In this special “Best of Founder Stories” episode, we revisit highlights from four powerful interviews with fashion entrepreneurs Stella Carakasi, Linda Lundström, Kristi Soomer, and RozeMerie Cuevas.
If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a fashion brand from the ground up and stay true to your values while doing it, this episode is for you. Over the past few seasons, I've had the privilege of speaking with some incredible women in fashion, designers and founders who've carved their own paths, built purpose-driven businesses, and stayed resilient through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. In this roundup, you'll hear highlights from four powerhouse conversations.
Stella Carakasi on pivoting her business model and staying authentic as a designer. Linda Lundstrom, a Canadian fashion icon known for her ethical approach to design and manufacturing. Kristi Soomer, who built a profitable slow fashion brand from scratch. And RozeMerie Cuevas, who took her Vancouver-born brand Global while protecting her brand's DNA.
Each story is different, but the common thread is clear. These founders lead with purpose, adapt with grit, and never lose sight of why they started.
Whether you're launching a brand or navigating your next chapter, you'll walk away with timeless advice, hard-won lessons, and the reminder that success in fashion doesn't come from following trends, it comes from following your truth.
About
Glynis Tao is the founder & CEO of Chase Your Dreams Consulting, which is an apparel business consulting & online marketing agency that specializes in SEO & AI search optimization for e-commerce companies. She helps fashion, beauty and lifestyle e-commerce brands create optimized content and attract potential customers through organic search results.
Takeaways
- Start with strong brand values. Each founder emphasized the importance of leading with purpose, clarity, and authenticity from day one.
- Resilience is everything. The journey is filled with highs and lows. Your ability to adapt and keep going is what sets you apart.
- Let your customer guide you. Staying in tune with your audience helps shape products that resonate—and drive sustainable growth.
- Your brand DNA matters. A clear creative vision and consistent identity are essential, especially when scaling globally.
- Purpose drives innovation. From capsule collections to new retail models, each founder found creative ways to align business with mission.
- Believe in the signs—and yourself. Linda Lundström’s story reminds us that trusting your intuition can lead to magical outcomes.
- Growth takes grit. International success doesn’t happen overnight. RozeMerie Cuevas shares how she scaled with a handshake, a vision, and relentless execution.