Defining breakthroughs, strategic lessons and insider insights that transform ambition into a lasting career in fashion
Teresa Solomon
Fashion & Luxury International Business Development | Tech Innovation & Sustainability | Brand Marketing & E-commerce | Fashion Lecturer
Your career spans luxury retail, digital transformation, global merchandising and education. When you look back, what was the first moment that truly shaped the professional you became?
I would say my pivot was from working on the brand side to moving into retail. Working at a large corporate big-box retailer really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped nurture a new level of confidence in building buying strategies and store collections, along with negotiating big deals with C-suite level executives—something I never had envisioned for myself when I first got into the role. I really took on the fiscal responsibility for my business units. Of course, I encountered some bumps along the way, but it most definitely gave me a great view of the business overall and helped me develop a comfort level with the serious financial side of the business that I didn’t have previously. It was a very good learning curve for me.
Where does your professional journey start — what was the spark that launched your career?
I used to work in the music business with major international artists. Often, we collaborated with fashion brands because they all wanted to dress the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Céline Dion, etc. That’s when I really started paying attention to what was happening in the fashion world, and it’s also what led me to decide to change careers and move into fashion. It also influenced my decision to move to Milan, as I felt that was where all the brands were. It wasn’t particularly well thought out, but with some hustle, it worked!
What makes a collection so well designed and developed that it stands out and wins buyers’ attention today?
A controversial viewpoint: honestly, these days I find collections to be very hit or miss, even from some of the best brands. I think there is a significant disconnect now, where creative directors are caught between design and the boardroom, and sometimes the art gets lost along the way. There are a few brands that deliver relatively consistently, but I rarely feel that an entire collection is cohesively excellent.
In a world where even the smallest brand can go global overnight, what does real communication mastery look like today? And…audiences today want more than aesthetics — they want emotional truth. How does storytelling turn a brand from “noticed” into “desired”?
I think the most successful brands today truly tap into what their customers want on a very personal and emotional level. Their storytelling is holistic, and their content creates more of a community and a two-way conversation, rather than simply posting content and talking at their customers. Even more importantly, brands that inspire their customers to generate content succeed in creating genuine connection, building loyalty and trust in the brand — something no advertising can truly buy.
What values are non-negotiable for you when shaping the next generation of fashion professionals through education?
I believe fashion’s future professionals really need to understand the history of fashion — not just from a brand’s point of view, but from an overarching perspective. Understanding the history of the textile industry and its origin stories can help shape who they become as designers and professionals. They must understand the cultural contexts of fashion, given that fashion is often influenced not only by art, but also by the politics and economics of a given period. Of course, they must also understand the environmental impact of their designs — or, better yet, learn to design, sell and market in ways that reduce impact from the outset. They should be aware of innovation across the industry, from production to textiles to digital advancement. We can no longer operate in this industry in a bubble. By now, we should all understand how connected we are to the planet, regardless of where we live and work. Sofi Thanhauser’s book Worn was a real eye-opener for me, and anyone who wants to work in fashion, regardless of discipline, should read it.
From your own perspective, what does it take to remain relevant, courageous and visionary in an industry that reinvents itself every season?
Authenticity will win every time, regardless of what’s on trend. Authenticity in how a brand presents itself, in its approach and communication with customers, in the product it offers, and in who it chooses to represent it all speaks volumes. Consistency also wins. Many brands today — especially luxury brands — are faltering when it comes to offering consistently good-quality products, and consumers are catching on and beginning to push back. Additionally, when brands frequently change the face of the brand by choosing ambassadors simply because they are of the zeitgeist or the latest “it” face, it signals a lack of confidence in who they are and how they want to communicate. Opting for ambassadors that every other brand has already worked with can come across as a money grab and fails to inspire consumer engagement or trust. In a market as saturated as fashion is today, at every price point, those who manage to secure a niche and serve it consistently well — with strong storytelling, compelling visuals and solid product — are the ones most likely to withstand the constant upheavals the industry faces.
When you observe culture today — film, art, architecture, music — which movements or voices speak to you most loudly?
Over the past couple of years, my focus has shifted strongly towards sustainability in fashion and supporting organisations that align with that agenda, from emerging designers to innovators in textiles and fashion technology. I have also been volunteering for an NGO based in Latin America that supports small enterprises and artisans in the fashion sector, many of whom are women. Essentially, I am returning to grassroots movements to explore how we can rebuild the industry in ways that support workers and designers, and help usher in a more balanced fashion future.
Do you have a personal ritual that helps you enter a more imaginative, future-facing mindset?
I try to stay up to date with what’s happening not only on the design side, but also within the financial sector of fashion and its related industries, both upstream and downstream. This involves a great deal of reading — not just social media, but also books, print media and documentaries — as well as attending seminars to hear and gain different perspectives. It can be a lot at times, but cross-pollinating information helps me build my own point of view and guide my path forward.
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