In Review 2022: Top 10 fashion interviews
As 2023 approaches, TheIndustry.fashion has curated a list of the top ten fashion interview picks from 2022.
Ben Francis, Founder, Gymshark
Gymshark was founded by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan in 2012. To mark its ten-year anniversary, the sportswear brand is opened its first bricks & mortar store in October, taking a 18,000 sq ft premium retail unit on London's Regent Street.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Ben Francis gave insights into Gymshark's first bricks & mortar store, why it's "the most flexible retail location" he's ever seen, and what 19-year-old Ben, who had just founded Gymshark, would say today.
Anya Hindmarch
Anya Hindmarch
Anya Hindmarch founded her business in London in 1987 and it has since grown into a global brand. Hindmarch is committed to creating responsibly and constantly strives to innovate to reduce its impact on the earth, while also using its platform to drive education and discussion around sustainability.
She has recently joined the #LeatherTruthfully campaign, a new resource from Leather Naturally for journalists and consumers who want quick access to key information about leather. It is an easy-to-read summary of the facts that has been created to address the most common misconceptions about leather and leather manufacturing.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Anya Hindmarch spoke about her business and supporting the #LeatherTruthfully campaign.
Fiona Lambert, Managing Director, Jaeger
Fiona Lambert is one of the best-known leaders on the British fashion high street having held high-profile roles such as Vice President at George at Asda and product director at Next.
In February 2021, when the UK was in a strict lockdown, she was appointed as managing director at heritage fashion brand Jaeger, which had been acquired by Marks & Spencer, and tasked with reviving it.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Lambert talked us through what it was like to take on the role at such a challenging time and what the response had been like to the latest iteration of this historic brand.
Cooper and Bronte Mance
Cooper and Bronte Mance, Co-founders, Naked Wolfe
Luxury footwear label Naked Wolfe recently launched its first retail space on London’s New Bond Street. The debut store launch is a testament to the rapid growth of the brand, which has amassed over 1.2 million followers in the last 5 years and gained a cult-like status among the Gen Z demographic.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, we spoke to Cooper and Bronte Mance, two of the three Co-founders of Naked Wolfe, about the new store and the evolution of the brand.
Hannah Grievson, Property Director, Sloane Stanley Estate
Established in 1717, the Sloane Stanley Estate has been part of Chelsea for over 300 years. It owns and manages hundreds of residential and commercial properties in London’s prestigious area. Continually adapting, the estate has created designated pop-up spaces for retailers on King's Road.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Hannah Grievson discussed the company's pioneering pop-up initiative on London's King's Road, as well as what it's like being a woman working in the male-dominated property space.
Tommy Mallet
Tommy Mallet, Founder and Creative Director, Mallet
Tommy Mallet first found fame appearing on the reality TV show ‘The Only Way is Essex’, better known as Towie, in 2014, but it was his passion for footwear, particularly trainers, that spurred him to build his own business from scratch in 2015 under the Mallet name. Mallet is now sold in some the best stores in the UK, and indeed the world, with apparel being added to the product mix in 2019.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Tommy told Contributing Editor, Tom Bottomley, his desire to scale the Mallet business is undeterred despite his consistent TV appearances with his fiancé Georgia Kousoulou.
Sam Cotton, Head of Leasing, Battersea Power Station
Nearly 40 years after the London icon turned its lights off, Battersea Power Station reopened in October of 2022, welcoming the public for the first time.
Following an eight-year restoration project in which the building was transformed from a derelict shell to the shining centrepiece of a new town centre for London, visitors are now able to enjoy the first of its shops, bars, restaurants, and leisure venues.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Sam Cotton, Head of Leasing at Battersea Power Station, discussing the milestone of opening Battersea Power Station's doors once again and the public's feedback.
Polly McMaster, CEO, The Fold
Women’s luxury workwear brand The Fold celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and launched ‘The Future Icons’ collection in celebration of the milestone.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, CEO Polly McMaster talked us through her journey so far, the new collection, and how high-profile fans of the brand such as the newly appointed Princess of Wales have helped to raise brand awareness and grow the business. There are also plans for more stores, intriguing indeed for what was an online start-up in 2012.
Anine Bing
Anine Bing
Anine Bing is celebrating 10 years of her eponymous brand, which the former model set up from a garage in Silver Lake, Los Angeles in 2012. Fuelled by Bing's huge personal profile on social media and the wide appeal of her timeless, yet modern, and affordable luxury pieces, the brand is now a global success.
To mark a decade in business the brand is expanded its 11-strong standalone store network with 10 new stores, including a second in London with a store on Sloane Square adding to its existing Mayfair site.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Anine Bing spoke to Editor in Chief Lauretta Roberts about her journey so far and the importance of 2022 for the brand.
Hasna Kourda, Founder, Save Your Wardrobe
Hasna Kourda founded the British-based Save Your Wardrobe app in 2020 to promote circular fashion. The business recently received £2.52 million ($3 million) in seed funding to expand into Europe.
In this interview with TheIndustry.fashion, Hasna Kourda discussed the concept of circular fashion, her future plans for the app, what makes it different to those in the market already, and its recently acquired seed funding.
Check out TheIndustry.fashion's full interview collection here.
