As we close out 2024, this year's final episode is joined by Yoobin Jung, a VC at Plug and Play, where she along with our host Peter break down the fashion tech booms and busts that happened throughout the year. They discuss: • AI's transformative impact on fashion design: Generative design tools are accelerating prototyping and reshaping brand identities, but raise ethical concerns about potentially replacing junior designers. • The sustainability challenge: AI could help align production with demand, potentially addressing the persistent issue of overproduction in the fashion industry. • Luxury brands and AI adoption: High-end fashion houses are cautiously approaching AI, grappling with complexities of clothing structures and concerns about AI-driven overconsumption. • Recommendation algorithms: Effectiveness varies between Europe and South Korea, prompting questions about enhancing consumer experiences versus fuelling overconsumption. • Regulatory landscape: EU policies like Extended Producer Responsibility aim to promote circularity, yet industry readiness is questionable, as evidenced by Renewcell's bankruptcy. • Future of luxury e-commerce: The resale market is gaining prominence, with potential lessons from South Korea's Kakao platform on integrating digital and physical retail experiences. Contact Yoobin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yoobinjung Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

We wrap up our 'Build It' podcast series with a reflective finale. Host Peter Jeun Ho Tsang tell us his top 5 key takeaways from navigating business growth, how to get through challenging times as a fashion tech startup, through to tech and humans coming together. This episode highlights the passionate voices featured throughout the series and how the call for a strategic collaboration between brands, investors, and innovators to not only sustain emerging technologies but to also foster their growth. This episode isn't just a summary; it's a map charting the path forward in the fashion tech realm. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn. Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Setting Up a Fashion Store in the 90s: Today's episode we're with Afsal Koya, CEO of Raza Clothing which is a fashion store and label in the USA that uses AIMIRR's virtual try-on technology. Afsal's transformation from a computer scientist to a streetwear brand founder is an unusual one. We hear his journey that started in a small Ohio store back in 1992, Afsal shares how he navigated the evolving landscape of fashion trends to launch his own brand, emphasising the importance of learning and teamwork in driving retail innovation. AIMIRR and Virtual Try-On: AIMIRR's AI-powered magic mirror is currently installed at Castleton Square Mall, Indiana and we hear how Afsal worked with AIMIRR CEO Pritesh Kanani to get the technology up and running. This episode unpacks the insights collected to date, in particular how it's been a hit with the younger crowd and how the seamless AR shopping experience has boosted the store's foot traffic. Does that mean in-store VTO technology is ripe for mass adoption? Find out about Raza Clothing: razaclothingstore.com Find out about AIMIRR's technology: aimirr.com Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Fashion's Fit Dilemma: Today's episode features fashion garment technologist and fit expert Katy Schildmeyer. As online shopping increases, the challenge of ensuring accurate garment fit remains ever-present. Katy and Peter Jeun Ho discuss the pressing need for enhanced fashion education, particularly in the communication of fit and the creation of garments that cater to all body types, including the aging population. They reflect on the historical transformation from shopping experiences of the 90s, to the rising return rates in online retail today which can be more than 30% for some fashion brands. Ensuring Data Integrity to Find the Fit Truth: The interview examines the integration of AI into fashion tech. Accurate data is crucial, and Katy emphasises the importance of truthful data in training AI models to avoid misguided innovations. We spotlight industry leaders like COS, Tapestry, and Japanese denim companies, commending their practices towards better fitting products. But how does one find the truth in fit? Find out in this episode. Connect with Katy: linkedin.com/in/katherineschildmeyer Katy features Beyond Form startup AIMIRR in her research: aimirr.com Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

What Failing in Fashion Looks Like: We welcome back Beatrice Newman, Head of Education at Beyond Form, where we discuss what it means to fail in fashion, what failure looks like, lessons that can be learned, and why it's still a taboo subject. Beatrice shares her personal failures whilst building her brand, Korlekie, from mis-understanding the customer to financing a commercial collection. Lessons Learned Whilst Failing: From funding challenges to the art of effective go-to-market strategies, we dive into the realities, challenges, and fails that fashion startups often face. Reflecting on Beatrice's experience, we underscore the importance of learning from missteps to better define one's brand identity and carve a sustainable path forward. We redefine failure not as an end, but as a stepping stone to growth. Connect with Beatrice: linkedin.com/in/korlekie Find out more about Beyond Form Education: beyondform.io/education/overview Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

