Insights & Articles
Exploring fashion production, business systems, and the journey of building sustainable creative ventures.
Finding My Edge: Why Learning to Code Is Changing How I Work With Fashion Designers
For most of my career, my superpower came from production and operations management.
Why Small Fashion Brands Can’t Afford to Ignore Tech Anymore
Here’s the truth most independent designers don’t want to admit:
Why 30 Luxury Sales Will Always Outperform 300 Mass-Market Pieces
I had a conversation this morning that hit on something most independent designers never slow down long enough to question:
What to Do When Your Factory Stops Replying
Stop chasing. Start leading.
Why I Don’t Assist With Knock-Offs & Why That Matters for Your Fashion Business
One thing to know about me as a production manager:
Fit Sample → PP → TOP: The 3 Approvals That Really Matter
If you approve the wrong sample, you approve the wrong production.
3 Things Factories Need BEFORE They Can Quote Your Design
Factories don't ghost, they react to clarity or lack there of…
How Fabric Indecision Silently Delays Your Production Timeline
You’re not stuck — you’re undecided.
France Didn’t Just Block Shein — They Made a Statement
And honestly? Fashion has been waiting for someone to say this out loud.
Why Fashion Designers Need a Business Management Platform (Before They Burn Out)
You became a fashion designer because you love creating beautiful things. You dream in color palettes and fabric textures. You see a garment in your mind and can't rest until you bring it to life....
A System That Saved Me
For a long time, I thought the system that would _save me_ was the one that made everything perfect: every spreadsheet, every email, every workout, every text message, every little detail. I spent so...
Production: My Non-Negotiables (For Every Fashion Season)
If you’ve ever managed a fashion production cycle, you know how many details go into getting a garment from concept to completion. It’s not just creative — it’s deeply operational.
Materials: What I Wish I Knew Earlier
What I wish I had known early in my career is that materials truly make or break a product’s success.
The Hidden Hours Behind Every Product You See Online or In-Store
When you walk into a store or scroll through a new collection online, it’s easy to forget just how many people — and how much time — went into creating each piece.
From Tech Packs to Tech Tools: How Designers Can Use Simple Systems to Save Time
How I’ve Bridged the Gap Between Fashion and Tech — and Why I’m Hosting an Open Discussion for Designers
At Oceo Luxe, We Believe in Structure That Protects Your Creative Flow
Every designer and visionary starts with a spark — that moment when an idea feels bigger than you. It’s the thrill of a new collection, the story behind your brand, or the vision you can already see...
When Vision Isn’t Enough: What One Client Taught Me About the Real Work Behind Design
He came to me with the kind of excitement I love — the kind that fills the room with ideas, sketches, and bold plans for the future. He wanted to build a fashion brand. The problem was, he didn’t...
How to Shop with Your Nervous System
How many times have you scrolled through designer sites or shopped online because you were bored or stressed?
Why It’s So Important to Know Where Your Clothing Comes From
Yesterday, I watched a CNN report about garment workers in Guatemala, the people behind so many of the clothes we see in U.S. stores. It brought me right back to one of my first experiences in the...
What to Do When It Feels Overwhelming
If you’re a designer, you know the overlap is real.
Using Technology to Your Advantage (Even If You Cannot Code)
If you’re a designer, creative, or visionary who’s ever thought, _“I’d love to build systems, but I’m not technical”_ — this post is for you.
Why Your Outfit Should Absolutely Cost More Than Brunch
…And why expecting fashion to be cheap is costing more than we think
Why Your Prices Should Reflect the True Cost of Production
Lately, I’ve seen more conversations online about the “high” prices of small businesses compared to fast fashion. As someone who’s been exposed to both sides of the industry, I can tell you there’s a...
The Fun of Moving Between Tasks and Industries
One of the things I’ve learned about myself as an operations manager is that my brain isn’t wired to stay in just one lane. I don’t thrive by repeating the same process day after day. Instead, I find...
Redirects, Discretion & Building What’s Needed
This week, I made the decision to leave my latest client project. On the surface, it looked aligned. In practice, it wasn’t. Choosing to step away wasn’t easy, but it came down to discretion,...
Materials Matter: What Production Taught Me About Small Business Operations
When I work in consumer product goods production, ie fashion, home goods, etc, one of my top priorities is materials.
Luxury Isn’t Loud
There’s a misconception that luxury has to announce itself.
