Escaping the Drift with John Gafford

Empowering Fashion: Elizabeth Solomeina's Journey from Designer to Retail Innovator

21 Oct 2025

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Join us as Elizabeth Solomeina, the co-founder of Flying Solo, shares her remarkable journey from a jewelry designer to a pivotal force in fashion retail innovation. Discover how Elizabeth turned challenges faced by independent brands into opportunities, creating a unique marketplace in New York City that empowers designers to connect directly with consumers. Her story of overcoming industry barriers, establishing a permanent retail space, and mentoring emerging talent offers invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial world of fashion.Flying Solo isn't your typical retail space; it’s a powerful platform transforming how emerging designers navigate their business journeys. Through a membership-based model, Flying Solo provides the flexibility for designers to experiment and showcase their collections without hefty overheads, building trust with consumers in an authentic way. We explore the stark contrast between small, designer-driven businesses and the fast fashion juggernauts, emphasizing the importance of sustainability, quality, and collaborative growth in shaping successful brands.Elizabeth sheds light on the risks and rewards of embracing a collaborative business model, detailing how Flying Solo grew from pop-up events to a dynamic, permanent space. Her insights into balancing artistic vision with business acumen, supporting young talent, and expanding into new markets while fostering meaningful industry connections are both inspiring and instructive. Tune in for a compelling conversation filled with stories of perseverance, innovation, and the transformative power of collaboration in the fashion industry.CHAPTERS (00:00) Entrepreneurial Approach to Fashion Retail(11:27) Navigating Fashion Business Development(19:16) Building a Collective Fashion Business(25:20) Collaborative Fashion Business Growth(38:29) Supporting Young Talent in Fashion(48:05) Empowering Personal Growth Through the Book💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below! ☑️ If you liked this video, consider subscribing to Escaping The Drift with John Gafford *************💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space.➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company.*************✅ Follow John Gafford on social media:Instagram ▶️ / thejohngaffordFacebook ▶️ / gafford2🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here:Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283 *************#escapingthedrift #elizabethsolomeina #fashionretail #independentbrands #fashionbusiness #fashionindustry #entrepreneurship #fashiondesigners #collaborativebusiness #emergingtalent #sustainablefashion #quality #fastfashion #fashioncollaboration #fashionmarketplace #fashionbusinessmodel #fashiongrowth #fashionindustryconnections #fashionindustrymentorship #fashionindustryinnovation #fashionindustrychallenges #fashionindustryopportunitiesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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