacrificing the product.That’s not a personality trait. It’s an operating standard.And when a brand and factory share that standard, the relationship stops feeling like firefighting. It starts feeling like infrastructure.If you’ve built long-term production partnerships: What’s the one sign you’ve learned to trust most? If you’re looking to build production partnerships with that level of structure, feel free to reach out or explore how we work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this special author feature of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Romain Liot, fashion entrepreneur and author of Reset Fashion, about why sustainability in fashion needs to move beyond intention, image, and simplified consumer narratives.Drawing from his experience building Adore Me and navigating the operational reality of fashion from the inside, Romain brings a direct and sometimes blunt perspective on what has stalled progress in the industry. Not because sustainability no longer matters, but because many of the stories built around it were never fully adapted to the economic, structural, and supply-chain realities brands actually face.From the green premium myth to the complexity of scope 3 emissions, the discussion highlights how fashion cannot be transformed through slogans alone. It requires better cost models, better measurement, stronger traceability, and a clearer understanding of where change can create both environmental and business value.We explore: • Why sustainability fatigue emerged, even as the problem continues to grow • How the green premium myth created a green penalty for many fashion brands • Why asking consumers to simply “buy less” does not fully address the role fashion plays in identity, emotion, and employment • Why scope 3 emissions, dyeing processes, and supplier-level decisions matter more than symbolic headquarters initiatives • How traceability can become a real operating map for brands, not just a digital passport for consumersAt the intersection of sustainable fashion, product economics, and supply-chain visibility, Reset Fashion reframes the industry’s challenge as a systems problem — one that will be shaped less by perfect messaging and more by the decisions brands are willing to redesign from the inside.✨ For anyone looking to better understand the operational complexity behind sustainability in fashion, tune in to the conversation and grab Reset Fashion by Romain Liot.Guest: 👤 Romain Liot 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romainadoreme/ 🔗 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/romain-liot-23335b31Book: 📖 Reset Fashion 🔗 Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Romain-Liot-ebook/dp/B0GX31LL69/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Nathan Trafford, Founder of Trafford Watch Co., about how product meaning is actually built over time—through use, memory, and personal context.In a category shaped by heritage and craftsmanship, the real question becomes:not just how a product is designed, but how it lives with the customer.From structuring design between function and emotion to maintaining a human-centered approach in an AI-driven landscape, this conversation explores what it means to build products that stay relevant beyond the moment of purchase.We explore: • How function and emotion operate as two distinct layers in product design • Why meaning isn’t fixed at creation—but evolves through use • The operational realities of building in a slow, craft-driven category • The tension between scalability and maintaining a human-centered product • Why showing the process is becoming part of the product itselfIn watchmaking, where time is the core material, the real shift is happening at the intersection of design, ownership, and lived experience.✨ If you’re building products meant to stay relevant beyond the moment of purchase, structuring how they evolve with the customer becomes a strategic advantage, feel free to reach outGuest:👤 Nathan Trafford🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathantrafford/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathantrafford/Brand:🌐 traffordwatchco.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traffordwatchco/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trafford-watch-co/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Kiefer Cohen, Co-founder of Sad Eyewear, about building an independent eyewear brand at the intersection of subculture, product discipline, and multi-channel growth — including their expansion into a first flagship retail space in Costa Mesa, CA, USA.From subculture-driven design to disciplined product focus, the conversation highlights how independent brands navigate growth without diluting what made them relevant in the first place.We explore:• The subculture collaborations act as both brand positioning and acquisition channels• Why staying within a defined aesthetic can outperform trend-chasing in saturated markets• The operational reality of forecasting in a trend-sensitive product category• Navigating multi-channel growth (e-commerce, wholesale, retail, international)• The role of physical retail as a brand ecosystem, not just a sales channelIn eyewear — where aesthetic cycles, inventory risk, and cultural relevance intersect — the conversation reveals how product decisions, distribution structure, and brand identity must align as a single system rather than evolve independently.✨ If you’re currently trying to turn product decisions into consistent sales while navigating trends and inventory, feel free to reach outGuest:👤 Kiefer Cohen🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiefercohen/🔗 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kiefercohenBrand:🌐 https://sadeyewear.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadeyewear🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sadeyewear/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Elif Akaydin, Founder of Patent of Heart, about building a fashion brand where product, craftsmanship, and social impact are structurally interconnected — not just conceptually aligned.What starts as a handbag brand quickly reveals a much deeper system: one that connects women artisans across India, Lebanon, and Turkey, while funding education for young girls through every sale. This isn’t about adding purpose to a product. It’s about designing a business where every layer — from sourcing to production to revenue — reinforces a mission.From building cross-border artisan collaborations to structuring her workflow between creativity and sales, the conversation highlights what it actually takes to run a purpose-driven brand without losing operational control.We explore:• Why building a mission-led brand requires structural decisions — not just storytelling• How distributed craftsmanship (India, Lebanon, Turkey) becomes a unified product system• The reality of balancing design, sales, and production as a solo founder• Why separating creative time and operational time becomes critical to survival• The limitations of manual wholesale follow-up — and where automation starts to matter🤍 Beyond the brand itself, Elif also supports the “I Have a Daughter in Anatolia” program, contributing to education for young women — with a donation link available for those who want to support directly. https://www.cydd.org.tr/pages/i-want-to-donate-34/ 📍 Alongside her wholesale activity, she is currently running a summer pop-up in New York’s West Village, offering a direct way to experience the products and meet the story behind them.🛍️ Listeners can also access 20% off with the code FashionTranslator20 on her website — a way to support both the brand and its wider mission.In a category like accessories — where aesthetics often dominate — this conversation exposes the operational reality of building a brand where craft, supply chain, and social impact must function as one system, not separate narratives.✨ If you’re building a brand where impact, production, and sales all compete for your time, finding the right structure changes everything — feel free to reach outGuest:👤 Elif Akaydin🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elif-akaydin-6139693/Brand:🌐 https://www.patentofheart.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patentofheart/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elif-akaydin-6139693/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Sophia Pervez, Founder of Formanova, to explore what it actually takes to build AI tools that can operate within the precision demands of the jewelry industry.While generative AI has rapidly expanded across fashion and content creation, jewelry exposes a critical limitation: accuracy. From gemstone color to millimeter-scale proportions, even minor discrepancies can lead to customer dissatisfaction, returns, and loss of brand trust.From building in a category where detail is non-negotiable to rethinking how AI integrates into creative workflows, Sophia shares a grounded perspective on what responsible AI implementation really looks like — beyond hype and surface-level outputs.We explore: • Why most generative AI tools fail in jewelry • The role of pixel-to-pixel validation in preserving product accuracy • The impact of CAD-to-image workflows on production and demand testing • Why AI should remain a supplement, not a replacement to creative directionIn jewelry, where visual precision shapes customer confidence, the opportunity is not just better generation — but stronger systems for accuracy, decision-making, and trust.For those who want to explore this in practice: ✨ 10 free credits on Formanova.ai ✨ 💍 Use code: CLAIRE10 💍Guest: 👤 Sophia Pervez 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiepervez/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiapervez/Brand: 🌐https://formanova.ai/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/formanova_ai/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raresense_ai/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rare-sense-inc/Don’t just watch — test it. Use code CLAIRE10 to get your free credits on Formanova.ai.✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/#AIInBusiness #ProductDevelopment #JewelryTech #ProductAccuracy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Aleksandra Sivokoneva, Creative Director of Mana Fashion, about building a functional fashion ecosystem in Miami — through infrastructure, access, and community.Most fashion conversations focus on visibility, branding, and product. But none of that sustains without the systems behind it. In emerging markets like Miami, the real challenge isn’t creativity — it’s the absence of structured support: sourcing, space, and industry connection.From real estate-driven development to B2B services and local sourcing access, this conversation breaks down what it actually takes to build an environment where designers don’t just launch — but stay and grow.We explore:• Why community is the operational foundation of a fashion ecosystem• How physical spaces and real estate directly impact industry growth• The importance of local sourcing access — and what changes when it exists• How emerging brands integrate into structured systems instead of building in isolation• Why Miami is positioning itself as a strategic bridge between North and Latin AmericaFashion ecosystems aren’t built through visibility — but through infrastructure, systems, and the ability to operationalize creativity at scale.Guest:👤 Aleksandra Sivokoneva🔗 Instagram: @joa_diary🔗 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-sivokoneva-4608a971Brand:🌐 www.manafashion.com🔗 Instagram: @manafashionservices✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys speaks with Mitchella Gilbert, Founder of OYA Apparel, about designing clothing for real conditions — where performance is directly tied to environment, health, and function.Most apparel is developed within controlled parameters, optimized for appearance or perceived performance. But for individuals operating in high-intensity environments — military, medical, or physically demanding roles — the reality is different. Constant exposure to heat, sweat, and friction creates conditions that most products are not built to withstand.From moisture management systems to wear studies across military and high-performance environments, the conversation explores how apparel shifts from product to functional gear — designed to support the body under pressure.We explore:• Why moisture — not movement — is the core issue in performance apparel• How fabrics and chemicals directly impact skin health over time• What military and real-world testing reveals about product performance• Why most apparel fails under real conditions• How systems and processes enable product scalabilityDesigning for real-world conditions reframes apparel from aesthetic product to operational tool — where performance, health, and system thinking intersect.Guest:👤 Mitchella Gilbert🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellagilbert/Brand:🌐https://wearoya.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearoya/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearoya/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Darren Seigel, Chief Business Development Officer at TONA Activewear, to explore how performance apparel can support mental well-being, confidence, and community — without compromising on fit, function, or comfort.Born from a deeply personal mission around mental health and suicide prevention, TONA set out to create what many brands never fully address: a truly high-performance legging that works for every body, stays supportive all day, and avoids harmful forever chemicals.This conversation explores:• How mental health became the foundation of TONA’s brand strategy• Why compression, fit, and fabric integrity matter more than trends• The hidden impact of PFAS and why “chemical-free” isn’t optional anymore• What radical size inclusivity really means — and why most brands fall short• How community, performance, and purpose can coexist in modern activewearIf you’re interested in mission-driven brands, performance apparel innovation, or how fashion can actively support well-being, this episode is for you.Guest:👤 Darren Seigel🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren_seigel/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-seigel/Brand:🌐 https://tonaactive.com/en-ca🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonaactive/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tona-activewear/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Brita Jackson, Founder of Arquette Agency, to explore the unseen work behind talent representation and long-term career development in the fashion industry.From guiding models through demanding international careers to prioritizing mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, Brita shares what responsible talent management actually looks like behind the scenes. The conversation explores leadership, discipline, reputation, and why integrity and gratitude remain foundational to Arquette’s mission.We also look ahead — discussing how agencies can prepare for the next 20 years of the industry through innovation, ethical AI use, and emerging global markets, without losing the human core of the business.This episode explores:• What holistic talent development really requires• The unseen responsibilities of managing global modeling careers• Why integrity, discipline, and reputation define longevity• Balancing innovation and ethical AI with human-centered values• Preparing agencies and talent for the future of fashionIf you’re interested in fashion leadership, talent development, or what truly sustains careers in this industry, this episode is for you.Guest:👤 Brita Jackson🌐 https://www.arquetteagency.