Episodes
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This weekâs conversation is with Sharmadean Reid, the founder, writer and creative consultant who started off in fashion before becoming a figurehead for women in business around the world. Originally from Wolverhampton, Sharmadean moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins. There, she began working with Nicola Formichetti, aka. Lady Gagaâs stylist, and consulting for clients like Nike. She then founded an innovation-led salon called WAH nails - the coolest place to hang out in the 2010s. After closing the salon in 2015, she created a groundbreaking beauty startup, Beautystack, which evolved into The Stack World, a media company and global community for mission driven women. This year, she distilled her learnings into her first book, âNew Methods for Womenâ, and is currently working on a scripted TV show about female founders.
Click here to see pictures of Sharmadean's chosen pieces, and subscribe for more Threads of Conversation.
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Today's guest is Sam Ross, the founder of an agency called New School. Sam and his team represent some of the fashion industryâs most exciting talent - photographers like Campbell Addy and Julian Song, set designers like Ibby Njoya, Patience Harding and Samuel Overs, casting directors Good Catch and movement director Yagamoto. Based in Londonâs creative hub, 180 Strand, I caught up with Sam after heâd just returned from New York, where New School recently opened its second office. In this conversation, we cover what it takes to be a good agent, how the agency landscape has changed, and why itâs important to market an agency, as well as the talent it represents. We also chat about New Schoolâs unique ethos, and the experiences that led Sam to set up his own agency.
Click here to see pictures of some of the people we discuss, and subscribe for more Threads of Conversation.
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Episodes manquant?
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This week, Iâm in conversation with Emma Davidson, Fashion Features Director at Dazed. We recap the recent Spring/ Summer '25 season, where she attended some of the most important shows across the four fashion capitals (New York, London, Milan and Paris). We cover what fashion month looks like for her and how she manages all the content for Dazedâs fashion platforms, before diving into some of the standout moments from the season. Click here for more images and references to things we touched on in our chat.
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In this episode, I meet the mononymous Dara - fashion director of Interview Magazine, stylist to Hunter Schafer, model and all-round fashion darling. We discuss the eight items of clothing that chart her journey from a cartoon-obsessed kid in California, to becoming one of fashion's leading tastemakers. Click here to see pictures of Dara's chosen pieces in the accompanying newsletter, and subscribe for more podcasts, essays and interviews from Threads of Conversation.
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In this episode, I speak to Kyle Smith who leads the NFLâs fashion vertical. In this conversation, we discuss how he got his job at the NFL, working with players to craft their fashion presence, why itâs important for them to engage with fashion, the helmet problem, tunnel fits, and much more.
You can find pictures of some of the moments we discuss in the accompanying newsletter.
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My guest today is TikTok sensation Lyas. Heâs a French creator based in Paris, beloved for his vivid runway reviews, witty personality and deep knowledge of fashion. Over the past couple of years, heâs become one of the most exciting new guard of fashion critics. His point of view is honest, funny and refreshing, and heâs also unafraid to say exactly what he thinks - even about the industryâs most powerful names. He's also a roaming fashion week reporter, and has interviewed everyone from Rihanna, to John Galliano, to the enigmatic underground designer Betsy Johnson, disarming them with his spontaneous questions and irreverent attitude.
Click here to see pictures of Lyasâ chosen pieces in the accompanying newsletter, and subscribe for more interviews, essays and podcast episodes
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Welcome to another episode of the Threads of Conversation podcast. This week Iâm trialling a new format called âA Thread about my careerâ. These conversations will cover the career journey and learnings of various fashion industry experts.
My guest this week is Henrietta Gallina, a creative director whoâs currently the Global Director of Image and Content at Mulberry. Prior to her role at Mulberry, Henrietta worked for brands like Topshop, Fred Perry and Karla Otto, and was Creative Director at Universal Standard in New York. Sheâs also the co-founder of Citizen, an independent magazine documenting culture through the lens of Blackness. Recent cover stars include Andre3000 and Kendrick Lamar. Click here to see pictures of some of the projects we discuss in the accompanying newsletter, and subscribe for more Threads of Conversation.
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Today's guest is photographer Larissa Hofmann. Larissa started her career as a model, regularly walking shows for designers like Chanel and Dior and appearing in campaigns around the world.
