In this episode of Founders and Funders, host Ray Yee sits down with Gabriel Bastien-Dietrich, Brand Manager at Nautica Australia. Gabriel shares his journey from the ski slopes north of Montreal to navigating the high-stakes world of international fashion licensing. They dive deep into the mechanics of brand rejuvenation.

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Key Takeaways

• The Licensing Advantage: Discover how licensing (versus distribution) allows the Australian team to design specific silhouettes and sub-brands, like Nautica Competition, specifically for the local market.
• Authenticity Over Aesthetics: Gabriel explains why their most successful campaign was shot authentically on a boat in Sydney Harbour with friends, rather than using "pretty" staged modeling.
• Sustainable Quality: A look at why Nautica Australia prioritizes garment longevity—using 220 GSM Australian cotton—to combat "greenwashing" and ensure clothes last for 15 years.
• Navigating the Retail Crunch: Insights into the shrinking brick-and-mortar landscape and why brands with a "North Star" ethos are the ones that survive economic downturns.

Founder Lessons

• Stay a "Tourist": Gabriel attributes his ability to seize opportunities to a mindset of constant wonder and openness.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Why "Excel is his best friend" and how annual customer surveys provide the subjective feedback necessary to iterate effectively.
• The Originality Mandate: In a small, homogenous market like Australia, being a "copycat" is a fast track to being disposed of by consumers.

Links & Resources

• Nautica Australia: Official Website
• Follow on Instagram: @nauticaaus
• Riverside AI: Our secret weapon for social media clips.
• Industry Reading: Gabriel recommends Inside Retail and Business Insider for staying ahead of market trends.

Host: Ray Yee

Guest: Gabriel Bastien-Dietrich, Brand Manager at Nautica Australia

In this episode of Founders and Funders, we sit down with Connor Luke Van Brown, a designer who transitioned from the high-octane world of professional cycling to the intricate craft of technical fashion. Connor shares the "aha moment" in a team van—watching a Givenchy show just minutes before a race—that led him to trade his bike for a career in design.

We explore his journey through UTS School of Design, the reality of funding a career pivot by selling off his cycling gear, and how he leverages his background in animation and 3D software to create his signature "Resembool" collection.

Named after the hometown in Fullmetal Alchemist, the collection represents a "checkpoint" in his journey. From interning at Song for the Mute to receiving unexpected interest from international buyers in Tokyo and London, Connor discusses what it takes to build a brand in the modern fashion landscape and the meticulous process behind his "beaded pleat" textile manipulations.

• Instagram: @connor.lv.brown
• Latest Collection: "Resembool" (UTS Honors Graduate Collection)

• Professional Background: UCI Continental Team Development
• Industry Experience: Song for the Mute (Sydney)
• Education:

In this episode of Founders and Funders, Ray speaks with Valentin Zhmodikov, a Melbourne-based fashion and portrait photographer originally from St. Petersburg, Russia.

Valentin shares how photography became both a creative outlet and a professional path, and what it really takes to move from hobbyist to working photographer. He talks openly about self-doubt, rejection, and the uncertainty that comes with creative careers, especially during periods like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conversation explores finding your own visual style, why gear matters far less than consistency, and how personal projects help shape a recognisable creative voice. Valentin also reflects on collaboration, trust between photographer and subject, and the emotional vulnerability involved in portrait work.

This episode is for creators navigating long journeys, imperfect progress, and the challenge of staying committed when results aren’t immediate.

Follow Valentin Zhmodikov
Website: https://www.zhmodikov.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhmodikov/