What does it really take to grow as an independent designer — without compromising your voice?

In this episode of the Flying Solo Fashion Podcast, we speak with Meghana, founder of Let’s Curate, a global platform representing nearly 100 artisans across 38 countries. What began with 10 makers has grown into an international network built on storytelling, legacy, and thoughtful expansion beyond the mass-market system.

Meghana shares how she discovers talent in unexpected places, how independent designers can expand their reach without making reckless leaps, and why creative evolution is essential — even when it feels risky. From navigating visibility and partnerships to rethinking how and when to step into markets like New York, this conversation offers perspective for designers at every stage.

If you’re building something intentional — and thinking about your next move — this episode offers insight into growth that feels strategic, sustainable, and true to your work.

In this inspiring episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, we sit down with Sherilyne, founder of Designs by Sherilyne, who shares her incredible journey from a successful corporate career in healthcare and federal contracting to becoming a full-time creative entrepreneur. Sherilyne opens up about how a lifelong love of photography and art transformed into a stunning fashion brand that turns her global travel photos into wearable art through sustainable production.

She talks about the challenges of transitioning into the fashion world, the importance of quality and sustainability, and how she balances creative passion with smart business decisions. Whether you're a designer, dreamer, or career changer, this episode is packed with real talk, creative insight, and actionable advice for building something beautiful from the ground up.

✨ Tune in for a conversation about risk, reinvention, and resilience in the world of independent fashion.

In this episode, we sit down with emerging designer Velenci, featured at Flying Solo, to discuss the journey of bringing bold, high-fashion eyewear to the U.S. market. Velenci shares how their creative vision evolves through real-time customer feedback and why in-person experiences—pop-ups, showrooms, and face-to-face conversations—are shaping the future of their brand.

From Gen Z's online-first habits to the tactile preferences of older millennials, Velenci dives into the challenge of balancing digital reach with physical presence in the competitive world of fashion accessories.

Key Takeaways:

• How customer feedback fuels Velenci’s design direction
• The importance of in-person retail for brand connection
• Navigating generational shopping behaviors
• Building a hybrid model for fashion-forward eyewear

Top stylist and creative director Julia Muller joins host Elizabeth Solomon to share her journey from Amsterdam to New York, working with Vogue, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and more. Julia opens up about the highs and lows of the fashion world, how she discovers emerging designers, and what it really takes to succeed as a stylist today.

A must-listen for aspiring creatives, stylists, and designers.

Rosa Isela’s hats begin as a meditative craft and end as wearable drama—steam, blocks and rabbit-hair felt forming silhouettes built to be loved and lived in. She recounts the magical snowstorm runway and why every piece is truly “one of one.”

How a scientist built a fashion house and a community: Mona of Monzlapur on co-founding Flying Solo, turning lab images into prints, embracing gender-fluid design, and the DIY runway that put them on the map. Ten years in, reinvention is still the dress code.

Poemet is fashion with a pulse: expressive scarves, new matching bags, and a founder who scaled from solo sketches to international press. Listen to discover inside the designer’s journey—and the courage—it takes to launch and grow. Poemet means “a woman’s heartbeat” in Hebrew—each piece feels like an extension of the designer’s heart.

Emma, founder of Modern Natured, shares how she grew her brand from waist beads inspired by her Ghanaian heritage to a couture collection at Paris Fashion Week. Featured in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Forbes, Emma talks about sustainability, versatility in design, and her advice for young creatives on staying inspired, organized, and resilient.