Behind every collection is designer Belinda Kazanci, who started BEL KAZAN after a life-changing journey to Bali, Indonesia. From the delicate flower offerings that lined the streets to their vibrant textiles and joyful spirits, she felt an unparalleled sense of inspiration among the Balinese people. It was then that Belinda decided to uproot her life in Los Angeles, determined to make her vision of a socially- and environmentally-responsible apparel line real. Bel Kazan believes "lean production" is the way to go. They don't want to just creating more stuff in the world without thinking of its impact. They know we don't need more "stuff", there's plenty of it! They see sustainability a part of the main stream conversation, and that there is definitely a shift overall showing that greater change is coming. Meet this week's guest, Belinda Kazanci, founder of Bel Kazan.     Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Spirit of 608: Fashion, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability + Tech

How Bel Kazan Namesake + Early Ethical Fashion Adopter Belinda Kazanci Built A Factory in Bali to Grow A Brand in LA

It's an podAMA! This week's episode is an Ask Me Anything featuring questions for listeners, Instagram followers and members of the Spirit of 608 Facebook group. What's this all about? The episode is all about what's on your mind. I'm weighing in with thoughts on everything from social media etiquette for maintaining privacy at a time when it seems like we're supposed to share everything online to launching a new brand. Listen to the episode to hear what other FEST founders are up against right now. Chances are, you'll related to more than a few of the queries from other women building businesses at the intersection of fashion, entrepreneurship, sustainability + tech (a space I call FEST). Also hear the latest News from the FESTfront segment featuring news and updates from founders and brands on a mission just like you. We're so glad they've chosen the Spirit of 608 podcast as a way to get their message out into the world. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Your Questions Answered: Listeners Ask What to Share + What to Keep Private, How to Tell Your Story, Launch A New Brand + More

When it comes to conscious consumerism, advocates for minimalism and intentional shopping, both seemingly gentler ways to enjoy fashion, often run up against the harsh reality of U.S. consumers' baked in urge to, well, consume. In the face of that, swapping style online stands out as an alternative that, these days, is starting to hold more than ample appeal -- even outside the thrifters and vintage fans behind so many low-tech equivalents. On this week's episode, we meet a former beauty industry veteran and bioplastics executive who is building an online direct-to-consumer site for swapping women's and children's clothing. Listen to the show for her story and how she's making it easier than ever for fans of more sustainable fashion to swap and get the right value in points for their clothes, all while indulging their urge for the new. Along with her fashion startup journey, we dive into the Los Angeles-based company's Instagram swap challenge and how it's helped to grow their audience and build community. Use this conversation for inspiration on your own journey toward building a business at the intersection of fashion, entrepreneurship, sustainability + tech (a space I call FEST). Meet this week's guest, Nicole Robertson, founder of Swap Society.  Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Building a Secondhand Style Swapping Startup in Los Angeles with Swap Society’s Nicole Robertson

Business can be heavy. But this week, the Spirit of 608 is all about bringing the light. Just look at our guest's brand name for starters. Next, consider how this female founder went from a bad situation with a former business partner to owning her own space, expanding into a second business and, fast forward to today, occupying a beautiful gallery of a shop in one of San Francisco's most popular neighborhoods all while maintaining a robust online business followed by a legion of loyal Instagram fans. Side note: this isn't something she's done alone. There's her husband and co-founder, as well as a longstanding team -- and they've been by her side since the early days.  Listen to the show for her story and how she's making fine jewelry for people who go beyond the pearl. Use this conversation for inspiration on your own journey toward building a business that's you, through and through. Meet this week's guest, Maria McCarthy, founder of Fiat Lux. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Get Enlightened: How Marie McCarthy Built a 7-Figure Jewelry Business On Her Own Terms

In uplifting news, this week's guest is not only bringing to market bras for busty women who want to live active lifestyles (and feel comfortable while doing it, like that's so much to ask), but she's doing it her own way. One day she may be talking to a room full of almost 100 female CEOs, another figuring out how to manufacture ethically and with eco-conscious practices with partners in Sri Lanka, but she's done it without giving up time for health, wellness and the life she wants to lead. Also part of her story: tapping into NASA science and calling on a renowned corset maker who's fashioned pieces for Oprah and other A-list celebs. Listen to the show for her story and how she's changing workout bras for women.  Meet this week's guest, Elyse Kaye founder of Bloom Bras.     Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Building A Better Workout Bra for Busty Women From the Ground Up with Bloom Bras Founder Elyse Kaye

There's no doubt about it: global business is changing rapidly. Along with it, the game of getting -- and staying -- visible is nothing like it used to be. You probably know you need to have a plan for reaching new people and spreading your message that goes beyond outdated PR tactics and blasting your press release to lists of journalists. But what next? This week's episode is all about one strategy that is working wonders for Spirit of 608 clients: networked communities. Sure, you might be thinking, I'm in a few Facebook groups. But here's the reality: it's time to go beyond Facebook groups. They're great for what they are -- we have one at the Spirit of 608 that I encourage you to join to connect with other FEST founders and with me -- but all too often, Facebook groups are just a drive-by, not a destination. Right now Spirit of 608 clients are going beyond Facebook groups and networking in other types of communities to find high-quality, worthwhile opportunities to appear in the media, speak, contribute articles and get featured in front of their ideal audiences. What kinds of communities are you talking about? Think open Slack groups, communities run on Mighty Networks, Listen to the episode to learn more about how monitoring and getting involved in these networked communities -- also known as niche communities -- can help you to find more press and media opportunities, get media placement, reach new audiences and grow your mission-driven brand. Also hear the latest News from the FESTfront segment featuring news and updates from founders and brands on a mission just like you. We're so glad they've chosen the Spirit of 608 podcast as a way to get their message out into the world.

Beyond Facebook Groups: Use These Networks to Get Press, Get Visible + Grow

This week, we hear from a founder who started out at one of the most recognizable mainstream fashion brands of its era and went on to become a rising star in the industry's burgeoning move towards ecommerce. But then, spurred by earlier experiments in entrepreneurship and a chance collaboration with her future co-founder a at a hackathon, this week's guest left her solid career in fashion with a capital "F" and broke off to start her own company. But instead of design, she chose machine learning and data. On the show, hear how this female founder started a fashion tech company without venture funding -- and why she's a big believer in bootstrapping, even to this day.   Meet this week's guest, Andrea Marron founder of Ragtrades.   Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Bootstrapping a FashTech Biz from Nicole Miller to Startup to Success with Andrea Marron of Ragtrades

On the debut episode of the newest season of the Spirit of 608 podcast, we're back with an episode that may very well change everything you think you know about manufacturing in China. In this week's conversation from the forefront of fashion, entrepreneurship, sustainability + tech (a space I call FEST), we hear from a founder whose mission to make a better shoe for women's bodies based on her decades of research has led her to establish both an eco-friendly manufacturing process in her U.S. warehouse, but also positive partnerships with factories in China, where some of the most innovative -- and yes, even sustainable -- technologies on the planet have recently become available. So put what you think you know aside and listen into this episode to open your mind and be inspired. Meet this week's guest, Casey Kerrigan, founder of Oesh Shoes. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Patience, Perseverance and the Surprising Reality of Shoemaking in China with Casey Kerrigan of OESH Shoes

 Getting the word out about your ethical, sustainable brand is crucial to its future -- but growing visibility can be tricky and time-consuming. There's public relations, brand awareness, growth hacking, networked marketing, affiliate relationships, content creation, social media and on and on and on. It's part of my mission to elevate brands who are making positive change in the world. Let me help you get further than where you might be able to go on your own with these top takeaways from the second half of the year. In this this episode of the Spirit of 608 podcast, I'm sharing six PR and brand visibility takeaways from the last six months. Each is something I want you to know, in fact, I really think these are *must-knows* for you and anyone building a mission-based brand today. These aren't vague strategies or marketing hoo-hah. These are things I personally experienced while working one-on-one with FEST brands this year, so you know this is current information, something you can use right now, real advice for real brands trying to do this work right now. Plus, if you listen to this episode and the PR tips for the holidays and beyond from the recent episode with Liza Moiseeva, you'll have what's basically a free two-hour crash course in public relations and brand visibility. I hope it helps you reach more people and do more amazing things with the business you are building. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Six Must-Know DIY PR + Visibility Takeaways from the Second Half of the Year

 This week, we dive into a world where sustainable fashion gets experiential. We'll hear from a guest who not only designs using sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing practices, but is taking transparency to an entirely new level through travel. Launching a tour to India this fall, this California luxury fashion brand is not only preaching more positive practices in apparel, but opening up its supply chain to show fans and customers a behind-the-scenes view of how clothes are made. Meet this week's guest, Saloni Shrestha, CEO and designer of AGAATI. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Creating Next Level Transparency Through Travel with Designer Saloni Shrestha of California Sustainable Luxury Brand AGAATI

 Do you need PR and visibility tips you can use for the holidays and beyond? If so, this episode of the Spirit of 608 podcast is for you. Liza Moiseeva of Scaling Good recently asked me to join her for a Facebook Live inside her Facebook community to talk about growing brand visibility, PR and speaking opportunities for founders during the last weeks of the year and beyond -- and we kept talking for almost an hour. It only made sense to share the conversation with you. Listen in for practical advice you can use right now and recommendations for future planning as you look ahead to 2020. Plus, live questions from FEST founders like you and our answers.  On this week's show, get PR tips for the holidays and behind during a chat with Scaling Good's Liza Moiseeva and Spirit of 608's Lorraine Sanders. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Growing Ethical Brand Visibility + PR at the End of the Year and Beyond

Hot on the sparkling, sequined heels of FEST biz Bow & Drape's recent acquisition news, we're bringing back a popular conversation with co-founder Aubrie Pagano, who helped lead the company from its early days as a custom women's apparel startup to its current life as the go-to for punny casual wear featuring phrases like Goal Digger, You Had Me at Merlot + more. In this #so608 Recycle episode, Aubrie and I talk NYC startup life, fundraising, microfunds for female founders and a lot more. Whatever the size of your company, Aubrie brings a perspective that not only highlights how entrepreneurial paths shift, change and evolve in the most surprising ways, but also points to a future where more women-led businesses have a chance to thrive. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

#so608 Recycle: On Not Being a Girlboss, Raising Capital & NYC Startup Life with Recently Acquired FEST biz Bow & Drape

  For the 200th episode of the Spirit of 608 podcast, we had to bring back a special guest, fan favorite, visionary FEST pioneer and all around badass for an update episode looking at what kind of amazing things can happen in a couple years' time. Since the beginning of the Spirit of 608 podcast way back in the fall of 2015 (I know!), we have aimed to inspire, inform and entertain women in FEST so they push on and continue bringing much-needed change to an industry that, while slow to adopt it in the past, is, these days at least, hungrier for it than ever. Listen to this update episode of the Spirit of 608 podcast to hear what happened next for this game-changing guest and her brand, whose entire purpose is to change fashion by creating technology capable of completely transforming textile waste into new fibers and new garments. That in and of itself is cool enough to warrant our FEST-ive fan girling, but when you hear they recently landed $9M in funding, a partnership with Stella McCartney + more, it's hard to not listen to what this fabulous female founder has to say.Re-meet this week's guest, Stacy Flynn, founder and CEO of Evrnu. Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

What happened next: how Evrnu’s Stacy Flynn made textile magic (okay fine, it’s actually science), secured $9M in funding and a partnership with Stella McCartney

Finding FEST-ive manufacturing partners ain't easy, and this week's guest on the Spirit of 608 podcast is here to help streamline the process. Along with that, this recent L.A. transplant shares her story progressing from high-stakes New York PR to a career filled with meaning and purpose after an impactful trip to another country changed everything. Listen in to learn more about the reality of transparency in ethical fashion today, as well as a fun dive into the mysteries of the Enneagram personality categorization system and this week's guest's Instagram game. So much good stuff for your ears to enjoy. Meet this week's guest, Jessica Kelly, founder and CEO of Thr3efold.  Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. 

Ethical Fashion, the Enneagram + Entrepreneurship with Thr3efold’s Jessica Kelly

Come with me, FEST friends, into a land where growing your business is a breeze and landing top-tier press is as easy as pie....oh wait, no, sorry. That was a dream I had the other night. Of course we all know none of that is easy. But it is possible. Big picture advice is great, but this week I'm all about the details, so I'm diving into real client campaigns and letting you know what's working -- and what's totally not -- this month. With tools and tech-enabled platforms changing all the time, it's more important than ever to get current information from sources you trust. If you're looking for super practical tips you can use immediately in your DIY PR campaigns and brand awareness-building, open up this episode in your favorite podcast player right now because that's what we're serving up this week.   In this week's solo episode of the Spirit of 608 podcast, I share three things I want you to hear drawn directly from this month's real client campaigns. Listen in for that's working well and what's not, from how I found success using Help A Reporter Out (HARO) and my new favorite free tool for whittling your email list send time down to PR peanuts to the reality of affiliate marketing challenges you absolutely will face if you're a FEST-ive, independent fashion brand right now.   Do you have your own strategies for securing awesome PR with success? If so, I'd love to hear about them. DM me on Instagram and let me know @spiritof608.   Learn how to stop sabotaging your PR and media and get visible instead by listening to this week's solo episode of the Spirit of 608 podcast with Lorraine Sanders.  Sign up for the PressDope weekly email to get DIY PR tips and The Dope List of media opps, calls for pitches, FEST events and more ways to raise your visibility. Mentioned in this episode: Facebook: @spiritof608 Twitter: @spiritof608 Instagram: @spiritof608 Pressdope Find more episodes featuring women at the forefront of FEST online at www.Spiritof608.com  

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Spirit of 608: Fashion, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability + T...

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