In this behind-the-scenes episode of The Business of Apparel, Rachel is pulling back the curtain on a major transition at Unmarked Street. After losing two of our top-paying clients, months earlier than expected, we’re doubling down on what lights us up: building our annual membership community. Rachel walks you through the mindset shift, the tough team conversations, and the intentional reallocation of resources as we align our entire company around serving startup and plateaued apparel brands through our advisory membership.

You'll hear the raw truth about navigating financial uncertainty, why we believe in coaching even in a down economy, and how we’re strategically planning around best-case, worst-case, and realistic cashflow scenarios. If you’ve ever had to pivot hard in your business or felt the emotional weight of leadership, this episode offers both transparency and real-time advice to help you weather those moments.

Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/the-board

- Behind-the-scenes look at a major business transition

- The emotional and financial impact of losing two top-paying clients

- Worst-case scenario financial planning

- Reassessing subscriptions, expenses, and marketing strategies

- How to stay committed to your mission while adjusting your operations

- Practical steps to analyze cash flow, set new sales targets, and maintain profitability

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.

How will tariffs affect your apparel business? Are you prepared to not just survive, but THRIVE in this economy?

In this episode of The Business of Apparel Podcast, Rachel takes an unplanned but essential detour to talk about the escalating impact of tariffs on apparel brands, and what you must do to prepare. From 10% import fees threatening wholesale margins to predictions of even steeper tariff hikes, Rachel shares why ignoring these trends could cost you your business. She also breaks down the ripple effect across industries like construction and retail and explains why now is the time to revisit your worst-case financial scenarios.

You’ll also learn actionable steps to protect your margins, re-evaluate your cost structures, and build a resilient mindset to lead your team through economic uncertainty. Finally, Rachel discusses how betting on yourself, committing to continuous learning, and joining a supportive community can mean the difference between closing your doors or scaling when the market recovers.

Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/the-board

- Why Even “Small” Tariffs (10–15%) Are Crushing Wholesale Profitability

- Predictions of Additional Tariff Increases and Economic Strain

- The Importance of Recalculating Worst-Case Financial Scenarios

- The Necessity of Mental Fortitude and Betting on Yourself as a Founder

- Why Continuous Learning and Community Are Critical to Survival

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.

Are you burning out your team and draining your profits by offering too many products? Did you know you can actually double your revenue by doing less?

In this episode of The Business of Apparel Podcast, Rachel explains the strategy of SKU rationalization, the proven process of reducing your product line to focus on what actually sells. Learn why trimming your assortment can double (or even triple) your revenue without piling on more work or marketing expense.

We break down the step-by-step approach to identifying your losing SKUs, weeding out the waste in your inventory, and setting your business up for sustainable growth, even if you’re a small startup. Plus, discover how a single decision took one brand from $25 million to $60 million in sales. Don’t forget to register for our upcoming SKU Rationalization Workshop, taking place on Friday, July 25th at 1:30pm EST, where you’ll learn how to implement this process inside your own brand.

Sign up for the SKU Rationalization Workshop here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/sku

- What SKU rationalization is and why it matters

- How to identify your winning and losing SKUs

- The impact of too many products on your team and customers

- The “weeding out the waste” analogy for product lines

- Details of the upcoming SKU Rationalization Workshop

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.

Have you ever wondered what really separates Unmarked Street from The Business of Apparel?

In this episode of the Business of Apparel Podcast, Rachel pulls back the curtain and breaks down the purpose and vision behind her two companies, and how they each can help you grow and protect your apparel business. Sparked by a question from the community, Rachel shares the story of why she left corporate after burnout and illness to launch Unmarked Street as a consulting agency dedicated to helping brands master product development, technical design, and business growth.

Then, Rachel goes into how The Business of Apparel was born from her passion for education and mentorship, offering courses, templates, and memberships to empower entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge that billion-dollar brands use every day. If you’re considering freelancing, building an apparel line, or simply curious about how to structure multiple brands, this episode is full of value you won’t want to miss.

- The meaning behind the name “Unmarked Street”

- Our transition from freelancing to building an agency team

- How Unmarked Street helps clients with product development, technical design, and business growth

- What The Business of Apparel offers: courses, templates, memberships

- Real-life client success stories and examples of saved costs

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.

Curious how a career in luxury fashion can evolve into a thriving sewing education and sustainable apparel brand?

In this episode of Business of Apparel, Rachel welcomes Christine Lindebak (from 🇪🇸 Spain), founder of Sewing in the City and her slow fashion label Lindy, Lindy. Discover how Christine turned a childhood passion into a successful online sewing academy, turned vintage linens into one-of-a-kind garments, and mastered the art of balancing creativity and strategy through smart time-blocking and local production.

Hear Christine’s best advice for aspiring apparel entrepreneurs: from testing custom-first models and launching soft drops, to embracing imperfection and sharing your messy early journey on social media. Whether you're building your first piece or scaling a brand, Christine’s story is packed with inspiration and practical advice to help you get started — sooner and smarter.

- Transition from corporate fashion to entrepreneurship

- Time-blocking, batching content, and energy-based productivity

- Benefits of a custom-first business model with local production

- Advice for startup apparel brand owners

- Encouragement to start before everything is perfect

Connect with Christine:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewingandthecity/

Websites: https://sewingandthecity.com and https://lindylindy.com

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.

In this episode, Rachel welcomes Flying Solo co-founder, Elizabeth Solomeina to talk about what it really takes to successfully grow an independent apparel brand from scratch and avoid some very costly mistakes. From testing the market to wholesale risks, Elizabeth draws from real-world experiences from over nine years helping designers break into the fashion world.

Elizabeth shares the biggest mistakes new brands make during early production, the underestimated power of community building, and why slow, strategic scaling beats going big from day one. They get into how to test your market, build brand loyalty, approach PR and wholesale smartly, and use retail partnerships as a launchpad, not a liability. If you're launching or scaling a fashion brand, this episode is essential for you and your brand. discover more!

- How to test your first apparel collection without overcommitting.

- Why being visible as a founder drives sales.

- Building a community that markets your brand for you.

- Retail strategies that won’t bankrupt your startup.

- The hidden risks of wholesale agreements.

Connect with Elizabeth:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flyingsolonyc/

Website: https://flyingsolo.nyc

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.

In this episode, Rachel connects with longtime friend and industry pro Mary Coats for an inspiring conversation about her winding path through the apparel industry. From childhood sewing projects to earning a master’s degree in sustainability and working with major brands like Pearl Izumi and Head Sweats, Mary shares her journey with humor, clarity, and wisdom, making this a must-listen for anyone in, entering, or even thinking about entering the apparel world.

Together, they discuss how sustainability isn’t just about fabric. It’s about people, education, systems, and small, intentional changes. Mary details her research on laundry behavior, her pivot into solar sales during COVID, and her current role helping scale the Unmarked Street team and its mission. If you're a student, freelancer, or founder trying to navigate your next step, this episode will leave you inspired and empowered.o discover more!

- The real sustainability issues most brands ignore.

- Navigating career pivots and industry changes.

- Sales and customer service in a small fashion business.

- The power of networks and mentorship.

Connect with Mary:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-coats/

Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion-Dollar Apparel Brands FREE Course here!

Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

To connect with Rachel, you can join her LinkedIn community here: LinkedIn.

To visit her website, go to: www.unmarkedstreet.com.