Experts

Wendy Herman is a dynamic fashion industry and retail executive with 20+ years of experience and deep-rooted expertise in intimate apparel. Her core competency lies in her transformative approach to the fashion sector, particularly in revolutionizing teens & young women's bra drawers through her pioneering intimate brand, BRABAR. In 2017, BRABAR was born from Wendy's firsthand challenges in finding suitable bras with her then 15-year-old daughter, igniting her mission to pivot the focus from body image to self-love and proper fit. Wendy combines her journey as a mother of three and her vast industry experience to redefine comfort and confidence in young women's lives. Her notable contributions include working on launching significant intimate lines for Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Yummie. Aspiring to be a changemaker, Wendy’s vision extends beyond mere brand success; she aims to empower the next generation of women, positioning herself as a leading figure in creating impactful, positive change in the intimate apparel landscape.

Sloane Gibney Grossberg is the founder of and sole designer for shortyLOVE bags. A Jersey girl always and forever, she’s devoted to her husband and two children, stays close to her sisters, walks her dogs daily, and falls hard for a smart, stylish bag — that’s why she designs them for a living!

Partners in business and in life, founders Roni Hirshberg and Audrey Bressa-Valcourt envisioned a fashion line that would empower women to feel confident and beautiful every day. Their shared passion for classic European style and bold, wearable pieces led them to launch Generation Love in 2008. Dedicating themselves fully to bringing this vision to life.Roni and Audrey have built a brand that resonates worldwide, carried by luxury retailers and multi-brand boutiques. In 2023, the opening of the Generation Love flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York marked a milestone in the brand's evolution. As the brand continues to grow, they're proud to blend luxury with accessibility, ensuring every woman can experience the sophistication and elegance of design at prices that fit their budget.

A fashion industry vet, Rachel has worked in apparel for nearly years, first cutting her teeth at Authentic Brands Group in 2004. From there she worked her way through the industry— eventually becoming Oscar de la Renta’s Head of Product, after years of learning her craft at Ralph Lauren, The Row, and Ralph Rucci. The pandemic sparked a new entrepreneurial chapter for both Rachel and her team— the March 2020 launch of their non-profit ‘Garment District for Gowns,’ aimed to help under- served healthcare workers, led to the eventual formation of their company ‘Goldatech,’ which manufactures uniforms, medical, and surgical apparel for state agencies and the Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard). Rachel's team were the first awardees of Empire State Development's Covid Retooling Grant out of 40,000 applicants, and was awarded the 2021 NYS MWBE Innovation Award. Rachel has now launched Welles, an ESG-focused scrubs company on a mission to reset technical performance and environmental accountability standards.

President and Creative Director Katie Blanchard is the creative visionary mind behind rockflowerpaper, shaping the brand’s distinctive designs and captivating products since its launch in 2010. From the beginning, Katie has been the driving force, infusing creativity and originality into every aspect of the brand.Her creative journey began early when she won a statewide art competition, which earned her a scholarship to the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design. Graduating with a BFA in 1994, Katie was set on a path of artistic excellence. She began her career as a textile designer at Mulberry, a leading neckwear manufacturer founded by rockflowerpaper Founder Katie Smith. With her exceptional design talent, Katie Blanchard quickly rose to become Vice President of Design, leading a team of 20+. When rockflowerpaper was born, Katie Smith knew she needed Katie Blanchard’s creative expertise to bring the brand’s vision to life, marking the start of an extraordinary journey.Katie Blanchard has spent her entire career working alongside Katie Smith, forming a unique and lasting professional partnership. The two Katies complement each other perfectly: Katie Blanchard is the creative heart of the brand, blending artistry with sharp business instincts, while Katie Smith is the strategic business mind with a flair for creativity. Together, their synergy has been key to rockflowerpaper’s success.A versatile and gifted designer, Katie Blanchard is renowned for her vibrant color schemes and dedication to crafting one-of-a-kind pieces. Under her leadership, rockflowerpaper has gained widespread recognition for its striking textiles, home décor, and fashion accessories. Beyond her design talent, Katie is deeply committed to sustainability, ensuring eco-friendly materials are integrated into the brand’s production processes and advocating for environmentally conscious consumer choices.Outside of her work, Katie is also a talented painter, textile artist, and passionate gardener. She constantly pushes creative boundaries, inspiring her team to explore innovative materials and techniques, ensuring that every product leaves a lasting impression.