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arquetteagency/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britajackson/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI and innovation can support fashion businesses — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Kevin Massar, co-founder and CEO of The Field Dream — a design-led soccer culture brand helping clubs build their identity through uniforms, fanwear, and community-first experiences.From his transition out of global corporate roles into a startup, to the realities of building grit, systems, and authentic growth — Kevin shares what it really takes to build a brand that serves people and the game.This conversation dives into:• How design shapes club identity and belonging• Why U.S. youth soccer became “pay-to-play” — and what’s missing• What it looks like to build a community hub beyond product• The real startup challenges: resources, logistics, tariffs, and momentum• Growing through events, partnerships, and organic relationships (not just ads)• Where automation and AI can actually help a small brand right nowIf you care about club culture, youth sports, brand-building through design, or building a business with real community gravity — this episode is for you.Guest:👤 Kevin Massar🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmassar/🔗 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thefielddream/Brand:🏷️ The Field Dream🌐 Website: https://thefielddream.com/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-field-dream/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefielddream✨ Connect with Claire Lys - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ to explore how AI and innovation can elevate fashion brands, or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Elma Madzar, Founder of Fashion My Way, to explore how technology-enabled customization is reshaping the fashion industry — from the fitting room experience to on-demand production and data-driven design.Drawing on over 20 years of retail experience, Elma explains why the future of personalization lies in intentional design, not infinite options. She shares how brands can use modular systems, real-time data, and consumer insights to help women feel seen and confident — while improving conversion, reducing returns and waste, and building smarter supply chains.This conversation explores:• Why personalization at scale is the next evolution of fashion• The limits of traditional sizing and fitting rooms• How tech-enabled customization reduces waste and inefficiency• Using consumer data to improve design and forecasting• Balancing brand vision with meaningful customer experiencesIf you’re interested in fashion innovation, retail strategy, or the future of consumer-centric design, this episode is for you.Guest:👤 Elma Madzar🌐 www.fashionmyway.com🔗 Instagram: @elmamadzar_🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elmamadzar/✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI and innovation can elevate fashion businesses — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What if most product errors weren’t design problems — but communication failures?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Laura Zwanziger, Founder of Fit For Everybody, to unpack why apparel development breaks down long before production — and how clearer systems can dramatically reduce waste, cost, and confusion.From tech packs and sizing inconsistencies to factory–designer misalignment, Laura shares how her background as a designer and supply-chain strategist led her to build a platform focused on precision, translation, and fewer sampling rounds.This conversation explores:• Why most sampling errors stem from miscommunication, not creativity• How small structural gaps create compounding waste• The hidden cost of Excel-based tech packs• What factories actually need from designers• How guardrails and clarity free up creative time• Why better systems outperform more iterationsIf you’re building, scaling, or producing apparel — this episode offers a grounded look at how clarity becomes leverage.Guest:👤 Laura Zwanziger🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedInCompany:🌐 https://www.fitforeverybody.com🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how structured systems and AI can support long-term fashion growth, or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What does it take to build a children’s brand that parents genuinely connect with — beyond trends and mass-market sameness?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Dinah Chapman, Founder of Little Trouble, to unpack how a deeply personal idea turned into a fast-growing kidswear brand rooted in creativity, community, and design integrity.From navigating early motherhood and corporate burnout to designing alternative boyswear that actually reflects modern parents, Dinah shares the realities of building an e-commerce brand from the ground up — including product development, customer connection, and the invisible work behind growth.This conversation explores:• Designing kidswear without default stereotypes• Translating adult fashion trends into childrenswear• Building a loyal community through authenticity and access• The realities of running a founder-led e-commerce brand• Growth, wholesale expansion, and long-term brand visionIf you’re interested in brand building, creative direction, or what it truly takes to scale a values-driven fashion business, this episode is for you.Guest:👤 Dinah Chapman🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedInBrand:🌐 https://www.littletrouble.com🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn ✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What if clothing wasn’t designed around speed — but around connection, care, and longevity?