Why Colleen Allen Turns Away Retailers That Won't Pay Deposits | The BoF Podcast

Colleen Allen learned to sew sitting on her grandmother's lap, holding the fabric while her grandmother worked the pedal. Growing up in the Midwest, far from the industry, she found her way in through magazines, the first fashion blogs and old McQueen shows on YouTube. Allen studied menswear at Parsons, moved to London for a semester abroad at Central Saint Martins and asked to stay on to complete her degree. She landed her first job designing menswear at The Row but then something shifted. She decided to venture out on her own and create a womenswear label in 2024. Since then, Allen says the business has grown by triple digits year over year, with no outside investment and no full-time team other than herself. So how did she do it? This week on The BoF Podcast, Allen joins BoF founder Imran Amed to talk about the making of a womenswear label, the discipline behind self-funded growth and what she's building next. This conversation was recorded ahead of the LVMH Prize final in Paris, where Allen was one of nine finalists. Subscribe to BoF’s YouTube channel to never miss a video. CONNECT WITH THE BUSINESS OF FASHION: Web: https://www.businessoffashion.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BoF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessoffa... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BoF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-... Newsletter: https://www.businessoffashion.com/newsletters/ ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF FASHION: The Business of Fashion is a next-generation fa