After a whirlwind of live shows across Dublin, Paris and Abu Dhabi, the Tech Powered Luxury live podcast show finally made its way to Galway City, hosted at the vibrant Hyde Bar.
This event celebrated Irish heritage brands and brought together a community of creatives and entrepreneurs under the theme: Building Irish Heritage Brands.
✨Galway’s own Ashley McDonnell, brought the evening to life, leading insightful conversations with some of Ireland’s most exciting brand founders: Aoife McNamara, of her namesake B-Corp certified sustainable fashion brand; Chupi Sweetman of Ireland’s leading fine jewellery brand Chupi; Pádraic Micil of the sixth-generation Micil Distillery; and Charlene Flanagan of Ella & Jo, award-winning Irish skincare brand.
✨The evening didn’t stop at conversations; it also included a showcase of Galway’s finest local brands and retailers: Ór Jewellery, Les Jumelles, Emily Jean Atelier and The Fashion Studio.
This is the debut episode of Season 7 of Tech Powered Luxury, thank you for listening! Stay up to date on our community events, live shows and episode by https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
This week on Tech Powered Luxury, we sit down with the Queen of Brows herself, Kim O’Sullivan. With over 14 years at Giorgio Armani, training under industry legends like Pat McGrath, and now expanding her brand globally, Kim has built an empire rooted in expertise, passion, and an obsession with perfect brows.
Leaving Armani was a bold move driven by her desire for flexibility as a single mother, she took the plunge into entrepreneurship, starting out by renting a chair and building a loyal client base. 💫
Now, she owns Dublin Makeup Academy, has launched BrowAid in over 70 retailers across Ireland, and is expanding internationally. 🌍
With a goal to be the number one go-to brow brand, she’s focused on slow, steady growth, aiming for global reach through big retailers like Sephora and Ulta. 🚀
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Socials and Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
This week, we’re diving into the world of fashion, sculpture, and bespoke bridalwear with Irish designer Lia Cowan. Known for her statement-making designs, worn by none other than Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan, Lia’s journey from sculpture student to art teacher to fashion designer is incredible.
Lia’s fashion journey took an unconventional path - she studied sculpture at NCAD, dreamed of becoming a teacher, and even spent three years teaching art in secondary school before realising something was missing. 👗
A nudge from her fiancé, Max, who gifted her a sewing machine, set her on a new path. From making scrunchies to launching her namesake brand, Lia Cowan, she’s now a rising star in the fashion industry, moving into the bridal space with a bespoke approach. 👰🏽♀️
Her designs, often sculptural and performative, draw inspiration from movement, ballet, and theatrical costume. With a slow fashion model, she creates custom, one-of-a-kind pieces that aim to continue pushing the boundaries of occasionwear. 💫
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Socials and Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
This week, we’re diving into the world of brand building, luxury retail, and international expansion with Silvana Landa, the founder of LANDA and a powerhouse in the fashion industry. From Brown Thomas and L’Oréal to launching her own leather goods brand, Silvana has built a career many aspire to.
Silvana started her career in fashion at Brown Thomas, quickly moving from the shop floor to brand management before joining L’Oréal to lead major luxury brand launches, including Biotherm and Kiehl’s. 🧖🏽♀️
Inspired by her Spanish-Argentinian heritage in leather craftsmanship, Silvana launched LANDA with a vision to blend timeless design with modern functionality, learning invaluable lessons along the way. 👜
From selling prototypes on launch night to securing international distributors, she shares the realities of growing a fashion brand beyond Ireland. 🚀
Travel retail, influencer marketing, and omnichannel strategies—Silvana reveals what she learned from working with top global brands. ⭐️
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Socials and Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Socials and Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
This week, we’re diving into the world of mobile payments, luxury retail, and user experience with Donal McGuiness, the CEO of Prommt. If you’ve ever wondered how tech is shaping the way we shop for high-ticket items or how luxury retailers are making payments seamless for their customers, this episode is a must-listen!