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Megan Krajco, apparel designer and former Design Director at PAKA, to explore what it truly means to design apparel from source to story.From time spent with Peruvian weaving communities to material-first design decisions, Megan shares how PAKA approaches creation through relationships — not trends — and why slowing down the process is essential to making garments that last.This conversation dives into:• Designing in direct relationship with weaving communities in Peru• Why material choice and construction define longevity• Moving away from trend-driven design toward cultural continuity• The role of collaboration inside brands and across suppliers• How structure and process protect creative space• Why clothing carries memory, meaning, and soul over timeIf you’re interested in thoughtful design, responsible production, and the human systems behind what we wear, this episode offers a grounded perspective on building apparel with integrity.Guest:👤 Megan Krajco🔗 LinkedInBrand:🌐 https://www.pakaapparel.com🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI and intelligent systems can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What does it take to stay relevant in one of the most competitive corners of the apparel industry?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys speaks with Milissa Gibson, Sales Director at Lane Seven Apparel, about building lasting relationships, reading trends ahead of the market, and balancing technology with human connection in sales.From wholesale blanks and brand positioning to demand planning and AI-assisted workflows, Milissa shares what it really looks like to operate at scale while staying grounded in people-first sales.This conversation explores:• How Lane Seven approaches trend forecasting through global markets• Why relationship-driven sales still matter more than automation• Translating retail trends into accessible, commercial products• Using AI as a tool — not a replacement — in sales and planning• What’s next for Lane Seven as the line expandsIf you work in apparel, sales, or brand development, this episode offers a practical and human perspective on where the industry is heading.Guest:👤 Milissa Gibson🔗 LinkedIn🔗 InstagramBrand:🌐 https://lanesevenapparel.com🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI and structured systems can support smarter fashion businesses — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What does it mean to design menswear with precision, inclusivity, and intention.🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Tom Speight & Garrett Swann, co-founders of ALPHX, to unpack how they’re redefining men’s underwear by putting comfort, fit, and consciousness first.Built to fill a clear gap in the market, ALPHX was born from a simple truth: all men are created equal — but their underwear isn’t.From personalized fit to body positivity and inclusivity, this conversation goes beyond product to explore how thoughtful systems, complementary leadership, and long-term vision shape a brand that starts with the essentials — and gets them right.This episode explores:Why comfort must come before aestheticsDesigning underwear with precision, consciousness, and real bodies in mindHow ALPHX fills a gap the menswear market overlookedBody positivity and inclusivity as core brand pillarsWhy “better basics” require better systemsHow a creative spirit + analytical mind build stronger brandsWhat it really means to redefine the Alpha MaleIf you’re interested in menswear innovation, product-led brand building, and designing for real people — this episode is for you.Guests: 👤 Tom Speight & Garrett Swann 🔗 Instagram🔗 Linkedin 🔗 YouTube / Facebook / Pinterest / TikTok: BEALPHX✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can elevate fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What if building a fashion brand was less about trends — and more about lived experience, structure, and storytelling?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Nasreen Hussain, Founder and Creative Director of NEISA (formerly known as Humans of High Fashion at the time of recording).From styling and retail to corporate banking and entrepreneurship, Nasreen shares the non-linear journey that shaped her brand — and how operational discipline, leadership, and creative intuition now coexist at the core of her work.This conversation explores:• How early retail and corporate leadership shaped her approach to fashion• Why storytelling is the backbone of brand identity• Turning personal experiences and travel into collections with meaning• Balancing creativity, structure, and mental space as a founder• Building a brand designed for long-term global presenceIf you’re interested in fashion entrepreneurship, brand narrative, or the realities behind building a modern fashion label, this episode offers grounded insight and clarity.Guest:👤 Nasreen Hussain🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedInBrand:🌐 NEISA (rebranding from Humans of High Fashion)🔗 Instagram✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how clarity, structure, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What does it really take to build apparel supply chains that last — for brands, workers, and the industry itself?