A long-time New Yorker now based in Bermuda and Paris, Kate Lessa is the creative behind the brand—responsible for Saint Holiday's design, images, and overall mood. A Philadelphia native and alumnus of Boston University, she started working as a stylist after graduation.  This work led to a fascination with design and a move to New York City.  After years of designing accessories for brands DVF, Vera Wang and J Crew, Kate teamed up with friend Vijay Paintal in 2018 and pivoted into resort wear. An avid traveler, she always shops for wearable souvenirs on her trips.  Exploring markets, hotel boutiques, and artisan shops for embroidered tops, crochet dresses, and beaded jewelry, she likes to find items that conjure memories of a specific place and time. Influenced by this hobby, the duo started making vacation-ready pieces at a small factory in New York City.  The first samples were inspired by a vintage tuxedo shirt bought in the South of France.  Barneys picked up the launch collection and many of these original designs are still core to the brand. 

Jeff Scult is a Fashion Pro-Activist, Thought-Speaker on Regeneration, and the Creator & Designer of the eco-luxe, lovestyle brand, One Golden Thread. As a Social-Environment Impact Entrepreneur and brand soul “Conscultant,” his life purpose is to live his inner-gold, contagiously illuminating others to also shine and share theirs.Scult pivoted his journey at age 51 from a life amplifying other’s visions to finally expressing his own creations as a clothing designer. Jeff’s purpose-driven mission is One Golden Thread, the environmentally-regenerative fashion brand whose ethical materials, golden message, and regenerative model are devoted to connecting one to self, community, and to nature.Jeff’s spoken-word ignited his personal freedom journey, and his soul consultancy Drops of Gold support leaders to raise the bar on their mission and language. Jeff believes, "When we come into right-relationship with themes of interconnectedness, anything is possible. Everything is medicine. Everything is energy. Transcending the greatest lie - the illusion of separation - is we, nature and us, as one.”

A 25-years-in serial entrepreneur, I’ve built, launched, and scaled nearly 70 brands in the last 5ish years as the Chief Builder at JC+CO growth accelerants. Most recently, I acquired the Canadian ethically sustainable kids’ DTC brand, mini mioche, and formalized its position as the best kids clothes on - and for - the planet. We have done this through building partnerships with 1% for the Planet and Climate Neutral Certified, launching our resale marketplace, and producing with true sustainability - not greenwashed sustainability - at the forefront of everything we do.With a methodical approach to hunting for market gaps, I’m delighted by everything from detailed data digging to precise pixel placement, and have a pretty crazy capacity for work. I am all about the pace, and dig the extraordinary magic of making something from nothing. I started my first business at nineteen and sold my second at twenty. I’ve run ventures in consumer products, entertainment, consulting, publishing and advertising, and have always been digitally driven. My award history is heavy with marketing fumes, but I’m most exhilarated by actually doing the work of scaling exceptional, innovative consumer product brands, with the heart of a bootstrappy entrepreneur.I’ve been a business and innovation contributor to numerous publications, and a keynote speaker and panelist at events throughout North America. I’m religious about the Oxford comma, always up for a dark comedy, and still wondering when fetch is going to happen.

A native resident of the Connecticut shoreline & a first-born daughter with a lifelong affinity for clothes, Hayley Segar is a beach-loving problem solver...who always hated swimwear. "I always loved fashion, but hated swimsuits. I knew there was something wrong with it, but coudn't put my finger on the exact issue. I just sucked it up and wore subpar swimwear that dug and squeezed, year after year."That was, until April of 2019 when Segar had her lightbulb moment after trying on dozens of swimsuits. "I literally said out loud out of frustration, 'I just want a swimsuit that fits like my favorite no-show underwear does.' And it was in that moment that it hit me. I knew had to create it."Fast forward to November 2021 when Hayley launched her patent-pending swimsuit concept that is truly 'onewith' a wearer's body. Size-inclusive, edgeless, dig-free, and elastic-free, onewith is everything normal swimwear, as we know it, is not. Women wanting swimwear that fits like underwear is nothing new; onewith is simply the brand that brought it to life, filling a white space in an otherwise saturated industry. onewith consistently goes viral for this reason.Hayley is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. She is a self-described "cat-person convert," and resides in CT with her three beloved rescued cats.

The third generation of this cashmere family took the reins in 2003 when Daniel Shlomm became president and CEO. He made Amicale Cashmere a trusted cashmere resource for the country's top retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom, as well as many luxury fashion houses. And now directly to the consumer.

Alexandra StoneFounder & Creative Director of Zandra StoneBorn in Melbourne, Australia, Alexandra Stone’s story is one of creativity, culture, and considered living. A former track athlete and biomedical student, Alexandra was scouted into international modelling — a career that took her from Europe’s fashion capitals to calling New York home.Alongside her husband, she co-founded Bluestone Lane and Husk Bake Shop — lifestyle-driven businesses rooted in connection, community, and wellbeing.Now a mother of three, Alexandra’s understanding of identity through fashion is deeply personal — experienced first-hand in life’s evolving seasons. Zandra Stone is her creative expression of this journey — a brand shaped by Australian coastal ease, global influences, and a love of timeless, artful dressing that empowers women to express who they are, and who they’re becoming.