David M. Watts: Hello, fashion enthusiasts! Welcome to another exciting episode of "Just A Fashion Minute," the podcast where we explore the latest ideas in fashion and shine a spotlight on the incredible talents shaping our industry. I'm your host, David M. Watts, and I couldn't be more thrilled to have you join us today.

I have a truly fascinating guest lined up for this episode—Maurice Mullen. Maurice, who you may know from his influential roles at the London Evening Standard and ES Magazine, shares unparalleled insights from his extensive career in fashion publishing. We dive deep into some compelling topics, including the current state of print media, the evolving role of AI in fashion, and the indelible importance of quality journalism in today's digital age.

One of the standout moments in our conversation is Maurice's recounting of an unforgettable day at the Ascot races, where he unknowingly spent time with Rocco Ritchie, Madonna's son. Maurice also opens up about his early career decisions, moving from a potential legal career in Northern Ireland to following his passion for fashion in London. His stories are both enlightening and entertaining!

We'll also touch upon some pressing issues in the fashion world, from the impact of digital media on traditional magazines to Maurice's thoughts on the future of fashion publications. His views on the complementary relationship between print and digital media are sure to spark some thoughts.

And as always, we have our "Just A Fashion Minute News Round Up," where we bring you the latest buzz in the fashion world. This week, we'll be covering Jacquemus' quirky marketing strategies, Glenn Martens' transformation of Diesel into a lifestyle brand, and all the speculation surrounding Chanel's next creative director.

Don't forget to subscribe to "Just A Fashion Minute" on your podcasting app of choice so you never miss out on our latest episodes. Now, let's dive into this week's fascinating discussion with Maurice Mullen.

00:00 - Introduction and Just A Fashion Minute News Round-up: Updates on Jacquemus store openings, Diesel's collaboration with H&M, and Chanel creative director speculation.

05:01 - Early Fashion Interest: Maurice discusses buying Vogue magazines as a teenager in Northern Ireland during the mid-seventies.

07:54 - Career Transition: His journey from a legal career in Northern Ireland to London's publishing industry in the early eighties.

13:18 - Definition of Fashion: Maurice defines fashion as nonverbal communication, a language people use to convey how they want to be perceived.

15:57 - State of Print Media: Discussion on print media's resilience, with 13.6 million UK adults still reading daily print publications.

20:00 - Digital vs Print: Analysis of how print and digital media coexist rather than compete.

28:11 - Role of Professional Journalism: The importance of professional journalists in filtering accurate information from misinformation.

31:35 - AI in Fashion Publishing: Discussion on AI's role as an enabler rather than a replacement for creative professionals.

42:12 - Quick Fire Questions: Maurice answers questions about embarrassing fashion moments, industry unsung heroes, and his outfit.

Maurice Mullen is a prominent figure in fashion publishing with over three decades of experience. Until recently, he served as the head of luxury and fashion at the London Evening Standard Newspaper and ES Magazine. His career began unconventionally, transitioning from a legal background in Northern Ireland to London's publishing industry in the 1980s. Known for his expertise in luxury and fashion media, Mullen has worked with countless luxury brands globally and is a respected voice in fashion education, frequently speaking to students about the industry. He is Deputy Chair of the Graduate Fashion...

Hi there, fashion enthusiasts! This is David M. Watts, and welcome back to another exciting episode of "Just A Fashion Minute." Today, we have a truly exceptional show lined up for you. I'm thrilled to introduce our incredibly insightful guest, Peter Williams, the visionary founder of Jack Wills and the newly launched Aubin and Wills. Peter's career journey is nothing short of fascinating, and I can't wait for you to hear all about it.

On this episode, you'll hear Peter candidly discuss the evolution of menswear, touching on the rarity of colourful options in the UK and how his brand has creatively integrated those vibrant pops. He shares a thought-provoking perspective on why men often stick to the safety of blue and how that's influenced his design choices.

But it doesn't stop there. We'll delve into the challenges independent fashion brands face in this mega-corporation-dominated industry. Peter offers invaluable advice on building a successful business, the importance of a clear brand narrative, and the vital role of a skilled and reliable team.

One of my favourite parts is when Peter recounts his journey as an entrepreneur, marked by both failures and triumphs. From an economics and strategy consultant to a fashion mogul, his story is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief.

What's new? As always, we have our "Just A Fashion Minute News Round Up" to keep you updated on the latest in the fashion world. You won't want to miss the exciting collaborations and notable changes happening among top designers and brands.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this insightful conversation. And hey, don't forget to subscribe to "Just A Fashion Minute" on your podcasting app of choice. That way, you'll never miss an episode brimming with insider fashion knowledge and inspiration. Happy listening!

