What I Look For Before I Say Yes to a Factory

Episode 39 – Cynthia Kim • Love Classic | How a Niche Product Becomes a Brand Foundation

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Cynthia Kim, Founder of Love Classic, about what it really takes to build a niche fashion brand from a single product — and grow it with intention. Cynthia started with thigh-high socks. Not randomly — but because she understood the product from the inside out: the fiber, the construction, the feel. That foundation is now informing how she approaches her first clothing line, launching in capsule collections this August. What stands out in this conversation is how Cynthia thinks about quality and timing — how she navigated COVID’s disruption, rebuilt her supply chain, and made the deliberate decision to expand only once the foundation was stable again. We explore: * How a passion for athletic socks — hiking, snowboarding — became a full fashion brand * The product development process behind something as specific as thigh-high socks: trend research, fiber selection, factory communication, and wear testing * What’s different operationally when you move from socks to clothing — and why fit is where most of the complexity lives * How Cynthia is using AI today (for SEO, captions, and marketing research) and what she wishes she could automate * The messy reality of running everything solo — and the vision of tying all those small tasks into something coherent Behind every product that looks effortless at launch is years of trial, fiber research, and starting over — and that discipline is what makes the difference between a good product and a brand that lasts. ✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ Guest & Brand: 👤 Cynthia Kim — Love Classic 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveclassic_com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loveclassic/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com [https://clairelysbastienwald.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why I Moved to Dubai — When Paris Was the Plan

For a long time, Paris was the plan. It made sense on paper. Fashion capital. Creative energy. The city that shaped so much of what I thought I knew about this industry. But life has a way of offering you something better than the plan you had. Dubai was not what I expected to choose. And then, it chose me — and everything shifted. Not because Dubai is more glamorous, But because it asked something different of me. It asked me to build from a different foundation. To think about fashion, about business, about what I actually wanted to create — without the weight of expectation that comes with a city that already has a very clear idea of what fashion should look like. Paris is extraordinary. And this week, as the industry gathers there for Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2026, the pull of that city is impossible to ignore. But home, right now, is Dubai. And I think I needed to go somewhere unexpected to understand what I was actually building. If you have ever chosen the city that surprised you over the one that made sense — I would love to hear about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com [https://clairelysbastienwald.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Best Collaborations Start Before the Work Does

Ariane and I have known each other for years — long before Lys Link, long before any of this made professional sense. What started as a friendship in Montréal eventually became something else entirely: a working relationship built on mutual trust, shared standards, and the kind of honesty that only comes from knowing someone well enough to tell them the truth. We are a flight apart. We have never worked in the same room. And yet this past year has been one of the most aligned professional experiences I have had. There is something particular about working with someone who already knows how you think — and who pushes back when they disagree, not to create friction, but because they care about the outcome as much as you do. This Canada Day felt worth marking. Not because of geography or celebration — but because of what this year has quietly become. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com [https://clairelysbastienwald.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 38 – Dario Markovic Ristic • Eric Javits | D2C Growth, Accessory Operations, and Smarter Inventory Planning

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Dario Markovic Ristic, CEO of Eric Javits, about leading a heritage accessory brand through D2C transformation, operational complexity, and the next layer of AI-driven growth. Eric Javits has been built over more than four decades, but the brand’s recent evolution reflects a very modern reality: even established fashion businesses cannot rely only on product, reputation, or wholesale visibility anymore. When physical retail was disrupted, the company had to move quickly from a primarily B2B model into a direct-to-consumer structure — building customer data, digital operations, and a leaner business model while continuing to manage design, manufacturing, retail partnerships, supply chain pressure, and seasonal product timelines. From supplier consistency to inventory forecasting, the conversation highlights how growth in accessories is no longer only about adding more products or entering more categories — it is about understanding where complexity lives, where money is tied up, and where better systems can make the business healthier. We explore: • How Eric Javits shifted from a wholesale-led model into D2C during a moment of major market disruption • Why owning customer data became a critical operational layer for a long-established brand • The hidden work behind accessories — from materials and testing to sampling, supplier reliability, and production timelines • Why consistency, speed, and long-term manufacturer relationships still matter in a market under constant pressure • How AI, automation, connected infrastructure, and inventory intelligence are shaping the next phase of more profitable growth In accessories, the story behind the product is increasingly tied to the systems underneath it — from supplier decisions and stock planning to the way brands use data to grow with more discipline. ✨ If you’re growing a fashion or accessory brand and trying to move from momentum into healthier, more structured scale, feel free to reach out 🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thefashiontranslator [https://youtube.com/@thefashiontranslator] or Substack: https://substack.com/@clairelysbastienwald/notes [https://substack.com/@clairelysbastienwald/notes] Guest: 👤 Dario Markovic 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dario-markovic-ristic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dario-markovic-ristic/] Brand: 🌐 https://ericjavits.com/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericjavits/ [https://www.instagram.com/ericjavits/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eric-javits/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/eric-javits/] ✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com [https://clairelysbastienwald.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 37 – Joseph Alexander Rein • LW PEARL | Luxury Craft, Digital Product Development, and Retail-Ready Fashion

🎙️ In this episode of The Fashion Translator, I spoke with Joseph Alexander Rein, Founder and CEO of LW PEARL and LW PEARL Atelier, about building a fashion business at the intersection of luxury craft, textile development, digital product workflows, and retail expansion. Joseph brings a rare perspective into the conversation: one shaped by couture-level garment work, embroidery, luxury, and the realities of bringing a brand into market. Through LW PEARL Atelier, his team works across high-touch textile development, embellishment, embroidery, swatches, prototypes, and runway-driven deadlines. Through LW PEARL Brand, that same craftsmanship is being translated into a scalable lifestyle and womenswear business with retail potential. The conversation moves beyond the usual conversation around creativity and technology. Joseph speaks directly to the tension many fashion businesses face: how to preserve artistry while making decisions around costing, repeatability, merchandising, buyer materials, production, and commercial viability. From hand embroidery and Swarovski surface treatments to 3D rendering, AI-generated imagery, and buyer lookbooks, the conversation highlights how the next phase of fashion will depend less on choosing between craft and technology — and more on knowing where each one belongs in the process. We explore: • Why emerging designers often struggle to translate editorial creativity into commercially viable product • How PLM, 3D CAD, Adobe tools, and AI can support the pre-production process before sampling begins • Why embroidery, shine, texture, and textile movement still require physical swatches and deep material expertise • How LW PEARL Atelier operates behind the scenes with luxury clients, rapid prototyping, and specialized artisans • Why buyer lookbooks, retail presentations, and AI-assisted content are becoming key growth tools for fashion brands This episode looks at luxury fashion through the full system behind it: the textile craft, the product development discipline, and the commercial shift pushing brands to make creativity more precise, repeatable, and retail-ready. ✨ If you’re translating a highly crafted product into retail, buyer presentations, or a more scalable commercial structure, feel free to reach out. Guest: 👤 Joseph Alexander Rein 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephalexanderrein/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephalexanderrein/] Brand: 🌐https://lwpearl.com/ 🌐https://lwpearlatelier.com/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwpearlatelier/ [https://www.instagram.com/lwpearlatelier/] 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwpearlbrand/ [https://www.instagram.com/lwpearlbrand/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lw-pearl-brand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/lw-pearl-brand/] ✨ Connect with Claire Lys to explore how AI, systems, and innovation can support fashion brands — or to be featured on The Fashion Translator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lys-bastien-wald/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com [https://clairelysbastienwald.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]