Payments in luxury need to evolve to match the elevated customer experience. Clunky, unbranded payment methods can ruin the luxury journey. 💫
Prommt is revolutionizing payments by offering secure, branded mobile payment solutions that streamline high-ticket transactions via SMS, WhatsApp, and Zoom—making the checkout experience as seamless and premium as the service and customer experience that accompany the products.
Social commerce is reshaping luxury retail. Platforms like WeChat, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok Shop are now powerful sales channels, allowing luxury brands to engage and sell directly to consumers through these platforms.
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Socials and Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
This week’s guest: Anne-Marie Tomchak, journalist, broadcaster, and expert on fashion, sustainability, and AI.
Anne-Marie’s career spans British Vogue, documentary-making, and co-founding ShareJoy, a platform combining storytelling with sustainable fashion.
AI is making an impact on trend forecasting, supply chain management, and even design itself, while sustainability is becoming a critical business pillar.
AI vs. craftsmanship: Will we value artistry, or will speed and scalability win?
Exclusive reward: Win a 30-minute mentorship session with Anne-Marie! Head to our substack to find out more.
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Socials and Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
On February 13th Tech Powered Luxury brought together thought leaders and changemakets in Abu Dhabi to discuss the future of luxury fashion and beauty in Ireland and the Middle East.
We gathered over 300 hundred people at the Ambassador’s Residence in Abu Dhabi for an inspiring evening focused on showcasing Irish design in the Middle East. Hosted by HE Alison Milton, Irish Ambassador to the UAE, in partnership with Tech Powered Luxury, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Into Kildare, the event celebrated Irish creativity on a global stage, highlighting the synergy between Irish design and the Middle Eastern market through thought-provoking discussions and stunning fashion showcases.
Meet Our Expert Panel
Ashley McDonnell moderated a live panel discussion with five leading voices in fashion and beauty who shared their insights, including:
Akash Mehta – CEO & Co-Founder of Fable & Mane, Founder of The Fable Fund
Dr. Shawana Vali – Founder of By Dr. Vali, skincare & beauty innovator
Jamie Ray– Founder of Buttermilk Agency, the community-first creator agency
Rosy Temple– CEO of Magee 1866, driving the future of heritage fashion
Anneliese Duffy – Founder of Fashion ConnectIreland & Designer ofLinen Shirt Company
This diverse panel blended global brand strategy insights with Irish fashion expertise, perfectly complementing the event’s mission to bridge design, innovation, and luxury across markets.
Read more about the event and how we created this concept with a full creative team of Ireland's brightest talents and brandshere.
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
This week, we shine light on Lorraine Keane - broadcaster, entrepreneur and champion for sustainable fashion and social impact. From interviewing A-list celebrities on red carpets to creating impactful charitable initiatives, Lorraine’s story is one of pure passion.
From her early days on AA Roadwatch to becoming a household name through TV3’s Xposé, Lorraine carved a path that took her across the globe - dancing with Bono, singing with Paul Young, and rubbing shoulders with Victoria Beckham.
Pivoting to freelance work allowed Lorraine to create Fashion Relief, a sustainable fashion initiative that has raised over €250,000 for charity while promoting conscious consumption.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
Welcome to Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
FFFACE.ME is leading the way in blending AR and retail by integrating AR mirrors, phygital clothes and virtual try-ons into offline and online shopping experience.
Dmytro shares how his introduction to AR wasn’t exactly love at first sight - but how, over time, he discovered its true potential and developed powerful use cases for the luxury fashion and beauty industries.
Dmytro emphasises the need to adapt marketing strategies to the cultural and psychological needs of the next generation, rather than chasing every new technology trend.
The main takeaway from this episode is that brands need to balance heritage with thoughtful innovation that add value, boost brand awareness, and drive sales.
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to the Season 6 Premiere of Tech Powered Luxury, brought to you with Azure Communications!
For quite some time now, Azure has been our go-to provider for all things print and marketing. If you attended our Live from Paris Fashion Week show in September last year, you would have seen our event magazines featuring all of the designers and creatives who played a part in the event and our beautiful invites - all created by Azure Communications - they know how to elevate events and marketing with a luxury and personalised touch.
