Between creating and running the 11-year-old luxury footwear brand Brother Vellies and the 4-year-old non-profit organization Fifteen Percent Pledge, Aurora James has become a trusted voice in fashion.Her work hasn't stopped there. James has served as the vice chair of the Council of Fashion Designers of America since January 2023. The same year, she published her memoir, "Wildflower," which was released via paperback last month. And she also co-manages the Parity Collective, a private equity fund created to invest in founders of color.While James admits that balancing all of her ventures can prove challenging, her goal of changing the narrative around entrepreneurship in fashion is one of her biggest driving forces. "I want to manage expectations for people about what life is supposed to be like when you take on that much work or even what it means to be an entrepreneur," James said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. "It's a lot, and burning out in that situation is normal, and failing sometimes is normal, too."Another of James's goals is to further her advocacy for more diversity in fashion.Also on the podcast, the multi-hyphenate discusses her role in the push for expanding DE&I initiatives in fashion. Plus, she digs into the less glamorous, yet vital, sides of entrepreneurship. 

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, fashion reporter Zofia Zwieglinska and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, they recap the Copenhagen Fashion Week highlights, discuss why Ralph Lauren is proving an exception to luxury's slump and break down the brand strategies that won the back-to-school shopping season. 

Fifteen years after starting his fashion brand, Jonathan Simkhai is still growing it — without financial help. “The business is privately held, and we have not taken on any outside investment,” Simkhai said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. “I am open to the idea, but we're also very happy just moving along and growing the business organically.”Coinciding with that growth has been the opening of four Simkhai stores — in Southampton, Beverly Hills, NYC’s SoHo neighborhood and Dallas. There have also been marketing investments via global runway shows. This September, Simkhai will return to the New York Fashion Week runway, largely driven by customer demand. "In our stores, I've heard so many clients say, 'Are you doing a show?' and 'We want to come to your show,'” he said. “In being so focused on the clients and meeting their needs and being there for them, I really want to do a show so I can have them there and give them that experience.”Also on the podcast, Simkhai discussed why he values time in his brand’s stores, why specialty stores have an advantage over department stores and why experimentation is important to a modern fashion business. 

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we take a look at the recent earnings reports from brands including Prada, Adidas, Armani and Hugo Boss to break down what’s happening in fashion financially. Some standouts include Miu Miu's amazing growth, inflation's pressure on luxury shoppers and Adidas’s recovery from the Yeezy debacle.

As CMO of San Francisco-based Rothy's, Jamie Gersch is fueling sustainability-focused innovation in fashion. With a rich background in retail, including roles at Old Navy and Gap, Gersch brought a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Rothy's when she joined in 2022.Following its inception in 2012, Rothy's made its mark by turning plastic waste into stylish, comfortable shoes. And, in recent years, the brand has expanded its product assortment to include bags and other accessories, while maintaining its commitment to sustainability. Rothy's has 3 million customers through 20 retail stores and e-commerce in 19 countries, plus the vertically integrated company operates its own factory in China. In fiscal year 2022, the last year before it went private, Rothy's net revenue was $183 million, with annual revenues consistently over $150 million.Gersch has been instrumental in the brand's growth by focusing on innovative marketing strategies, enhancing the brand's digital presence and expanding its physical retail footprint.Under Gersch's leadership, Rothy's has relaunched its website to better tell its sustainability story. Plus, her approach to tapping into authentic communities and leveraging experiential marketing has driven significant engagement and brand loyalty. Rothy's commitment to sustainability is evident in its production processes. The brand uses a unique 3D knitting technology to create its shoes, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency. This method allows Rothy's to produce shoes that are not only environmentally friendly but also durable and comfortable. The company has recycled millions of plastic bottles to create its signature thread, transforming waste into high-quality, stylish products.The brand's retail strategy includes opening new stores in key markets — it recently opened a location on New York City's Flatiron neighborhood. By providing consumers with the opportunity to experience Rothy's products in person, the brand strengthens its connection with its audience and showcases the tangible benefits of its sustainable practices. It has plans for further expansion. On the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast, Gersch discusses Rothy's current initiatives and future direction, including the launch of its new summer footwear lines, its international expansion, its experiential marketing and its relaunch of rothys.com.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international fashion reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we take a look at the Paris Olympics, which begin Friday night, including some of our favorite (and least favorite) opening ceremony outfits and the many ways brands are getting in on the excitement. Later, we talk about the week's big creative director departures, including Peter Hawkings from Tom Ford, and why creative director tenures are trending shorter.

Since launching the sustainability-focused fashion brand Christy Dawn in 2014, co-founders and partners Aras and Christy Dawn Baskauskas have prioritized intentionality and ethical practices. For example, the brand uses deadstock fabrics to create apparel. Plus the Baskauskases have built and maintained relationships with farmers and local manufacturers in Los Angeles, allowing them to build on their sustainability. efforts. In 2021, they launched the Land Stewardship Program, empowering consumers to support the brand's regenerative farming initiative by investing in plots of land used to grow cotton for items like the bestselling Dawn Dress.A decade into its existence, Christy Dawn's sustainable practices, signature pieces and A-list fans have continued to fuel its popularity. Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Emma Watson and Dakota Johnson have been spotted wearing the brand.Now, Christy Dawn is in expansion mode. In 2021, it opened a flagship store on L.A.'s highly frequented Abbott Kenney Road after closing its first store on Lincoln Boulevard due to the pandemic. According to Aras, in 2022, the brand reportedly made over $15 million in revenue. This year, Christy Dawn is expanding into the men's and intimates product categories.On the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast, the founders discuss how they are establishing a system of "farm-to-closet" fashion and thinking about growth.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we talk about the surprise sale of streetwear brand Supreme to luxury eyewear group EssilorLuxottica, which has no other apparel or fashion brands in its portfolio. Later, we talk about why Coperni is hosting its Paris Fashion Week show at Disneyland and how luxury brands including Balenciaga are making use of the poorly-selling Apple Vision Pro.

Last week, for the first time in its 40-plus-year history, the bag brand Vera Bradley revealed a 360-degree rebrand. Updates include a new logo, new products, new in-store and online experiences, and a new ambassador: actress and singer Zooey Deschanel. Days prior, Glossy sat down with the company’s president and CEO, Jaqueline Ardrey, and CMO, Alison Hiatt, to discuss how the brand’s fresh look and feel play into the Project Restoration growth plan set by Ardrey last year. They also shared the challenges of reaching new audiences while retaining existing customers, and making big changes under the watchful eye of investors as a publicly traded company. 

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we take a look at the layoffs at Burberry and what it says about the state of British luxury, the landmark acquisition plans for Saks Fifth Avenue parent company HBC to buy Neiman Marcus, and the surprising collaboration between Shein and Monse.