AI in fashion, 3D denim design, and sustainable fashion leadership are reshaping the future of the apparel industry.

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In this Season 2 premiere of (un)conversations, Dr. Alison Schmidt sits down with Kirsten Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of One Jeanswear Group, to explore how AI in fashion, fashion technology, AI-powered product development, and sustainable innovation are transforming iconic American brands.

This conversation is a masterclass in modern fashion leadership at the intersection of creativity, technology, and business.

With over 20 years of experience across heritage and contemporary labels—including Gloria Vanderbilt, Jessica Simpson, Nine West, Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Old Navy, and Rocawear—Kirsten shares how she blends creativity with commercial strategy to drive measurable results. She discusses leading brand turnarounds, launching national campaigns, and integrating AI-driven design, 3D digital denim, and BCI cotton initiatives into modern fashion leadership.

Beyond the C-suite, Kirsten is deeply committed to mentoring emerging talent and shaping the next generation of leaders in the US fashion and retail industry.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

👖 How to build a nontraditional career path in fashion leadership
👖 How AI in fashion and 3D design are changing product development
👖 Leadership lessons from heritage and high-growth fashion brands
👖 How to balance creativity, sustainability, and business performance
👖 What the future of denim and fashion technology looks like

If you care about where fashion is headed next—AI, sustainability, and leadership—this episode is for you.

Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode Teaser00:00:55 Who Is Kirsten Lee? | Leading One Jeanswear Group00:01:54 Segment: The (UN)word Effect00:03:12 Cultural Identity: Growing up Korean-American in Fashion00:04:44 Choosing an (Un)written Path: From Science to Parsons Design00:07:29 Early failures that reshaped her leadership00:14:10 Career Pivots That Changed Everything | Reinvention & Growth00:21:05 Authentic Leadership: Identity and "Unfiltered" Communication00:28:22 How AI-driven design and 3D denim are changing fashion forever00:35:10 The art vs. business tension every creative leader faces00:42:30 Sustainable Success: Boundaries, Burnout & Personal Growth00:50:15 Kirsten Lee's Final Insights & Key Takeaways | Leadership Lessons00:52:38 Ask Dr. Alison00:55:45 That’s a wrap on this (un)conversation

Connect with Dr. Alison Schmidt, CEO of Unconvention

Website: unconventionllc.com

Instagram: @dralisonschmidt | @unconversationspodcast

LinkedIn: Dr. Alison Schmidt

Connect with Kirsten Lee

LinkedIn: Kirsten Lee

A special thank you to DJ Doug Jackson for composing and producing the official (un)conversations theme song: https://soundcloud.com/dougjackson