# Chilewich: Sandy Chilewich

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-08-31
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich

## Summary

Sandy Chilewich, co-founder of the fashion brand Hue and founder of Chilewich, recounts her journey from dyeing black canvas shoes in her Manhattan loft to creating durable woven vinyl placemats. She details the accidental success of Hue, its expansion into tights, and the eventual sale of the company due to partnership friction. Chilewich then explains how she leveraged her design background and family capital to launch Chilewich, focusing on manufacturing in the US and navigating retail distribution and copycats.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=0) Introduction: Sandy Chilewich and the Origin of Hue
- [3:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=207) Dyeing Shoes and the Vogue Breakthrough
- [12:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=760) Expanding Hue into Tights and Business Lessons
- [20:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=1235) Selling Hue and the Search for a New Idea
- [26:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=1567) The Ray Bowl and MOMA Design Store
- [30:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=1813) Discovering Woven Vinyl and Creating Placemats
- [36:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=2203) Scaling Chilewich: Manufacturing and Retail
- [38:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=2293) Working with Spouses and Handling Copycats
- [41:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-08-31-chilewich-sandy-chilewich#t=2490) Navigating the Pandemic and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Hue (product)
- Chilewich (company)
- Vogue (company)
- Bergdorf Goodman (company)
- Museum of Modern Art (company)
- Ray Bowl (product)
- Material Connection (company)
- Pfeiffer (company)
- West Elm (company)
- Crate and Barrel (company)

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- [Founder Feature: Maria Covarrubias of Cien Chiles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-06-21-founder-feature-maria-covarrubias-of-cien-chiles) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-14-founder-feature-tabi-and-meena-hoshmand-of-tursh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Joe Cassinelli of El Nacho](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-10-02-founder-feature-joe-cassinelli-of-el-nacho) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-19-006-customizable-swimwear-with-kelsey-duffy-of-versakini) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Becca Wright of Piedmont Pennies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-17-founder-feature-becca-wright-of-piedmont-pennies) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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