Loose Threads Inside The New Consumer Economy

#55. Oui Shave is a direct-to-consumer shaving brand for women. We talk with Founder Karen Young who started the company after she grew tired of using products built for men. Notably, Karen started with the product, working to bring the best possible razor to market and engineering the shaving experience for women from the ground up. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#54. Racked covers shopping with a unique lens, taking a consumer perspective on the industry rather than solely focusing on the business side. We talk with Eliza Brooke, a senior writer at Racked, about her career, her favorite and most interesting stories, and where the industry is headed as complexity lingers from every angle. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#53. Mott and Bow injects much-needed value into the denim market. We talk with founder Alejandro Chahin about how he built a direct-to-consumer brand that undercuts traditional wholesale brands on price while delivering better quality. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#52. Peter Manning is a menswear brand for not-so-tall guys. We talk with co-founder Jeff Hansen about building a brand for a specific demographic and long-ignored market. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#51. Strike Gently Co. started with pins and patches and expanded into a growing assortment of soft and hard goods. We talk with founder Charlie Ambler, our very first Loose Threads Podcast guest, about how his company has evolved since 2016. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#50. For the 50th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, Richie Siegel talks with Charlie Giannetti, his former partner at their menswear line, Gioventu, which led to the creation of Loose Threads. Charlie and Richie talk about Gioventu's beginnings, the lessons learned in building the brand, how the original incarnation of Loose Threads sprung out of their work, and what Charlie is working now. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy. Thanks to everyone for listening to the Podcast for the last 50 episodes, and here’s to another 50.

#49. Shoes of Prey sends women their custom designed shoes in two weeks. We talk with co-founder Jodie Fox about how she built a supply chain that customizes shoes at scale—in a world where people don't always know what they want. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#48. MeUndies injects direct-to-consumer fun into a traditional boring category. We talk with founder Jonathan Shokrian about building a subscription company for underwear. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#47. Vrai & Oro pioneers the use of sustainably grown diamonds. We talk with founder Vanessa Stofenmacher about growing a direct-to-consumer brand after seeking out more affordable and ethically transparent fine jewelry. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#46. Parachute brings a new lifestyle to the home. We talk with founder Ariel Kaye about her quest to forge a brand that owns bedding products and the home more broadly. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#45. David Kind focuses on high-quality specs at an honest price. We talk with founder David Barton about narrowing in on a hole in the market for high-end, but still affordable direct-to-consumer glasses, and the limitations of an online-only brand. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#44. Bolt Threads engineers spider silk and other fully-sustainable materials. We talk with co-founder Dan Widmaier about building a biotech company and its potential impact on the apparel industry. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#43. Affirm redefines consumer lending. We talk with co-founder Max Levchin about bringing much-needed transparency to a space that is usually riddled with predatory lenders. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#42. Chubbies brought back short shorts and is now trying to own the weekend. We talk with co-founder Kyle Hency about spiraling a well-known brand from a single product to a newsletter and ever-expanding product assortment built for guys who want to have fun. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#41. Snowe reinvents home essentials at a more affordable price. We talk with co-founder Andres Modak about bringing more simplicity to setting up a home from scratch. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

#40. Swimsuits for All is the first company to focus on swimwear for women of all different sizes. We talk with founder Moshe Laniado about entering a market most companies have ignored, how the internet has affected seasonal businesses and what it’s like to go through an acquisition. The Loose Threads Podcast features in-depth discussions with leaders across the rapidly changing consumer economy.

On the 39th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Jeff Johnson, a co-founder of The Arrivals, an outerwear-focused brand inspired by the form and function of architecture. Jeff founded the brand along with Kal Vepuri, who was an early investor in a range of direct to consumer brands. The Arrivals aesthetic takes strong cues from Jeff’s architecture background, which comes to fruition in the brand’s product, overall aesthetic, and most recently, its retail footprint. We had a great talk about the brand’s founding story, it’s deliberate approach, and where it’s headed as it tackles the offline world. I really enjoyed talking with Jeff about what it’s like building a brand with a specific point of view while balancing accessibility and versatility. People often talk about the power of being specific, but it can also cause harm if it goes too far. The Arrivals’ aesthetic is recognizable—you know their leather jackets when you see them—but

On the 38th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Eric Varady, the founder of Topology Eyewear. Eric founded the company after struggling to find a pair of glasses that worked for him, realizing that stock eyewear no longer cut it. He set out to reinvent the entire manufacturing process in order to make entirely custom eyewear a reality. I was lucky enough to visit their office and factory when I was out in San Francisco and the sophistication and end product was really exciting to see. I find supply chains and manufacturing processes really fascinating, especially when it comes to custom, which has often been little more than a dream for most categories. But Eric and the Topology team meticulously rebuilt the entire experience, which makes custom eyewear a reality. They have a great app where you can try on sizes and colors and shapes, and then order them in two weeks. I would definitely check it out. — Show Notes — Topology Eyewear

On the 37th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Melissa Duren Conner, a partner at JBC, a PR and communications firm helping modern brands tell their stories. Melissa started the firm along with Jennifer Bett, after realizing that a new generation of brands needed a new type of communications approach. JBC works with a diverse slate of companies, some of which have been on the podcast previously, as they figure out how to cultivate influence in a rapidly shifting landscape. It was fun talking with Melissa about the shifting PR landscape and how brands need to navigate it in a time of maximum competition. Standing out is increasingly challenging, but those can that do it have more staying power relative to the old days. This is definitely something to keep an eye on. — Show Notes — JBC http://www.jenniferbett.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9

On the 36th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Alexa Buckley, a co-founder of Margaux, a brand making modern shoes for modern women. Margaux is home to a really interesting made to measure business, as Alexa and her team found that many people were wearing the wrong size shoe. But with made to measure, Margaux is helping women find their right size and then ensuring they can stick with it across all of their styles. Alexa and I had a great talk about the brand’s founding story, how it balances a domestic and international supply chain, and how moving into pop ups has created a whole new channel to the brand to reach customers. I really enjoyed talking with Alexa about Margaux’s approach, which takes the digital DNA of the brand and applies it both online and offline. The move towards specific sizing and customization is also interesting, as this has always been a dream for the industry that is increasingly accessible. — Show Notes