Around 2017 Larissa started building a career in photography, leaving her modelling agencies in 2018 to pursue it full time. In the years since, she has established herself as one of the most exciting fashion photographers working today. Her distinct style and unique point of view has seen her shooting everything from the cover of Vogue France, to Olivia Rodrigoâs album artwork and several Marc Jacobs campaigns.
Click here to see pictures of Larissa's chosen items in the accompanying newsletter.
Please note that this episode contains discussion of eating disorders.
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In this episode, I speak to Bianca Saunders, a menswear designer from South London, who began her brand back in 2017. Since then, sheâs won a slew of awards including New Establishment Menswear Designer At The 2023 British Fashion Awards and the prestigious Grand Prize at the 2021 ANDAM Awards (previous winners include Martin Margiela and Simon Jacquemus). She also dressed Usher for 2023âs Met Gala and accompanied him to the event.
Here, she takes us through the story of her work via eight items of clothing. See pictures of Bianca's chosen items in the accompanying newsletter, and subscribe for more podcasts, interviews and essays.
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My guest for this episode is Alec Leach. Formerly Style Editor at Highsnobiety, in 2018 Alec left his role to pursue a career in sustainability. In 2022, he published a book called âThe World is on Fire, But Weâre Still Buying Shoesâ, a short, sharp manifesto about how we can fix our shopping habits. The book has now sold over 10,000 copies.
In this episode, Alec talks us through 8 items from his wardrobe which tell the story of his journey from a fashion editor inundated with freebies to a sustainability activist with a ruthlessly edited wardrobe of staples. See pictures of Alec's items here, and subscribe to the Threads of Conversation newsletter for more.
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Season 4's first guest is none other than @brendahashtag (real name Brenda Weischer), fashionâs favourite monochrome multi-hyphenate. Sheâs the founder of secondhand fashion platform Disruptive Berlin, the fashion editor at 032c, and a tastemaker to thousands thanks to her ever-expanding social media following. Sheâs also the keeper of the keys to one of Europeâs most enviable archives, featuring rare pieces from Rick Owens, Margiela, Helmut Lang, Tom Ford, Chanel and more.
On a chilly Berlin morning, Brenda welcomed me into her infamous closet, where we talked through the eight items of clothing which define her life and career. Click here to see pictures of her pieces, and subscribe to the newsletter for more Threads of Conversation.
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My guest this week is the director and writer Caleb Femi. As a filmmaker, Femi has produced numerous short films, including Giraffe, which was selected for this yearâs Sundance Film Festival. Heâs also directed episodes of the HBO show Industry, and BBCâs Champion. Femiâs filmmaking work has also caught the fashion industry's eye - he was a frequent collaborator of Virgil Abloh during the designerâs Louis Vuitton tenure, and has worked with Bottega Veneta. His debut book, Poor, was released in 2020 to huge critical acclaim. The book is an anthology of poems about growing up in Peckham, covering themes of youth, love, race and class. As a lover of words and clothes, Iâve been a big fan of Femiâs work for many years. Here, we cover Orange Wednesdays, cursed shirts, freezing film shoots, and a suit so good he picked it twice. Click here to see pictures of Caleb's pieces in the accompanying newsletter.
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In this episode, I interview Lauren Sherman, one of the fashion industryâs most respected journalists. Lauren cut her teeth at Forbes, before moving on to publications such as Fashionista.com, Lucky magazine, and Business of Fashion, where she spent seven years as one of their chief correspondents. A few months ago, Lauren announced her departure from Business of Fashion, joining the newsletter platform Puck as their first fashion writer. Lauren now publishes a weekly Puck newsletter, Line Sheet, a mixture of industry analysis and piping hot tea. As a journalist, her beat is explaining how the business works - who is spending money where, and what it all means. Sheâs one of my favourite fashion writers and I continue to learn so much from her work. Whether you work in fashion or simply enjoy getting dressed, I can guarantee youâll learn something from her too.
See pictures of Lauren's pieces in the accompanying newsletter.
