Telfar: Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy

How I Built This · 14 Feb 2022 · 1h 17m

What this episode covers

Telfar Clemens and Babak Radboy explain how they built the Telfar brand by rejecting the traditional fashion industry's gatekeepers and wholesale model. They detail their strategy of securing unconventional sponsorships from Kmart and White Castle to fund their shows, which generated revenue and press attention. The conversation highlights the launch of the iconic Telfar Shopping Bag, its pricing philosophy, and the pivotal decision to exit wholesale in 2019 to become a direct-to-consumer brand, a move that protected them during the pandemic.

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