If you’re looking for top-tier branded collateral, print services, or marketing support, look no further because Azure Communications can take care of all of it.
You can visit them at www.azurecomm.ie or follow them on Instagram at @AzureCommunications.
This week, we’re excited to present an exclusive interview with Zeda the Architect, former Fashion Editor at Stellar. From visual enthusiast to fashion stylist, creative director, photographer, and producer, she does it all - and she excels at every turn.
Zeda the Architect takes us on a journey through how she navigated the challenges of building a career in Ireland’s fashion industry to become a trailblazer in the field.
With relentless determination, Zeda pitched dozens of mood boards to fashion magazines, landing her first major project celebrating diversity in Irish fashion, which opened doors and eventually led her to become Fashion Editor at Stellar.
Zeda is now a prominent voice in Irish fashion and dreams of creating a space where she can share insights and knowledge with upcoming industry professionals.
ABOUT
Season 6 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Laoise O’Connell
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Created by Zeda the Architect, this event was all about celebrating the vital role that Irish stylists play in shaping, promoting, and advancing the fashion industry while connecting it to the broader design community - often seen as the glue that brings the industry together.
The evening consisted of two panel talks, the second moderated by Tech Powered Luxury included Shana Chu, Aoife McNamara, Evan Doherty, Sinead Keenan, Anne O’Shea and Lawson Mpame.
What could possibly bring a CEO, a Director, photographer, stylist, producer and designer together? Of course it would have to be a conversation around fashion - the industry that is not quite yet seen as one in Ireland but that’s finally starting to make an impact. Just yesterday, two of Ireland’s most successful designers - JW Anderson and Simone Rocha - took home two of the biggest prizes at the British Fashion Awards, a testaement to the talent coming from Ireland.
In our Season 5 finale, Sinead Keary reveals how her experience in personal shopping and luxury retail helped her create a digital-first brand, bringing personalization to the online space.
Sinead Keary brings together lessons learned from both Topshop and Brown Thomas to create a digital-first brand that merges premium accessibility with luxury craftsmanship.
Her brand stems from her years of experience in personal shopping, understanding client needs and delivering capsule collections that women can rely on season after season.
Even with roots in traditional retail, Sinead’s focus on online sales and digital strategies allowed her to create a brand that thrives in today’s digital-first landscape.
ABOUT
Season 5 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
This week, we bring you the live podcast episode from our most important event to date: Live from Paris Fashion Week, where we gathered Aoife McNanamara, Una McGurk, Paul Sheeran, Bairbre Power and Shana Chu to discuss how each of them are elevating the Irish fashion ecosystem in all its different forms: from retail to journalism, from beauty and fine jewellery to innovation.
The event took place at the heart of Paris, at the best place to gather an outstanding lineup of Irish speakers: the Embassy of Ireland. Drawing back on the essence of diplomatic union and collaboration, guests were welcomed to a showcase of the best of beauty, fashion, jewelry and spirits Ireland can offer in Paris.
The first room showcased the best of Irish fashion: Aoife McNamara, Colin Burke, Laura Jayne Halton, Kindred of Ireland, The Landskein, Roisin Linnane, The White Era, Tidings, and Ros Duke.
The second room featured a mix of brands with alcoohol-free sparking wine from French Bloom, beautiful lab-grown diamonds from Chupi, and beauty brands Ella & Jo and Seoulista Beauty.
ABOUT
Season 5 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
The delicate powerplay of localized strategies to reach the Chinese consumer anywhere, at anytime.
The pandemic drastically shifted how Chinese consumers interacted with luxury brands, and the impact of these changes is still being felt. While many brands thrived by focusing on local markets, the return of international travel presents both a challenge and an opportunity: one-third of Chinese consumers are now spending more on luxury goods outside of China.
