Business
We’re kicking off this year’s second season of the Spirit of 608 podcast with an inspiring woman helping to pioneer responsible fashion in Colombia — and as you’ll hear in the episode — far beyond that, thanks to her role leading the responsibility efforts and media outreach for men’s footwear brand Beckett Simonon. I was already well aware of the Colombia-based purveyor of made-to-order shoes, boots and sneakers before I met Adela earlier this year when she joined the PressDope DIY PR course program we offer to founders and brands at the intersection of fashion, entrepreneurship, sustainability + tech (a space I call FEST). My partner has multiple pairs purchased over the course of a few years. And damn if they don’t still look great after lots and lots of schlepping to and from his office (pre-COVID, obvs). So imagine my delight when Adela joined my program, and I discovered her role was created to help the brand reach more people with its carefully thought out approach to responsible sourcing, materials, labor and end of product life. It’s a joy to get to work with people who are truly aiming for innovation and responsible practices while still creating a beautiful product that lasts. It’s an even greater joy to do that work with someone who is as smart and devoted to growth as Adela. In addition to getting the word out about Beckett Simonon to the media, influencers, vloggers and affiliates, Adela is the founder of Bulla, a Colombia producer of programs, experiences and events that foster creative and support mental health awareness. Listen to the episode for a dive into what it’s like to build an audience for a responsible brand, the challenge and opportunity of building a fan base in another country (they only ship to the USA), how she approaches outreach to media and influencers and why mental health awareness is a crucial topic on her mind these days.