00:00 - Introduction and Just A Fashion Minute News Round Up

05:46 - Peter's unconventional route into the fashion industry: Peter discusses his background in economics and strategy consulting before starting Jack Wills.

07:11 - The genesis of Jack Wills: Peter explains how his "23-year-old midlife crisis" led to the creation of Jack Wills, inspired by the spirit of youth and British heritage.

14:08 - The importance of experiences in shaping career paths: Peter shares how his time at an American boarding school influenced the creation of Jack Wills.

17:16 - The creation of Aubin and Wills: Peter explains the business model behind Aubin and Wills as a brand for Jack Wills customers who had grown up.

20:19 - Innovative marketing strategies: Peter discusses creative ways of marketing Jack Wills, including reaching out to head boys and girls of private schools.

25:43 - The future of independent fashion brands: Peter shares his thoughts on competing with mega-corporations in the fashion landscape.

32:55 - Advice for young fashion brands: Peter encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to take risks and start their businesses while young.

35:47 - Quickfire questions: Peter discusses embarrassing fashion moments, favourite retailers, and his look of the day.

Peter Williams is a pioneering British fashion entrepreneur known for founding two successful retail brands. As the creator of Jack Wills in 1999, he transformed a small startup into a significant fashion business with international reach, including stores across Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. Williams launched the brand at age 23 after leaving a career in strategy consulting, driven by what he calls his "23-year-old midlife crisis." His entrepreneurial vision was shaped by his experiences at Salisbury School in Connecticut during his gap year, where he was immersed in American prep culture that would later influence his brand aesthetic. Under his leadership, Jack Wills grew to become a notable British fashion...

Hello, fashion aficionados! Welcome back to Just A Fashion Minute. I'm your host, David M. Watts, and today we have an incredible episode lined up for you. Our guest, Christopher Yu, takes us on a deep dive into the world of fragrance, sharing insights on sustainability, the art of perfumery, and the evolving language of smell. Christopher's experiences working with LMR and his passion for protecting the planet and the people within the fragrance industry truly shine through in this episode.

We'll also explore Christopher's embarrassing fashion moment, discuss trending comfort scents, and delve into the global fragrance market's predicted growth. Plus, we have the latest in fashion news, from Gucci's cruise 2025 show at the Tate Modern to the excitement surrounding the opening of Dover Street Market in Paris.

And as always, we have our Just A Fashion Minute News Round Up to keep you updated on the latest happenings in the fashion world.

Don't forget to subscribe on your favourite podcasting app to catch all our episodes and stay connected with the world of fashion. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into the fascinating world of fashion and fragrance with Christopher Yu.

00:00:01 Introduction and overview of the episode

Just A Fashion Minute News Round-up and overview of the podcast episode topics.

00:06:01 Early interest in fragrance

Christopher Yu shares how he became interested in fragrance from a young age, including anecdotes about playing in duty-free shops as a child.

00:07:07 Fragrance memory triggers

Discussion on how certain smells can trigger nostalgic memories, like the smell of steamed rice reminding Chris of his childhood home.

00:07:57 Career influences

Chris credits influential people like Laurent Delafon and Olivier Polge who helped shape his fragrance career early on.

00:09:19 Bringing Diptyque to UK

Introducing the Diptyque fragrance brand to the UK market in the late 1990s.

00:10:04 Fashion/fragrance connection

Exploring the connection between fashion and fragrance as projections of one's self and personal style.

00:11:46 Defining fashion

Christopher Hu provides his definition of fashion as an expression reflecting a point in time.

00:13:38 Sustainability in fragrance

In-depth discussion on sustainability practices in the fragrance industry and Chris's perspective on what true sustainability means.

00:18:57 Price variations in fragrance

Explanation for why there are significant price variations between different fragrance brands.

00:20:14 Describing smells

Tips on how to better describe and articulate different smells beyond basic vocabulary.

00:22:48 Fragrance trends

Discussion on current fragrance trends like scents reminiscent of Play-Doh, lipstick and hemp as consumers seek out comforting smells post-pandemic.

00:24:41 Growth of global fragrance market

Exploring what is driving the projected growth of the global fragrance market in the coming years.

00:26:54 Creating Ostens fragrances

The years-long process Chris went through in creating and developing his own Ostens fragrance brand.

00:31:11 Meaning behind wearing fragrance

Whether people wear fragrance just to smell good or if there are deeper meanings and emotional reasons behind it.

00:32:23 Ostens brand purpose

Chris shares the driving purpose behind his Ostens brand: to spotlight talented creators in the industry.

00:33:09 Redefining fragrance

How Chris believes the fragrance industry should be redefined, valuing creators and respecting the product.

00:33:30 Quickfire questions

Rapid-fire questions about fashion/fragrance topics.

00:39:01 Closing remarks

Closing thoughts and appreciation for you, the listeners, as the podcast season wraps up.