For luxury brands, this means ensuring they can connect with Chinese consumers whether they’re shopping in Shanghai or Paris. But achieving this involves more than just having a presence in multiple markets—it demands a deep understanding of China’s digital ecosystem and how, in consequence, consumer behavior has evolved the expectation surrounding the luxury experience, “The Chinese luxury consumer has gotten used to the speed, convenience, and rewards of the Chinese digital ecosystem,” explains Jacques.
To remain competitive, brands must adapt their digital and operational strategies both locally and internationally, ensuring that Chinese consumers receive the same high-level service globally.
ABOUT
Season 5 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Hannah Attalah’s journey with Oceanus began with her love for fashion and hand-embroidery. After studying at the London College of Fashion and working with big names like Donna Karan and Jenny Packham, Hannah realized her true passion lays in textiles and elaborate designs. Her work with the intricacies of evening wear and the management of different hand-beading techniques ultimately led her to founding Oceanus, where she could express her love for color, texture, and craftsmanship.
Hannah Attalah is the founder of Oceanus, a London-based luxury brand that is renowned for its intricate hand-embellished swimwear and bold designs inspired by the founder’s love of fashion and textiles.
Oceanus stands out for its distinctive use of hand-beading, sustainable fabrics, and vibrant colors. The brand has achieved international recognition, being featured from the beginning in top retailers like Neiman Marcus and Revolve, while also boasting a strong celebrity following.
The growing demand for luxury swimwear, driven by sustainability, experiential luxury, and social media influence, is consolidating swimwear into a statement of status, with the market projected to reach $30.8 billion by 2032.
ABOUT
Season 5 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
Welcome to our Season 5 premier of Tech Powered Luxury! Get ready for our first episode to be recorded live from Selfridge's in London with the incredible Dr Vali.
Dr. Vali is a leading figure in luxury wellness, known for her innovative approach that combines extensive medical expertise with cutting-edge biohacking techniques. What glues it all together? Her integrity.
Biohacking is the practice of making lifestyle changes to enhance health and performance, ranging from simple diet modifications to advanced medical techniques. The global biohacking market is growing rapidly, reflecting a rising consumer demand for personalized wellness solutions.
Luxury brands like La Mer are already exploring this space by offering exclusive wellness experiences for their top clients. These activations not only enhance customer loyalty but also significantly increase sales, creating new opportunities for luxury brands to expand their reach into wellness.
Our Community Rewards this week are brought to you by the Iconic Offices, keep reading to find out what we’ve got for you!
ABOUT
Season 5 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you by luxury and tech entrepreneur Ashley McDonnell. With 10 years of experience working at the crossroads of luxury and technology, Ashley carved out a career across Paris, Dublin and Geneva, working at LVMH, Dior, Google and luxury group PUIG. The podcast is also taught as a module at leading business and design schools around the world, with the goal to share insightful and actionable stories and experience from industry leaders.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Videography: Ben O’Neill and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch, Grace Slattery and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
This week, we are thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with Lauren Arthurs, the Irish influencer who has created her own app to solve what most influencers and content creators struggle with: the lack of a one-stop solution to edit and manage content.
Lauren Arthurs is a fashion and lifestyle influencer from Ireland who started her career with a blog in 2012, and just recently launched her own app, LA Edit, to solve all the inefficiencies related to content creation.
We explore the work routine and the behind the scenes of an influencer and how to organize yourself to create content, from sourcing inspiration all the way to managing your organic content around branded ad campaigns.
Brand partnerships 101: from finding the right match to understanding when brand partnership are successful, Lauren stresses the importance of authenticity and consistency to keep audiences engaged and ensure coherence in your online presence.
ABOUT
Season 4 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you in partnership with Seoulista Beauty, a cryo-powered skincare brand, as well as our sponsors, Sinead Keary the Label and Digital Luxury Group.
