The Art of the Brand

How Backlash Turned Into a Billion-Dollar Brand Play ft. Isabella Chams

People hated her pricing, attacked her brand, and tried to tear it down-- little did they know they were helping build the #1 beauty brand in Colombia. In this episode, Camille sits down with Isabella Chams, founder of Belah Beauty, the leading beauty brand in Colombia. Together, they unpack the unintended benefits of backlash and controversy, and how relentless standards turned a two-year-old Colombian beauty brand into a cultural obsession. They break down why Isabella refused to be “just an influencer,” how world-building and community replaced traditional marketing, why controversy can accelerate trust instead of destroy it, and what most founders get wrong about pricing, launches, and public opinion. This episode is a masterclass in building a meaningful brand that breaks through.

Why Influencers, AI & Brands Are Colliding in 2026

In this episode, Camille and Phillip unpack the shifts shaping branding in 2026: the collision of influencers and ownership, AI’s growing impact on creativity and speed, why luxury and fashion brands are pushing back on influencer entitlement, and how “well-done but unmemorable” has become the industry’s biggest problem. They break down creator power, parasocial relationships, monoculture’s collapse, viral moments without velocity, and why strategy, not trends, will separate the brands that win from the ones that disappear. This is a candid, high-level conversation about attention, authority, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts this year

132: TV Is Over. TikTok Is the Store. Brands Need to Adapt Fast

This week, we break down the brand and media power shift that’s happening in real time — and why legacy players are losing ground fast. We unpack why Lululemon feels increasingly irrelevant, how TikTok Shop is now outperforming Sephora and Ulta combined, and why creators with equity (not ad deals) are becoming the most powerful distribution channel in the market. We also dive into the collapse of traditional TV as Instagram launches on smart TVs, YouTube takes over the Oscars, and Netflix moves into podcast-driven sports culture. Plus: heritage branding’s unexpected comeback, why gorp-core is becoming luxury, what brands can learn from Trump’s media strategy (whether you like it or not), and why rewarding your core audience matters more than chasing mass appeal. If you’re a founder, brand builder, or operator trying to understand where attention, influence, and revenue are actually moving — this episode is required listening.

Why Trend Forecasting Is Dead

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip unpack why traditional authority in branding is collapsing — from Pantone’s fading relevance to corporations losing control of culture in the age of AI. They explore how trends now emerge from crowds instead of experts, why brands like Lululemon lose identity as they scale, and how nostalgia, heritage, and emotional storytelling are outperforming innovation. The episode also breaks down AI’s growing role in commerce, the rise of fake content and outrage cycles, and what Christmas advertising still teaches us about meaning, memory, and human connection. This is a candid conversation about why brands that chase growth, safety, or automation without soul inevitably lose relevance — and what it now takes to earn trust in a hyper-accelerated world.

The New Rules of Branding: From Chanel to TikTok Live

This week on Art of the Brand, Camille and Phillip unpack one of the biggest shifts happening across luxury, culture, and marketing. From A$AP Rocky becoming Chanel’s newest ambassador to Kim Kardashian reinventing live shopping, they break down why legacy brands are scrambling to stay relevant. They dive into the rise of parasocial relationships, Diet Coke’s genius “fridge cigarette” micro-script, the ethics of “Pick Your Baby” advertising, Justin Bieber’s attempted brand comeback, and the collapse of major advertising agencies in the age of AI. It’s a sharp, modern look at what it now takes to capture attention — and why risk, clarity, and creativity matter more than ever.