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Fatima Anwar, Founder & CEO of Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing (ESS), to unpack the realities behind global apparel production — from factory floors to boardroom decisions.With a background spanning advertising strategy and deep roots in manufacturing, Fatima shares how data, planning, and accountability can transform how brands source, scale, and operate across borders.This conversation explores:• How global supply chains actually function behind the scenes• Why ethics, labor conditions, and environmental practices are interconnected• The role of data, traceability, and on-the-ground verification• Balancing speed-to-market with long-term operational integrity• How regulation, risk, and AI are reshaping sourcing decisionsIf you’re navigating production, compliance, or growth in fashion — this episode offers a grounded look at the systems that quietly determine success.Guest:👤 Fatima Anwar🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedInCompany:🌐 https://es-sourcing.com/🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, structure, and systems thinking can elevate fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What does it really take to embed sustainability into fashion — not as a promise, but as an operating system?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Romain Liot, Co-Founder of Adore Me & Advisor at Asterion, to explore how sustainability in fashion actually works when it’s built through systems, data, and long-term decision-making — rather than announcements or surface-level claims.From scaling a DTC lingerie brand in the U.S. to now working at the intersection of fashion, technology, and sustainability infrastructure, Romain shares what most sustainability conversations overlook: governance, internal measurement, incentives, and execution.This conversation dives into:What real sustainability transformation in fashion looks likeHow systems and governance determine long-term environmental impactWhy sustainability must be measurable, operational, and accountableThe role of data, internal indexes, and AI in sustainability decision-makingWhy “green premium” models fail at scaleHow accelerators and first-customer support unlock sustainable innovationIf you’re interested in how fashion evolves through better systems, credible sustainability, and long-term thinking, this episode is for you.Guest👤 Romain Liot🔗 LinkedIn🔗 InstagramCompany🌐 Asterion 🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and sustainability can elevate fashion businesses — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

What if the garments we wear closest to our skin were quietly impacting our health every day?🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, Claire Lys sits down with Michael Drescher, Founder of Vibrant Body Company, to explore what most consumers — and even brands — overlook about intimate apparel.From toxic chemicals and wire-based construction to the role of education, clean materials, and innovation, Michael shares how Vibrant Body is rethinking the first layer with health, comfort, and science at its core.This conversation dives into:• Why most intimates are not designed with the body in mind• The hidden health impact of wires, foam, and compression• The importance of certifications and consumer education• How innovation — from fabric development to AI — can reshape intimate wear• Why the future of intimates must balance trust, transparency, and performance.If you’re interested in health-conscious design, material innovation, or the future of fashion at the intersection of science and wellbeing, this episode is for you.Guest:👤 Michael Drescher🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedInBrand: 🌐 vibrantbodycompany.com🔗 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI and innovation can elevate fashion brands, or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Caroline Chamorro, Director of Retail at HANRO USA, to explore how a heritage brand stays relevant in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. From clienteling and CRM innovation to omnichannel strategy and team empowerment, Caroline shares how HANRO keeps human connection at the heart of luxury — even in a data-driven world.Connect with HANRO:🌐 hanrousa.com🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Abby Dubois, Founder of Each Jewels, to unpack how deep technical expertise, sustainable manufacturing, and fearless creativity come together to build a standout accessories brand.Abby shares how recycled metals, thoughtful engineering, and minimal-impact processes shape her production, why hair accessories became the brand’s unexpected hero category, and how long-term innovation — not trends — drives her vision for the future.Connect with Abby Dubois: 🌐 https://www.eachjewels.com/ 🔗 Instagram🔗 Facebook✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator. 🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode: Claire Lys sits down with Billie Whitehouse, Founder & CEO of Wearable X, to uncover how the brand blends design, haptic technology, and emerging physical-AI frameworks to create connected garments that genuinely improve people's lives. Billie shares insights on building meaningful wearables, using technology to enhance wellness, and designing with human behavior at the center.Connect with Billie Whitehouse: 🌐 wearablex.com🌐 ⁠billiewhitehouse.com/🔗 Instagram: wearablex🔗 Instagram: billiewhitehouse🔗 LinkedIn: