Funny, moving and insightful conversations with leading creative and business leaders from the world of Fashion, Culture and Design. Simon and his guests address current affairs, creativity and assorted topics far outside their own careers. Always looking for provocative ideas you can actually do something with, the Fashion Culture Design podcasts are inspired by the Unconference of the same name. Hosted by: Simon Collins
EP.14 - Grace Chen
Dubbed a Chinese couturier Grace trained in New York and now uses the finest artisanship in China to create her brand of couture for clients like Helen Mirren, Oprah Winfrey and China’s political elite. Working in the world of fashion during the time of China’s recent evolution Grace has a unique perspective on the culture. And seeing New York as one of the first Chinese students to study fashion there was another eye-opener. Listen to her story as she prepares to show her collection at the China Fashion Gala in NYC
6/2/2018 • 22 minutes, 22 seconds
EP.13 - LONGCHAMP - Jean Cassegrain & Sophie Delafontaine
Siblings who grew up above the family store in Paris. They learned their trade from learned from their grandfather who founded the company and their father who remains as Chairman and guiding light. Jean Cassegrain and Sophie Delafontaine have brought in Kate Moss, Tracy Emin, Alexa Chung, Hood By Air’s Shayne Oliver and now Kendall Jenner, so they’re quietly getting radical. Hear their secrets and some fabulous French accents
6/2/2018 • 30 minutes, 27 seconds
EP.12 - Roland Mouret
The butcher’s son who lost his name, dressed France’s First Lady along with many of Hollywood’s, got his name back, has maisons in Mayfair and Madison Avenue, was once a model, sounds French and yet doesn’t drink coffee. Ladies and gentlemen FCD’s latest podcast is with the youthful and exuberant Roland Mouret.
2/26/2018 • 40 minutes, 7 seconds
FCD Salon Series at NeueHouse
On the last day of fashion week, Jenné Lombardo (MADE Fashion Week and The Terminal Presents) and Matt Scanlan (CEO & Founder, NAADAM) joined Simon Collins and our friends at NeueHouse for the FCD Salon Series; an unfiltered conversation on how to start and maintain a fashion business. From how to measure success, the good that comes from failure, Alex Wang throwbacks and crossing the Gobi Desert, Matt and Jenné tell all on what it really takes to make it in this industry. In case you missed the live conversation or want to hear it again, listen here.
10/13/2017 • 45 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 11 - James Scully
When you’ve been on first name terms with Naomi and Kate since they began, and Francois-Henri Pinault asks for your opinion because you are speaking for an entire industry, then you have an important voice. James Scully is a casting director with a past that includes Charivari, Tom Ford and Stella McCartney. During the Fashion Culture Design Unconference in 2016 he made an impassioned plea for better treatment of models and cited some shocking examples of mistreatment. He continued his campaign on the Business of Fashion’s Voices stage and most notably during Paris Fashion Week in March 2017. Here he talks about how he got where he is, what makes him mad and what he plans to do about it.
9/5/2017 • 35 minutes, 34 seconds
Ep. 10 - Mazdack Rassi
From escaping the Iranian revolution to launching the wildly successful Milk Makeup line. Along the way Rassi co-founded Milk, the world’s coolest photo studios, created 9 other companies, and revolutionized New York Fashion Week by launching MADE - a FREE runway venue for young designers. Fun Fact - the launch party of MADE had Kendrick Lamar filling the Milk loading dock with enough sub base woofers to literally bring down the neighborhood (no joke - they had to unplug some of them). Here he talks about being a refugee in Champagne Illinois and how New York Made him.
8/21/2017 • 41 minutes, 7 seconds
Ep. 09- Norma Kamali
If you were a boy in the 70’s and 80’s did you have a picture of Farah Fawcett in that red swimsuit on your wall? (It’s in the Smithsonian now btw). So why haven’t you been following Norma Kamali more closely since then? What is wrong with you? She is a pioneer in so much that many people are only recently discovering. Online sales? Non-traditional retail? VR Collection launch? Shop at home like a celeb? Female empowerment? Wellness? All this and she was wooed by D J Trump when he first built his Tower. Saying no to his offer isn’t something she regrets. All this and more from the legend that is Norma Kamali.
7/31/2017 • 48 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 08- Brandon Maxwell
Proud Texas boy Brandon has friends in high places and he got them by hard work, determination and being nice. All qualities that are within reach of us all. He studied photography, made it as a stylist, and now is known for his fashion collection as much as his continued styling and pictures. Charming effusive and humble Brandon takes us on a tour of his career from the lone star sate to being BFFs with Lady Gaga and other household names.
