In this episode, I sit down with my friend Isabella, co-founder of Kiki & Isa, a children’s clothing brand built from friendship and a shared love of fashion. We talk about how the brand started, what the “Made in Italy” label really means today, and the challenges small brands face in a world of fast fashion (pronto moda). Isa shares what goes into her design process, why comfort and personalization matter so much in kids’ clothing, and how sustainability plays a role in everything they create.

We also get into the surprising impact of Chinese entrepreneurs in the Italian fashion industry, plus some first-hand stories from shopping together in Milan.

Of course, since this is Trivia Tangents, I put Isa’s historical fashion knowledge to the test. We talk about how buttons were once a major status symbol in medieval Florence, which led to something called sumptuary laws — and how people even found creative loopholes, like paying a kind of “frivolity tax” to wear whatever they wanted.

We wrap up by comparing the challenges of fast fashion with more mindful ways to shop, including buying pre-loved clothing — like in Italy, where apps like Vinted are widely used. It’s a fun mix of fashion, history, and real talk with one of my favorite people.

You can find Kiki & Isa here:

• https://kikieisa.it/

• @kikiandisalab

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