Prompt Cast
Building the Telfar Fashion Brand with Inclusive Designs
TLDR Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy created the Telfar fashion brand by designing simple, genderless clothing accessible to everyone, overcoming challenges in gaining recognition and collaborating with mainstream brands. They emphasize the importance of owning their brand and maintaining creative freedom.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy built the fashion brand Telfar by working outside the traditional fashion industry norms and creating simple, genderless designs accessible to everyone.
06:33
Telfar Clemens expressed himself through clothing from a young age, despite tension with his parents, and knew early on that he wanted to leave the suburbs and move to New York City.
12:43
Telfar Clemens started selling clothes he made from deconstructed T-shirts on the Lower East Side before starting college.
18:29
Telfar Clemens initially drew inspiration from deconstructed vintage t-shirts and jeans, creating unique pieces like triple t-shirts that he sold in New York boutiques.
24:34
Telfar Clemens focused on creating unisex clothing that prioritized comfort and originality, breaking away from traditional gender-specific fashion norms.
30:39
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy met in 2004, with Telfar juggling DJing and consignment to make ends meet while creating unisex clothing.
36:50
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy struggled to gain recognition in the fashion industry, facing challenges with getting press attention and support despite their innovative clothing designs.
42:50
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy strategically approached Kmart to sponsor their fall 2014 fashion show, which marked a turning point in gaining mainstream press coverage and recognition for their brand.
49:07
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy secured a sponsorship from White Castle for their genderless fashion show, leading to a unique after-party at White Castle in Times Square that became a signature event for their brand.
55:28
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy discuss how they shifted their approach to collaborations by producing the White Castle employee uniforms themselves, leading to a significant revenue stream and a new direction for their brand.
01:01:41
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy discuss the growth of the Telfar brand, highlighting the gradual viral momentum that led to the popularity of their bag among celebrities and the power of gifting in expanding their reach.
01:07:56
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy faced challenges with a failed collaboration with Gap, but found success through viral bag drops during the pandemic, leading to a social media campaign that eventually resulted in Gap paying them for their work.
01:14:00
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy strategically exited the fashion industry to create their own brand, focusing on sustainability, ownership, and inclusivity for a multi-generational and diverse audience.
01:20:21
Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy emphasize the importance of owning their brand, maintaining creative freedom, and building a supportive community to create a platform that benefits their collaborators without censorship or external control.
Categories:
Business
