Designer and brand consultant Johnny Diamandis joins Andrew Olah to explore what it truly takes to build a fashion brand today. With a globally successful track record designing menswear, accessories, and more for brands like Evisu, Burberry London, Nike, Fake London, and CAT Footwear, Johnny shares candid insights from both industry and academia. The conversation covers the financial realities of launching a brand, storytelling, design leadership, innovation, and what makes a product stand out—plus thoughtful advice for students and emerging designers. His teaching work includes institutions such as the Royal College of Art London, Parsons New York, and currently, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Connect with Johnny Diamandis:
LinkedIn | Website

In this episode, cotton expert Tim North discusses global cotton production, trade dynamics, and government support programs in key countries like the U.S., India, China, and Pakistan. He highlights how subsidies distort markets, why some traditional exporters have become importers, and the challenges facing producers.

The conversation also covers the rise of regenerative and traceable cotton as scalable, sustainable alternatives to organic cotton. Looking ahead, North sees little short-term price movement unless supply issues, especially in Texas, disrupt the market.

Want more of Tim’s insights and expertise? Go knock on the door: https://www.timnorthcotton.com/

Andrew and Umer Farooq Qureshi pull back the denim curtain to reveal Levi’s jaw-dropping 62% margin is built on supplier suffering. From closed-door biddings to so-called partnerships, from collapsing currencies to cotton politics, this episode shows exactly how the kings (brands) are bleeding the commoners (factories) dry, and what happens when the commoners stop playing nice. This isn’t just a talk about jeans. It’s about fairness, futures, and who gets crushed when a spreadsheet wins.

👉 Want the backstory? This whole conversation was sparked by Umer’s LinkedIn post: The Things No One Tells You but You Should Know If You’re a Levi’s Supplier