LISTENER BENEFITS
Tech Powered Luxury listeners benefit from a 20% discount on https://seoulistabeauty.com/ and https://sineadkeary.com/ with the code TPL20, as well as a complementary perspective on building your brands strategy for China with Digital Luxury Group. Email hello@digital-luxury.com to organise your consultation.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Partnerships: Cliona Jordan
Videography: Ben O’Neill, Christos Celniku and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Social Media Management: Grace Slattery
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
The core reason behind Nutbutter was creating a healthy lifestyle that combined efficient operations, great design and a better quality of work (and life balance) to everyone involved. Their founding values? Work smarter, not harder.
Drawing from Paddy Hogan’s experiences with Lewis Hamilton, we explore the dynamic intersection of fashion and Formula 1. In recent years, these two worlds have increasingly merged, showcasing how luxury and high-performance racing influence and inspire each other.
The common denominator between Paddy Hogan, Formula 1, Fashion and Luxury? Lewis Hamilton.
He coached Paddy Hogan for a Renault Championship just after having won it himself the year prior, and instilled in Nutbutter’s founder the essential soft skills that define a winning crew, “he just had that championship mindset”, says Paddy.
Formula 1 isn't just about racing; it's a dynamic blend of luxury, fashion, and cutting-edge technology. The world of Formula 1 has always attracted high-end brands and designers, drawn by the sport's inherent glamour and global reach. From the sleek designs of the cars to the personal style of the drivers, fashion started to play a crucial role in the identity of Formula 1.
ABOUT
Season 4 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you in partnership with Seoulista Beauty, a cryo-powered skincare brand, as well as our sponsors, Sinead Keary the Label and Digital Luxury Group.
LISTENER BENEFITS
Tech Powered Luxury listeners benefit from a 20% discount on https://seoulistabeauty.com/ and https://sineadkeary.com/ with the code TPL20, as well as a complementary perspective on building your brands strategy for China with Digital Luxury Group. Email hello@digital-luxury.com to organise your consultation.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Partnerships: Cliona Jordan
Videography: Ben O’Neill, Christos Celniku and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Social Media Management: Grace Slattery
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
This week we explore the role of education in the sweet spot of where technology meets fashion: how to foster experiential learning to educate the upcoming generation of fashion leaders.
Matthew Drinkwater is at the forefront of the Fashion Innovation Agency (FIA) at the London College of Fashion (LCF), driving the integration of technology and fashion education.
The FIA acts as a bridge between the fashion industry and emerging tech, promoting experiential learning by allowing students to work hands-on with AI, AR, VR, and other emerging technologies. Fostering innovation in education is crucial for developing creative problem-solvers who can push the boundaries of traditional fashion practices.
One of the roles of education is defining the applications of tech in fashion, and creating a space where conversations can happen openly, where boundaries, ethics and best-practices are discussed and implemented through trial and error, creating a blueprint for future professionals.
ABOUT
Season 4 of Tech Powered Luxury is brought to you in partnership with Seoulista Beauty, a cryo-powered skincare brand, as well as our sponsors, Sinead Keary the Label and Digital Luxury Group.
LISTENER BENEFITS
Tech Powered Luxury listeners benefit from a 20% discount on https://seoulistabeauty.com/ and https://sineadkeary.com/ with the code TPL20, as well as a complementary perspective on building your brands strategy for China with Digital Luxury Group. Email hello@digital-luxury.com to organise your consultation.
NEWSLETTER & COMMUNITY REWARDS
Each week, we bring a dedicated newsletter as well as Community Rewards to Tech Powered Luxury listeners. Subscribe to our substack to have full access: https://techpoweredluxury.substack.com/
THE TECH POWERED LUXURY TEAM
Producer & Host: Ashley McDonnell
Partnerships: Cliona Jordan
Videography: Ben O’Neill, Christos Celniku and Morgan Prudhomme
Photography: Anastasiia Redko, Anastasiia Lopushynska and Madeline Gillespie
Production Assistants: Abigail Herbert, Gemma Brennan, Tessa Haughton Lynch and Klaudia Skierska
Newsletter: Beatriz Barros
Styling: Johanna Dooley
Styling Assistants: Cian Crowe and Alison Murphy
Social Media Management: Grace Slattery
Public Relations: Align Agency
Content Creation: Kinsman & Co
