ANCESTRY | Nazzal Studio: “What Should Have Been Home” reflects on the future

Although Sylwia Nazzal dreamt of one day launching her own brand, her first goal after graduating from Parsons Paris in 2023 was to gain in-house experience. However, no one would hire the Palestinian Jordanian, Arab designer, citing her as talented but too political.  When they said no, she said…

ANCESTRY | UnoEth: Father-daughter duo build business in community

If you’ve ever had a truckload of product catch fire just before it reaches its destination…then you can relate to UnoEth. If you haven’t experienced this feeling, tune into this episode to hear how Xiomara Rosa-Tedla and her dad Dagne Tedla made it through, with help from the strength of their par…

PATENTS | Reflections with Lola and Frankie

Innovative products can change our lives. We spoke to four brands (Evelyn & Bobbie, Crave, For Them and CuteCircuit) whose patented products grant us permission to choose ourselves - and not settle for products that don’t. But applying for a patent takes time and money - precious resources for emer…

PATENTS | CuteCircuit: 2X ‘Best Inventions of The Year’ by Time Magazine

CuteCircuit was the first fashion company to create smart textile-based garments that create an emotional experience for their wearer. Like their Hug Shirt™ that can send people a hug, or The SoundShirt™ that allows deaf and hearing audiences to experience music and sports more intimately through t…

PATENTS | For Them: The first-ever Jockless Strap

Queer people have been using DIY techniques to present more fully as themselves since the first baby gay was born. Recently brands have started to build products safely, stylishly serving this need. For Them is *the most* innovative name in the game, offering two binding options with their Binder A…

PATENTS: Crave | The first Pleasure Jewelry without the ick

In 2008 Ti Chang went searching for an enjoyable pleasure product. All she saw were lazily made, anatomical parts. As an industrial designer, she set out to create the products she wanted. What happens when you create something no one asked for? For Ti, this was a vibrator on a chain. Find out how …

PATENTS: Evelyn & Bobbie | The first underwire replacement bra in 88 years

In the US, only 12% of patents are granted to women. Evelyn & Bobbie founder, Bree McKeen, has six of them. With their biomimicking bras, Evelyn & Bobbie offers the world the first true underwire replacement. In exploring this theme of patents we’re focused on fashion innovations that give us permi…

ORIGIN | Reflections with Lola and Frankie

Made in Portugal. Designed in NY. How do we define where a brand is ‘from’? Its origin? Is the answer straightforward, or nuanced, like our very own origin stories? We met with four brands whose genesis is heavily intertwined with their own origin story to dig deeper. Sit with us, Lola and Frankie,…

ORIGIN | Bhavya Ramesh: Melding rich storytelling into precious metals

Bhavya Ramesh and her namesake brand are expanding the audience for Indian jewelry both globally (outside of India) and locally (beyond Indian weddings). Bhavya creates time-transcendent pieces rooted in culture: sunglasses, rings,… you name it, Bhavya is designing it, and pushing the boundaries to…

ORIGIN | Savant Studios: Inspiration is a commodity

Michael Graham is the curious, romantic magic behind Savant Studios. The brand that produced the Brooklyn *it* trucker hat and 700 original pieces for Olympic athletes. The brand that puts on Sunday Vibes, the weekly place to catch that creative spark only caught when sharing space. The brand that …