wearablexbilliewhitehouse✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator. 🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Angeline Hayling, co-founder of IslandTribe, to explore how the brand blends creativity, spiritual direction, and intentional living to build a deeply recognizable identity. Angeline opens up about the realities of producing ethically, finding inspiration while living between Bali and LA, building community around a feeling rather than a product, and trusting intuition throughout the creative journey.Connect with Angeline Hayling: 🌐 https://islandtribeusa.com/ 👤 Instagram🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator. 🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️ In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Junius Valentine, Head of Brand and Content at Jordan Craig, to explore how the brand builds a deeply engaged fan base through storytelling, cultural relevance, and empowering artists with true creative freedom. Junius also shares insights on integrating AI into marketing and product creation while keeping human connection at the center.Connect with Junius Valentine:🌐 https://jordancraig.com/🔗 Instagram @jordancraigdenim🔗 LinkedIn: Jordan Craig✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙️In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Jessica Schisler, Founder & CEO of Sunny Cubs, a brand that is helping parents protect their children’s skin differently: functional, soft, sun-protective clothing designed for outdoor adventures. Jessica shares how her family’s personal experience with melanoma inspired her to create gear that supports safe and comfortable outdoor play for babies and kids. Whether you’re passionate about thoughtful kid's apparel, circular fashion, or empowering families to enjoy nature with less worry, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.Connect with Jessica Schisler:🌐 sunnycubs.com🔗 http://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-schisler✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator. 🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙 In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Mike Gugat, Co-Founder & CEO of jbrds, a children’s footwear brand reshaping how little feet move and grow. From stepping into the athletic-industry trenches at Mizuno and adidas to founding a startup rooted in anatomical design for kids Mike shares how he and his team are solving a gap in the market and empowering young lives, one step at a time.Connect with Mike Gugat:🌐 jbrds.com🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙 In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Nancy Rhodes, Founder & CEO of Alternew a platform that is helping brands and consumers treat their wardrobes differently: repair, personalize, extend lifespan. Nancy shares how she went from designing mass-volume footwear to transforming how we think about fashion care through tailoring, repair, and technology. Whether you’re shopping smart, building a brand, or rethinking circular economies, this conversation offers insights and inspiration.Connect with Nancy Rhodes:🌐 alternew.com🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙 In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Nisha Blackwell, Founder and CEO of Knotzland, a Pittsburgh-based sustainable accessories brand redefining what it means to create with purpose.From repurposed fabrics to handcrafted bow ties, Nisha shares how Knotzland transforms discarded textiles into timeless pieces of wearable art while empowering community, creativity, and conscious design.Connect with Nisha Blackwell:🌐 knotzland.com🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:🔗 LinkedIn🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙 In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Anshu Malika Gupta founder of Tygr Sourcing and PureLuum, a sustainable baby essentials brand rooted in organic cotton and natural vegetable dyes.They explore how ethical manufacturing, fair trade, and conscious sourcing can transform the future of fashion and how PureLuum is leading the way by prioritizing purity, transparency, and connection to nature.Connect with Anshu Malika Gupta:🌐 pureluum.com🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙 In this episode:Claire Lys sits down with Anshu Malika Gupta founder of Tygr Sourcing and PureLuum, a sustainable baby essentials brand rooted in organic cotton and natural vegetable dyes.They explore how ethical manufacturing, fair trade, and conscious sourcing can transform the future of fashion and how PureLuum is leading the way by prioritizing purity, transparency, and connection to nature.Connect with Anshu Malika Gupta:🌐 pureluum.com🔗 LinkedIn✨ Connect with Claire Lys to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator.🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com

🎙 In this episode:I sit down with Jemima, founder of a startup revolutionizing fashion design and manufacturing making it easy for anyone to design clothing without technical expertise or industry connections.We talk about accessibility, creativity, and how technology is reshaping the future of fashion.✨ Connect with Jemima:🔗 LinkedIn🔗 Instagram🔗 Website👗 Connect with Claire to discover how AI can elevate your fashion business or to be featured on The Fashion Translator:🔗 LinkedIn🎥 Intro video by Rana Unity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com