The Real Cost of a $5 Tee Shirt
When you walk into a store, there’s an energy that comes off the clothing, the bags, the shoes. That energy isn’t random. It’s the result of people.
Finding My Flow: How I Finally Stopped Running My Life on Adrenaline
I used to believe I just wasn’t the kind of person who could relax.
Why Every Designer Needs a Pricing Calculator
You can’t grow what you can’t see.
Your Studio as a System: What Most Designers Overlook
This past week, the fashion industry made headlines, again.
I Love Fashion…And Still Want to Change It
I’ve loved this industry for as long as I can remember.
10 Truths About Me as an Operations Manager + Strategist
There’s the version of operations most people see—task lists, tools, tidy dashboards, spreadsheets.
What Luxury Means to Me Now
Luxury isn’t about price, it’s about process, energy, and integrity woven through every step.
Why I Created Oceo Luxe
This morning, I went for a walk.
I Wish I Listened to My Body
There were signs. A lot of them.
My Version of Over-Consumerism
I walked into Zara this morning. It’s been about 6 months since I’d stepped into a store like that—rows and rows of newness, endless styles, trendy fabrics, mannequins styled just well enough to make...
Summer Solstice: Resetting Before NYFW
The Solstice Reset: Finding Rhythm Before Fashion Week Chaos Hits
If Money Can Fix It, It’s Not a Problem
My grandfather always says, “If money can fix it, it’s not a problem.”
How I Accidentally Became a Digital Nomad
Reimagining What Was Lost: My Journey Into Digital Nomadism, Health, and a New Kind of Grounding
Why Your Creative Block Might Actually Be Overwhelm
And How a 5-Minute Reset Could Save Your Next Five Days.
Learning Who to Trust: How to Navigate the Noise Around Sourcing, Manufacturing & Fashion Start-Up Services
There’s no shortage of “experts” online, especially in fashion remember last months “European Luxury Brands are Made in China” trend?
Perfection Has a Price, So Does Running on Empty.
The fashion industry runs on perfection.
How to Create a Wardrobe That Feels Like Home
I’ve never really been one to chase trends.
From Burnout to Better Business: How Human Connection Changed My Fashion Career
When I left New York, I didn’t know exactly what I was walking towards but I knew I was done living a life where everything had to be urgent, loud, and transactional.
Treat Everything Like a Chain Reaction
What FIT taught me about timing, execution, and why one late fabric or zipper can wreck your entire launch:
What Roadwork and Runways Have in Common: Building Projects from the Ground Up
You’d be surprised how much fashion and roadwork have in common. It took me a couple of months to realize how much they overlapped.
I Was Stuck on My Website for 2 Years - This Changed Everything
I was stuck on my website for two full years.
The Power of a Project Manager Mindset
Why visionary founders need systems support they can actually trust.
Fashion Industry Glossary: 50 Terms You’ll Want to Know
Whether you’re new to the fashion world, curious about what your friends or family do, or just want to finally understand the terms you keep hearing—this glossary is your go-to guide. _Below are 50...
When I Traded My High Heels for Work Boots
What fashion taught me about building beyond the runway.
What to Expect on a Croatia Sailing Retreat (And Why You Should Bring a Friend)
There’s something about being out on the water that brings everything into perspective.
What a Seizure Taught Me About Slowing Down (and Systematizing My Life)
There was a time I thought productivity meant proving myself, to myself and everyone else around me.
🧵 How I Use Systems…Without Losing My Mind
Running a fashion brand sounds creative and exciting—and it is—but behind every perfect launch is a whole lot of logistics and fabric cuttings. Production timelines. Supplier follow-ups. Sampling...
What I’ve Learned About Value (That Has Nothing to Do with Price Tags)
Working in both fashion and construction taught me early on: value isn’t always visible. It’s not about the price tag, the title, or how polished something looks on paper. It’s about how you show...
How to Stay Creative When You’re Just… Tired
For years, I thought I could outwork the exhaustion. And for a while I did.
I never “planned” for my life to look like this…
I never “planned” for my life to look like this… but it turned out better than I could have ever imagined.
ELEGANT - Styling Your Clients One Piece at a Time
E L E G A N T Turn fitting room moments into lasting connections through expert curation.
May 2025: 30 Days of Tips from a Fashion Production Manager
This page will be updated each morning as the month goes on! Save for more tips or follow along on Threads!
Retail Introductions: How to Connect Instantly
Where it all began…