How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fits
Alison Hoenes | women's apparel patternmaker
125 episodes
17 hours ago
How Fitting® is the podcast for slow fashion designers who want to create clothing and grow a business that fits their customer, lifestyle, and values. In biweekly episodes, hear how relatable fashion entrepreneurs (the kind who run their businesses from kitchen tables and cutting tables, not boardroom tables) navigate the fashion industry with integrity and define success based on their own principles.
In each conversation, host Alison Hoenes (a freelance women’s apparel patternmaker) explores the things that all slow fashion business owners experience: the vulnerability of launching something new, the deeply empathetic process of designing clothes that fit a niche market, the challenges of pursuing both financial and environmental sustainability, the late nights of reckoning with your values that make you consider shutting the whole thing down, and the rewarding moments that make it all worth it.
In addition, hear from experienced fashion industry resources that are helping indie designers make a difference and a profit – like low MOQ factories, fashion marketing and business coaches, or sustainable fabric suppliers.
How Fitting® offers validation that you are not alone in your fashion entrepreneurship experience, ideas to try on in your fashion business to create a better fit, and a curious look into how other slow fashion brands are making it work. How fitting is that?
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How Fitting® is the podcast for slow fashion designers who want to create clothing and grow a business that fits their customer, lifestyle, and values. In biweekly episodes, hear how relatable fashion entrepreneurs (the kind who run their businesses from kitchen tables and cutting tables, not boardroom tables) navigate the fashion industry with integrity and define success based on their own principles.
In each conversation, host Alison Hoenes (a freelance women’s apparel patternmaker) explores the things that all slow fashion business owners experience: the vulnerability of launching something new, the deeply empathetic process of designing clothes that fit a niche market, the challenges of pursuing both financial and environmental sustainability, the late nights of reckoning with your values that make you consider shutting the whole thing down, and the rewarding moments that make it all worth it.
In addition, hear from experienced fashion industry resources that are helping indie designers make a difference and a profit – like low MOQ factories, fashion marketing and business coaches, or sustainable fabric suppliers.
How Fitting® offers validation that you are not alone in your fashion entrepreneurship experience, ideas to try on in your fashion business to create a better fit, and a curious look into how other slow fashion brands are making it work. How fitting is that?
The Time And Resilience It Takes To Launch A Fashion Brand with Gabriela Garcia Olivo of Gabriela Michele
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fits
55 minutes 16 seconds
2 weeks ago
The Time And Resilience It Takes To Launch A Fashion Brand with Gabriela Garcia Olivo of Gabriela Michele
We talk about how timeless fashion lets us build sustainable wardrobes. What if the benefits of timelessness weren’t confined to our customers’ closets? Today’s guest, Gabriela Garcia Olivo, found that her timeless designs helped her build a more sustainable business. Her story is one of resilience, refinement, and reflection. In episode 123, she shares her perspective on what it takes and why it is worth it to build a fashion brand.
Gabriela Garcia Olivo is the founder and creative director of Gabriela Michele, a timeless women’s clothing brand inspired by the elegance of 1950s fashion and the captivating spirit of Latin American women. Born from a desire to celebrate feminine sophistication in everyday life, her brand merges vintage glamour with modern craftsmanship. With a commitment to quality, her collections feature natural fabrics, tailored fits, and thoughtful details that invite women to embrace their confidence and femininity.
This episode explores:
Fitting the customer
Why Gabriela does not use herself as the fit model even though she is her target market
The surprising demographic of women who resonate with her brand
The two things that have made the biggest difference in finding her customers and growing the brand
Fitting the lifestyle
How long it took from idea to launch
The aspects of vintage style that Gabriela has carried into her designs
Why Gabriela paused her brand twice since initially launching
What kept Gabriela going when sales were slow and burnout was looming
How Gabriela balances ambition with realistic expectations for her business
Fitting the values
How Gabriela found a factory and patternmaker that she trusts
How timeless style has led to a timeless business
People and resources mentioned in this episode:
Gabriela Michele website
Gabriela Michele Instagram
Gabriela Michele email
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How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fits
How Fitting® is the podcast for slow fashion designers who want to create clothing and grow a business that fits their customer, lifestyle, and values. In biweekly episodes, hear how relatable fashion entrepreneurs (the kind who run their businesses from kitchen tables and cutting tables, not boardroom tables) navigate the fashion industry with integrity and define success based on their own principles.
In each conversation, host Alison Hoenes (a freelance women’s apparel patternmaker) explores the things that all slow fashion business owners experience: the vulnerability of launching something new, the deeply empathetic process of designing clothes that fit a niche market, the challenges of pursuing both financial and environmental sustainability, the late nights of reckoning with your values that make you consider shutting the whole thing down, and the rewarding moments that make it all worth it.
In addition, hear from experienced fashion industry resources that are helping indie designers make a difference and a profit – like low MOQ factories, fashion marketing and business coaches, or sustainable fabric suppliers.
How Fitting® offers validation that you are not alone in your fashion entrepreneurship experience, ideas to try on in your fashion business to create a better fit, and a curious look into how other slow fashion brands are making it work. How fitting is that?