7/31/2017 • 43 minutes, 20 seconds
Ep. 07 - Leandra Medine (The Man Repeller)
Leandra Medine thinks hard about what’s going on in her head, then she shares it through her massively successful online empire Man Repeller. She’s like a millennial Carrie Bradshaw. From launching an online business that was hailed as a success exactly three days after it launched, to the impossible heartbreak, and all the emotions in between. Candid, funny and disarmingly honest Leandra takes us into her world and joins us in a timely lollypop salute to Lt Theo P Kojak (obviously). To quote the late great detective, ‘Who Loves ya baby?'
6/7/2017 • 36 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 06 - Mary Alice Stephenson
Mary Alice Stephenson gives a sparkling A-Z guide to her life and career from arriving in NYC and being hand-selected by Anna Wintour as a Vogue intern, to hosting events with Michelle Obama in the Whitehouse. Along the way her publishing credits include Fashion Director, editor, and stylist for Vogue, Allure, Marie Claire, Esquire, Seventeen, Oprah Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. Then there are the years commenting on style, fashion and the red carpet for CNN, NBC, The Today Show and countless other shows. And yet if you follow her social media you’d think her entire life is devoted to helping people through her charity GLAM4GOOD. Whether it’s wounded veterans, women in difficult situations, or children benefiting from Make-a-Wish, Mary Alice always answers yes. And yet the last flood of messages she received were vicious hate mail after she failed to insult the first lady’s outfits on CNN. What a life. What a gal.
6/1/2017 • 36 minutes, 23 seconds
Ep. 05 - Mickey Boardman
Mr Mickey loves Kim Kardashian, Madonna, Kylie, Mia Farrow and here he tells us why. Who broke the internet? No, it wasn't the Russians, it was Mickey Boardman, PAPER magazine and Kim Kardashian's bum. From his Chicago roots to having Madonna sing happy birthday to him Mr Mickey talks about Kylie, Trump, Mia Farrow and everything else along the way. He's upbeat, excited and irrepressible and he doesn't care who knows it!
5/22/2017 • 46 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 04 - Andrew Essex
If Robert De Niro tells you you're hired then which of us would say no? Certainly not Andrew Essex, even if he'd had a couple of dream jobs--first as a Condé Nast editor and then as co-founder of boundary-breaking ad agency Droga5. But then Travis Bickle told him to become the CEO of TriBeCa Enterprises, home of the ubiquitous film festival. So why leave arguably the world's most interesting ad agency? Well, to begin with, according to Mr. Essex: "Advertising Is Dead." Or at least that's the title of his new book. From New York's media empires to the world's smartest ad agency and now New York's biggest film festival, Andrew Essex has created the best of what you read, what you buy, and now what you watch. Hear him open up, talk about his new boss, and swear a bit.
5/9/2017 • 34 minutes, 32 seconds
Ep. 03 - Ian Schrager
Not many people can claim to have created an icon of popular culture, Ian Schrager can claim two. With his partner Steve Rubell Ian invented the velvet rope at Studio 54, and went on to launch Morgans, the first Boutique Hotel before there was such a thing. And he’s more creative now than he ever was with the global Edition Hotels and his new pet project PUBLIC, which as its names suggests is open to the public with low priced rooms and open spaces. Is this the end of the velvet rope being brought about by its creator?
4/27/2017 • 41 minutes, 58 seconds
Ep. 01 - Jeff Staple
The most influential designer you may never have heard of. Jeff’s Pigeon Dunk collab sneakers with Nike are the second most collectible sneakers of all time. His product launches have caused riots and grand larceny! He is mobbed by each successive young generation of streetwear fans and remains at the top of the influencer tree after more than 20 years in the business. How on earth does he do it while staying young and full of energy?
4/27/2017 • 49 minutes, 48 seconds
Ep. 02 - Laura Brown
Laura Brown has a lot of fun. Just take a look at her Instagram for details. Whether it’s wearing a pink pussy hat to the Washington DC Women’s March or celebrating Italian food with a Choose Pasta tee shirt Laura will tell you exactly what she thinks. From her farm girl Aussie roots Laura has come a long way to being one of the most influential people in New York’s media elite. Along the way she’s interviewed some incredible women from Hilary Clinton to Tyra Banks and beyond her fun loving image she is deeply respected. Here she talks about her convoluted route to the top and what keeps her smiling.