A Fashion Industry Education in 60 Minutes or Less Through These Podcast Episodes

In a plethora of information about fashion that is available online, we narrowed it down to some podcast recommendations that discuss topics from different sides of the industry.

Podcasts have been on a steady global rise, especially during the pandemic. It has grown to become a popular medium for sharing information, including that of fashion expertise. Industry veterans have also been actively sharing invaluable advice and insights online that would help anyone who is interested in starting their fashion career, or for those who simply want to get a better understanding of fashion behind the scenes. There are so many podcasts to choose from, but here are a few episodes that explore different sides and stories in the world of fashion from those inside:

Fashion Design & Creative Direction

Louis Vuitton [EXTENDED] – Pharrell Williams on merging fashion with music & family with Bishop Ezekiel Williams

French fashion journalist and documentary maker Loïc Prigent gives listeners an exclusive look behind the scenes of the Maison through Louis Vuitton [EXTENDED]: a podcast that features interviews with key members of the team who have been part of building its culture along with its defining moments.

The pilot episode of the bimonthly podcast features an interview with the newly appointed Louis Vuitton Men’s creative director, Pharrell Williams. In this interview, Williams and Prigent talk about the former’s first collection launch, the theme behind it which revolved around ‘LoVe’, the significance of his appointment, and working with his uncle: bishop Ezekiel Williams and his gospel choir Voices of Fire—who performed Williams’ new single, Joy (Unspeakable), during the Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring-Summer 2024 show. Williams also talks a bit about his roots and how this has contributed to the design process for this collection. 

Coming from a musical background, Williams acknowledges that he is still a ‘student’ stepping into his position but he is perpetually learning through those around him such as the ‘masterful artisans’ who he considers to be the best in the game.

You Can Do This! – Build a Lucrative Business Out of Your Passion With Rajo Laurel

You Can Do This! is a podcast hosted by journalist and motivational speaker Myrza Sison that provides inspiration to its listeners through interviewing key figures in the Philippines. The topics focus on their career journey, how they achieved their goals, and what they did to get there. The podcast also covers “how-to” topics that revolve around personal development.

In this episode, Sison interviews Filipino fashion designer Rajo Laurel on his background, how he started, and how he established his brand as a household name worn by local and international personalities. From starting at his grandmother’s basement to building a fashion empire with more than 500 workers, Laurel details his career journey as a fashion designer and how he overcame the obstacles that he faced along the way.

Fashion Journalism

The Run Through With Vogue – Anna Wintour: Her Favorite September Cover, Her Work Ethic (and Workout!), and What Her Grandkids Call Her

The Run Through With Vogue is hosted by two longtime American Vogue editors, Chioma Nnadi (who will soon be moving to British Vogue to serve as its head of editorial content) and Chloe Malle, who give the listeners a peek into the fashion industry through interviews with fellow editors, cover stars, and other creatives in the field.

In this episode, Nnadi and Malle sit down with Anna Wintour, who has been the editor-in-chief of American Vogue for more than three decades. Having built an extensive career in fashion through media and journalistic pursuits, Wintour has got the knowledge and experience that aspiring editors can learn from. 

PRETTYSMART – Lindsay Peoples Wagner Changing The Fashion Industry + Pursuing A Career Rooted In Purpose

PRETTYSMART is a podcast whose goal is to bring light to “some of the most dynamic voices—from entrepreneurs and authors to politicians and celebrities.” Hosted by journalist Danielle Robay, it aims to empower and inspire listeners through sharing the journey of her guests, who are primarily women.
Lindsay Peoples Wagner—editor-in-chief of The Cut and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue (where she was the youngest to hold the position in Condé Nast history)—joins Robay in this episode to talk about her career journey from working as an intern, then to an assistant, and eventually to an executive. They also discuss her mission of amplifying more black creatives, her viral article What It’s Really Like to Be Black and Work in Fashion, and what she wore to meet Anna Wintour in an interview for the Teen Vogue role. 

Modeling

Basic! – Cindy Crawford

Basic! brings together TV executive Doug Herzog and TV critic Jen Chaney as they talk to key figures in Cable TV. While this show does not primarily focus on fashion, it features an interview with supermodel Cindy Crawford, who hosted MTV’s House of Style from 1989 to 1995. 

In this episode, Crawford talks to Herzog and Chaney about her modeling career, how she got started, and the significance of House of Style—an MTV show that showcased the modeling industry and snippets of the lives of the top models at the time such as Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss. House of Style also took its viewers to fashion weeks all over the world as it aimed to satiate the “supermodel craze” that was happening. 