MODE Pivots into Beyond Form Education: Beatrice Newman, the creative force behind online fashion education platform Mode, chats in this episode what it means to pivot a fashion business. Exclusively on today's episode she reveals the launch of Beyond Form Education, a groundbreaking initiative bridging the gap between academia and the fashion industry. Data-Driven Pivoting in the Fashion Industry: We discuss how data-driven decisions and user feedback are revolutionising fashion education in a post-pandemic world. As the desire for in-person experiences resurges, Peter and Beatrice share insights on creating a global learning canvas that spans entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and design. Episode highlights: The power of adaptability in reshaping fashion education. Leveraging data and feedback for pivotal business decisions. Bridging the academia-industry gap in the fashion world. The importance of a supportive team and continuous learning. Exploring diverse opportunities beyond traditional fashion roles. Learn about Beyond Form Education: beyondform.io/education Connect with Beatrice: linkedin.com/in/korlekie Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Inheriting a traditional fashion factory in Pakistan: Raised amidst the rich tapestry of a family-owned garment production business, Shahid Butt now helms his father's empire Shahkam Industries in Lahore, Pakistan. This episode offers a unique perspective on the balancing act between maintaining cultural heritage and embracing the cutting-edge transformations shaping the garment industry today. Shahid challenges preconceived notions of Pakistani manufacturers and invites listeners to reconsider the opportunities in partnering with local manufacturers. Digitising a factory: Shahid discussed with Peter the complexities of managing a vertically integrated knitwear operation, a challenge compounded by external factors like fluctuating taxes and environmental limitations. He shares his insights on transitioning from instinctual decision-making to data-driven strategies, revealing the pivotal role of AI and technology in modernising Shahkam Industries. We explore the pressures and privileges of inheriting a family business, as well as running the group's private label One Retail, and Shahid's vision for preparing it for future generations with advanced technological integration. Find out more about Shackham Industries: www.shahkam.com Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

From Mumbai to Microsoft to Body Sizing: Today's episode feature's Pritesh Kanani, founder & CEO of AIMIRR. From his early days in Mumbai to steering technological advancements at Microsoft, we hear Pritesh's journey to developing virtual try-on solution. Initially kickstarted by his mother's wish to see his future wife in a wedding dress remotely, the solution came to life that is now deployed by fashion retailers online and offline around the world. Patenting the AI-Powered Body Scanning Software: Pritesh reveals the intricacies of the U.S. patenting process and how their patented sizing algorithm is set to redefine virtual try-on solutions with its ability to produce results with a 99% accuracy. Pritesh is so confident in fact that his solution can reduce online returns by 40% and increase average order values by 20%. Listen to this episode to hear what makes him so confident. Learn more about AIMIRR: aimirr.com Get in contact with Pritesh on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/priteshkanani Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Launderd's Fundraising Journey: 12 months on since we heard how Chelsea Van De Kamp, founder of Launderd, planned to launch her fashion repair and restoration platform, she's now back on the show but this time with all guns blazing as she begins her fundraising journey. Chelsea shares why fundraising now is the right time for the company and her strategies for using storytelling to captivate investors. Her candid reflections on Launderd's progress offer a compelling look into the evolving landscape for women in entrepreneurship. Hear Chelsea's original fundraising pitch to investors. Lessons Learned from Investors: Mastering the art of pitching to investors is not easy. Something Chelsea reveals that she underestimated. Especially pitching to traditional investors and the unique hurdles she faces in a male-dominated venture capital landscape. She shares tactics for aligning her presentations with investor priorities like scalability and ROI, her experiences in various pitching formats, from speed dating events to formal meetings, and the growing support for female founders in the investment world. If you're looking to fundraise on the west coast of USA, this episode is for you! Check out Launderd: launderd.com Connect with Chelsea and hear her new investor pitch: linkedin.com/in/chelseacolecompass Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

The Financial Scam: Have you ever found yourself tangled in a financial scam, when all you were trying to do was fuel your entrepreneurial dreams? Brian Yurachek, the founder and CEO of New York Culture Club, reveals his own unfortunate experience with an advance fee scam during his quest for a business loan to finance his fashion tech startup. We unravel the emotional turmoil that Brian endured and the resilience he had to muster up to get through it, a cautionary tale underscoring how startups, particularly those without substantial credit histories, are vulnerable to scams. Financing Fashion Tech: We explore the delicate balance between equity fundraising and debt financing, with insights into how emerging technologies like blockchain and NFTs are reshaping fundraising landscapes. In the previous episode we heard how Brian's passion is fuelling the build of his fashion IoT solution, but that passion overrode his vigilance. In a world where scams lurk around every corner, Brian's experience is a potent reminder of the need for thorough verification before parting with money. We discuss practical strategies to safeguard your business, such as cross-checking information and maintaining direct communication with financial institutions. Our chat also highlights the significance of prioritising product development over securing finance prematurely. Find out more about NYCC: nycultureclub.com/ Connect with Brian: linkedin.com/in/brianyurachek Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