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In this episode I chat to Claire Burman. You might not know her name, but youâve definitely seen her work. As a producer extraordinaire, Claire is the person that - in short - makes cool stuff happen. In 2014, Claire co-founded the creative agency Babyface, a collective of women who pioneered feminism in fashion way ahead of the Millenial pink chokehold. After shuttering in 2019, Claire founded her own production agency, CEBE studio. Her roster of clients reads like a whoâs who of the fashion industry. From Bottega Veneta to Martine Rose to artists like Shygirl, CEBE produces parties, fashion shows, store openings, music videos, photo shoots and more. Whatâs more, in 2022 Claire also produced a baby. Here we discuss Claireâs impressive career journey, what makes a good party, modern motherhood and why her friends call her âLilâ Bagâ.
See pictures of Claire's pieces in the accompanying newsletter.
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Introducing the first guest of Season 3 - Alva Claire. As a model, sheâs walked for some of the worldâs hottest designers, everyone from Versace to Ludovic de Saint Sernin and Luar. Sheâs appeared in Vogue, i-D, Elle and more, and is a regular in Rihannaâs Savage Fenty shows. Outside of work, her style speaks for itself - a mashup of mini skirts, strong-shouldered jackets and enviable vintage pieces.
In this episode, we talk about her journey to becoming one of fashionâs favourite faces. From abandoning a horrible polyester blazer in London in search of new adventures in New York, to the one surprising item of clothing that accompanies her on every job. Without meaning to get syrupy, I think Alva is one of the coolest, smartest people in the industry - a lover of fashion with a critical lens, and someone whose individuality and self-possession shines through in every image she creates. I hope you enjoy her Threads of Conversation as much as I did.
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Special thanks to The Standard London where this episode was recorded.
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Host Georgia Graham meets Willy Ndatira aka. @williamcult. An enigmatic figure despite his 100k Instagram followers, Willyâs astute perspective on fashion has made him one of the industryâs most respected critical voices. He invites dialogue with an open mind, offering a rare blend of insight, wit and authenticity. From making gowns in Johannesburg to starting a streetwear label in London, Willyâs Threads of Conversation cover culture, addiction and some very good clothes.
Recorded in April 2022 at The Standard London.
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In this episode host Georgia Graham meets Lynette Nylander, the Executive Editorial Director at Dazed. Based in New York but originally from London, Lynette began her career at Industrie magazine, going on to work at titles such as Teen Vogue and i-D, before landing her current role at Dazed. Sheâs also interviewed the likes of bell hooks, Solange Knowles and Vivienne Westwood. In this episode we turn the tables, asking Lynette about her impressive career in journalism, catching indie sleaze first time round, and what it takes to create one of the worldâs most culture-setting media publications.
Recorded in December 2021 at The Standard London.
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In this episode host Georgia Graham heads to Paris to meet Agathe Rousselle, star of Titane, the stunning body horror film which scooped the Palme DâOr prize at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Here, we cover Agatheâs fascinating creative journey, from writing poetry as a teenager to trying out different careers in her twenties and finding acting in her thirties. From a pair of plastic boots to a mesh dress to a Louis Vuitton gown, Agatheâs Threads of Conversation are a reflection of her fearless individuality and unique creative spirit.
Recorded in collaboration with The Standard London in January 2022.
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If laughter is the best medicine, then Raven Smith is big pharma. The author of two books (Raven Smithâs Trivial Pursuits and Raven Smithâs Men), a Vogue columnist, and everyoneâs favourite Instagram follow, Raven is as beloved for both his way with words and his impeccable style. Here he joins host Georgia Graham to talk about an unforgettable Gucci suit, dressing like a writerâą and the dance moves that split his favourite Acne Studios pants.
Recorded in December 2021 at The Standard London.
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In this episode, host Georgia Graham meets Ronan Mckenzie, the London-based photographer and creative. Sheâs also the designer behind Selasi, a fashion line she began during lockdown, and the founder of HOME, a gallery and community space which champions the work of POC artists. Whatâs inspiring about Ronan is not only her flawless taste and impressive career, but also her bravery and determination. Ronan's Threads of Conversation cover her upbringing in Walthamstow, her first major designer purchase, the birth of Selasi, and the hunt for a very elusive pair of Telfar Uggs.
Recorded in October 2021 at The Standard London.
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