In this episode of WonderWorkers focused on fashion changemakers, I am with Stacia Bedford!! She is the course leader and head coach of the MA in Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation where she coaches and trains future fashion leaders through launching and scaling their start-ups in fashion, tech and creative industries at the London College of Fashion.

With an international, industry-broad network and more than 15 years of marketing, fashion design, retail and management experience, Stacia specializes in entrepreneurship, coaching, leadership, team building, fashion and marketing.

From her dream of becoming the next Meryl Strip to working at Universal Music to selling vintage clothing and jewelry to building a first-of-its-kind online customisable bridal brand, wedding dress design tool and marketplace, Stacia is a “jack of all trades” and has probably the squiggliest career I have ever seen and that’s exactly why it makes her an incredible leader and entrepreneur.

In this episode, we talk about:

👉 Her dream of becoming an actress In Los Angeles

👉 Her first day in NYC… was 9/11

👉 ”Stacia Studio” ad her first step into entrepreneurship

👉 How she went back to university at the age of 30…

👉 …And met two people who will change her life

👉 How she built the first ever online customisable bridal brand

👉 Why she shut down the business

👉 How to manage the co-founder relationship

👉 Her new role as Head Coach at the London College of Fashion

👉 Her superpower: the phoenix rising from the ashes

To learn more about behind the scene of the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wearewonderworkers

To find out more about Stacia Bedford:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/staciabedford/

https://www.instagram.com/staciabedford/

To follow my journey:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurawarnod/

https://www.instagram.com/laura_warnod/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of WonderWorkers focused on fashion changemakers, I am with Lydia Bolton, a sustainability creator and slow fashion designer who boldly launched her eponymous brand back in 2019. Fueled by her passion for reducing waste, she utilises surplus materials, vintage finds, and discarded fabrics to craft cute women’s fashion and home goods that don’t cost the planet.

In the past year, she has been empowering her community with hands-on upcycling workshops, offering invaluable skills to tackle the landfill crisis head-on. She’s a true advocate for the idea that with a dash of creativity and the right skills, we can transform each piece of clothing into a cherished wardrobe essential that stands the test of time. In 2022, she fronted a series of workshops for Nike’s flagship UK store, where she taught members how to turn defective stock into a unique item.

Lydia’s journey is a testament to true grit and tenacity. Her creations are in such high demand that everyone wants a piece of her magic. It’s rare to see a business owner so deeply connected to their values. Lydia’s devotion to sustainability seems to run in her veins, likely a result of growing up in an eco-conscious household with an eco-warrior mom. Yet, it hasn’t been a smooth ride. She hustled with two jobs for years, toiling in a pub at night and taking on an unpaid internship by day, all in pursuit of building the experience needed to secure a paying job. And when she finally did, she had the courage to leave it behind and launch her own brand.

Lydia’s story is a powerful reminder of how combining hard work with fearless determination can propel you closer to the person you aspire to be. If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or business owner seeking motivation or struggling with fear and inertia, Lydia’s journey is a must-listen!

In this episode, we talk about:

👉 Her childhood growing up in an eco-conscious household

👉 What it means to align your personal values with your brand…

👉 ...And how you stick up to it!

👉 Her experience of being a solo female entrepreneur in fashion and being both the creative and the business mind

👉 The relentless pursuit and reality of getting a paid job in the fashion industry

👉 How do you deal with building a strong value-led brand with slow growth while being a profitable business

👉 How you can only grow if you get out of your comfort and do something that scares you

👉 The superpower of hard-working

To learn more about behind the scenes of the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wearewonderworkers

To find out more about Lydia Bolton:

https://www.instagram.com/lydiabolton_/

https://www.lydiabolton.co.uk/

To follow my journey:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurawarnod/

https://www.instagram.com/laura_warnod/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of WonderWorkers focused on fashion changemakers, I am with Bianca Rangecroft, the founder and CEOs of Whering, the fashtech app that allows you to digitise your wardrobe, see and style everything you own. She believes the future of retail is circular - Whering therefore aims to empower conscious consumers to utilise their spending power for good. She’s all about promoting a culture of caring for your clothes.

Bianca is an ex-Goldman Sachs banker turned circular fashion activist. Now a fashion tech entrepreneur, Bianca is the founder and CEO of Whering. Since launching in Jan 2022 the app has expanded organically at a rapid pace taking the gen z market by storm and now has over two million users. Her work has been featured in many leading publications like Vogue, British Vogue, Glamour, Harper's Bazaar, Dragon’s Den, BBC radio and many more.

She’s received awards like Drapers 30 under 30, WOTC award, EU Top 50 Founders, Most Disruptive Tech Award from UNLEASH etc. and shortlisted for Drapers Tech Innovator of the year, Women Of the City Award, We are Tech, Elle x Bossbabe finalist and the Pitch UK.

Bianca embodies the ideal expression of feminine power needed in today’s leadership. Her blend of kindness and genuine warmth, coupled with unwavering dedication, cleverness and an impact-driven mindset, makes her a true guiding presence. The wisdom, clarity, and quiet strength she conveys is truly mesmerising. It almost felt like talking to a big sister, someone with whom I share profound similarities in our personal narratives. Our conversations span the spectrum, touching on childhood responsibilities, navigating multiple identities, delving into the intricacies of a finance career, and exploring the multifaceted roles of being a fashion founder, leader, and woman.

In this episode, we talk about:

👉 Her experience of being a carer from a very young age

👉 How her career in Finance helped her be a fashion founder: saw equity story as wardrobe composition

👉 How entrepreneurship is really about two things

👉 Her experience at Dragon’s Den

👉 How do you show up as a Founder, Leader and Woman of a start-up

👉 How founders' passion can lead to toxic culture and the 4 days work week

👉 How can you increase your self-belief

👉 The superpower of being able to sell, sway and convince

To learn more about behind the scene of the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wearewonderworkers

To find out more about Bianca Rangecroft:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangecroftbianca/

https://www.instagram.com/biancarangecroft/?hl=fr

To find out more about Whering:

https://www.instagram.com/whering__/?hl=fr

https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearewhering/

To follow my journey:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurawarnod/

https://www.instagram.com/laura_warnod/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.