While the industry is very different now to how it was during Crawford’s heyday, the impact of Crawford and her batch of supermodels transcends generations as evidenced by their September 2023 Vogue cover. Their respective journeys could give aspiring models an overview into what it is like to be a model, both in print and on the runway.

High Low with EmRata – Modeling: What’s it Really Like?

American model Emily Ratajkowski opens the floor for discourse in the podcast that she hosts High Low with EmRata. With new episodes every Tuesday, the topics range from pop culture to politics and current events. She often has guests who have background or experience in the topic to join her on the show to share their insights.

In this episode of the podcast, Ratajkowski is by herself as she details her modeling career and how she got into modeling in the first place. She candidly shares about the struggles that she faced and she also answers questions that were sent by listeners. Her answers are commonly drawn from her personal experience and she often references topics that she covered in her book My Body, a collection of essays that talk about the experience of being a woman through her perspective. 

Makeup Artistry

Desert Island Discs – Pat McGrath, Makeup Artist

Desert Island Discs began as a radio program that started airing back in 1942. Produced by BBC Radio 4 and currently hosted by English radio DJ Lauren Laverne, the show’s format typically consists of asking its guest—referred to as a “castaway”—to name eight tracks, a book, and a luxury that they would bring with them if they get stuck on a desert island.

The career and life of renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath is chronicled in this episode as they also go through her selection of desert island essentials. McGrath has worked with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, and Givenchy to name a few. She has since created her own makeup line in 2015, Pat McGrath Labs, that went on to become a billion dollar company. 

This episode is a treat for those who are interested in navigating a career in beauty—may it be for fashion campaigns or events—but have no idea where to start. McGrath takes you on her journey from being a self-taught makeup artist to being heralded as one of the most influential in her field. 

Styling

The Open Table Conversations with Studio Sug – Pam Quiñones: how a wide-eyed self-proclaimed promdi geek became today’s powerhouse in fashion. Pam Q revisits her roots.

In the sole episode of The Open Table Conversations—a podcast that celebrates homecoming and heritage—listeners get to hear from Filipino fashion stylist and the Vogue Philippines fashion director Pam Quiñones as she joins the host, Bea Constantino, to talk about her roots and career journey.

Hailing from Cotabato City, Quiñones moved to Manila when she started her first year in college. She grew up reading a lot of magazines which developed her interest in fashion. 

Throughout the episode, you learn more about Quiñones beyond her fashion career—like how she initially wanted to become a doctor before shifting to the European Studies program—and how all of these have contributed to the path that she eventually pursued. 

She also talks about some of her earlier experiences in the industry and having the opportunity to dress supermodel Naomi Campbell when she was a masters student in Istituto Marangoni.

Photography

In VOGUE: The Archives – Annie Leibovitz and Grace Coddington: Down the Rabbit Hole of The Greatest Fashion Shoot of All Time

In VOGUE takes its listeners on a trip down memory lane as it recounts some of the moments that impacted the world of fashion in different decades. 

In this episode, the podcast is now in its second season and the focus shifts from the 90s to the 2000s. Listeners are teleported to the December 2003 American Vogue editorial styled by Grace Coddington and photographed by Annie Leibovitz. This editorial, which featured model Natalia Vodianova as Alice in Wonderland, has been lauded as the greatest of all time as it also saw a gathering of prominent designers—such as John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier—who portrayed the inhabitants of Wonderland such as the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat.

Leibovitz and Coddington go down the rabbit hole to recall how the shoot came about and what went down behind the scenes through the perspective of those involved. This can help listeners understand the thought process of a professional photographer during shoots and how a message is relayed through the photos. 

Kwentong Creatives – BJ Pascual on Fashion, Photography & Mental Health

Kwentong Creatives (Stories on Creatives) is a podcast hosted by film director Gio Puyat that introduces listeners to different Filipinos working in various creative fields such as fashion, film, and music. It also puts the spotlight on how each creative navigates their respective industry as well as their other passions in life.

BJ Pascual joins Puyat to talk about his journey— his humble beginnings growing up in Cavite and coming from a family that did not have artistic roots, to figuring out his creative direction in photography, and working on his mental health.

Pascual has worked with some of the biggest celebrities and brands in the Philippines. He has also photographed stars such as Coco Rocha, Elsa Hosk, and Troye Sivan to name a few.

This is an episode that, according to its host, can serve as a roadmap for those who are looking to follow a similar career path.

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