From Wall Street to Fashion Tech: What happens when a Wall Street finance pro decides to revolutionise the fashion industry? Join us as we chat with Brian Yurachek, the CEO of New York Culture Club, who ditched the stock exchange for the fashion industry. His journey is not just a career pivot, but a demonstration of how most entrepreneurs find their internal power of creativity and courage to step outside their comfort zone and build something they're passionate about. In this case for Brian fashion IoT. We talk practical strategies for navigating startup challenges, emphasising the importance of prioritising tasks and focusing on build activities that drive growth. Culture is Code: Brian's mantra: culture is code. New York Culture Club is pushing the boundaries of digital rights management by embedding microchips in fashion items to offer unprecedented transparency and storytelling. This episode explores the idea of turning consumers into "prosumers" who co-create with brands, adding layers of value and authenticity to their purchases. Brian shares his insights on how culture is becoming a new currency for self-expression, challenging the status quo and inviting us all to contribute to this cultural renaissance. In essence he believes by building fashion IoT solutions it'll shake up fashion's traditional landscape. Find out more about NYCC: nycultureclub.com/ Connect with Brian: linkedin.com/in/brianyurachek Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Producing Knitwear in Karachi: Today's episode takes us to knitwear manufacturing straight from Karachi with Ahmed Altaf, CEO of AM Group, who shares his invaluable journey from academics to leading a family-run knitwear facility. Gain insights into what life is like in Pakistan's largest city and learn why Pakistan is a critical player in the global apparel market. Ahmed debunks common myths about working with knitwear manufacturers and highlights the benefits of a vertically integrated factory setup. Transforming Outdated Processes: The adoption of the WiMetrix system, sparked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, has revolutionised transparency and efficiency in AM's operations. For Ahmed, driving the shift towards a data-driven approach, redefining quality control, and setting new standards in the industry is what will keep his factory and his industry alive. Counting behemoths like Walmart as their clients, and receiving the Responsible Sourcing Certificate from the retailer, sheds light on the expectations and demands that brands are making on Pakistani fashion manufacturers. But is it working? Find out in this episode. Find out more about AM Group: am-group.com.pk Connected with Ahmed on LinkedIn. Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

We're back with a brand new series 'Build It', digging deep into how fashion tech startups are building their companies from the ground up. Join Peter as he sits down with Abdul Moiz Sajjad, CEO of WeMetrix, to explore how data can change the way fashion factories can be infinitely more efficient. Abdul shares invaluable insights into how AI solutions like his are reshaping one of Pakistan's most vital economic sectors, textiles and garments, which contributes a massive 59.5% to the nation's exports. In this episode, we learn the inefficiencies plaguing the fashion supply chains and how it's impacting wider global issues such as sustainability and ethics. Abdul emphasises the importance of reimagining processes rather than sticking to incremental changes, and why real-time factory analytics is a must for factories of the future. Discover WiMetrix's solution at wimetrix.com Get in contact with Abdul on LinkedIn . Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Wrap Up with 5 Key Fashion Tech Takeaways We wrap up our 'Applied' podcast series with a reflective finale. Host Peter Jeun Ho Tsang tell us his top 5 key takeaways from navigating business growth, how to get through challenging times as a fashion tech startup, through to tech and humans coming together. This episode highlights the passionate voices featured throughout the series and how the call for a strategic collaboration between brands, investors, and innovators to not only sustain emerging technologies but to also foster their growth. This episode isn't just a summary; it's a map charting the path forward in the fashion tech realm. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn. *EXCLUSIVE OFFER* -20% discount for podcast listeners on the printed or ebook of Fashion Tech Applied. Purchase your copy at Springer here using the discount code*: 08cWPRlx1J7prE *Offer ends end June 2024 Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…

Why Agricultural Waste? Shikha Shah, with her rare blend of scientific expertise and compassionate leadership, tells us her transition from consultancy to building biorefineries to turn plant waste into textiles usable for the fashion and beyond. Coming to the realisation that if there's enough food in the world, then there's also enough waste in the world that can be reusable in some way. For Shikha after several years of research cracked the scientific formula that enables plant matter to be broken down and then transformed into fibre like structures. Biorefineries, Material Innovations, and Patience However, science is not enough and it's about understanding the perseverance, patience, and funding required to navigate the complex fashion supply chain and material innovation landscape. Deploying biorefineries takes time and a lot of money. The keyword here is patience, and Shikha pulls apart what fashion brands must be doing in order to support material innovators in the longer term. Beyond commercial issues, Shikha is integrating integrating kindness into the core of business, a principle that she believes is especially transformative for fashion tech entrepreneurship. Shikha and AltMat are featured in chapter 3 of the book Fashion Tech Applied. Check it out. Connect with Shikha on LinkedIn. Check out AltMat. *EXCLUSIVE OFFER* -20% discount for podcast listeners on the printed or ebook of Fashion Tech Applied. Purchase your copy at Springer here using the discount code*: 08cWPRlx1J7prE *Offer ends end June 2024 Send us a text Support the show -------- The show is recorded from Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform. We build, invest, and educate fashion tech entrepreneurs and startups. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know if you’d like to hear a certain topic. Email us at podcast@beyondform.io . If you’re an entrepreneur or fashion tech startup looking for studio support, check out our website: beyondform.io…