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From Belts to Brand: Hadley Pollet's Journey of Ethical Design

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Manage episode 500231522 series 3608887
Content provided by Tiffany Woolley, Scott Woolley, Tiffany Woolley, and Scott Woolley. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tiffany Woolley, Scott Woolley, Tiffany Woolley, and Scott Woolley or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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How does a moment of personal tragedy transform into a thriving 20-year fashion legacy? For Hadley Pollet, it began with a simple belt made from vintage trims wrapped around a buckle—a design that caught the eye of five strangers at a Boston brewery who all asked the same question: "Where did you get that belt?"
That serendipitous moment sparked the beginning of an accessories brand built on the radical notion that fashion should be personal, not disposable. With no formal fashion education but armed with innate creative talent and business savvy gained from publishing and PR careers, Hadley found herself at a crossroads after 9/11 claimed the life of her mother's husband. This profound loss became the catalyst for reinvention, pushing her to embrace design as both creative outlet and healing process.
What sets the Hadley Pollet brand apart isn't just its vibrant colors or distinctive jacquard designs, but its deep commitment to ethical production and female empowerment. Hadley personally visits every factory partner, ensuring they're locally owned (preferably by women) and that female workers receive equal pay to men—sometimes having frank conversations with male owners about wage equity. This matriarchal business model extends to an artisan training program that teaches craftspeople in developing regions how to cross-pollinate techniques and reach global markets.
While many designers chase department store distribution, Hadley deliberately shuns these channels, criticizing them for "building their business on the backs of creatives." Instead, she partners with small boutiques that create meaningful shopping experiences and understand the brand's unique value. As she explains, "There's too much sameness in the world"—a philosophy that's kept her brand vibrant while others struggle with unsold inventory and identity crises.
Ready to discover accessories that speak to your authentic self? Explore the colorful world of Hadley Pollet and join a community of women who understand that true style comes from expressing who you really are, not following what everyone else is wearing.

Learn more at:
https://twinteriors.com/podcast/

https://scottwoolley.com

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Introduction to Hadley Pollet (00:00:00)

2. Personal Tragedy to Business Launch (00:06:20)

3. Building a Belt Brand (00:13:44)

4. Expanding Beyond Belts (00:21:45)

5. Ethical Production & Sustainability (00:28:12)

6. The Hadley Woman & Design Philosophy (00:35:00)

7. Future Plans & Brand Evolution (00:49:08)

8. Closing Thoughts (00:58:35)

53 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 500231522 series 3608887
Content provided by Tiffany Woolley, Scott Woolley, Tiffany Woolley, and Scott Woolley. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tiffany Woolley, Scott Woolley, Tiffany Woolley, and Scott Woolley or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send us a text

How does a moment of personal tragedy transform into a thriving 20-year fashion legacy? For Hadley Pollet, it began with a simple belt made from vintage trims wrapped around a buckle—a design that caught the eye of five strangers at a Boston brewery who all asked the same question: "Where did you get that belt?"
That serendipitous moment sparked the beginning of an accessories brand built on the radical notion that fashion should be personal, not disposable. With no formal fashion education but armed with innate creative talent and business savvy gained from publishing and PR careers, Hadley found herself at a crossroads after 9/11 claimed the life of her mother's husband. This profound loss became the catalyst for reinvention, pushing her to embrace design as both creative outlet and healing process.
What sets the Hadley Pollet brand apart isn't just its vibrant colors or distinctive jacquard designs, but its deep commitment to ethical production and female empowerment. Hadley personally visits every factory partner, ensuring they're locally owned (preferably by women) and that female workers receive equal pay to men—sometimes having frank conversations with male owners about wage equity. This matriarchal business model extends to an artisan training program that teaches craftspeople in developing regions how to cross-pollinate techniques and reach global markets.
While many designers chase department store distribution, Hadley deliberately shuns these channels, criticizing them for "building their business on the backs of creatives." Instead, she partners with small boutiques that create meaningful shopping experiences and understand the brand's unique value. As she explains, "There's too much sameness in the world"—a philosophy that's kept her brand vibrant while others struggle with unsold inventory and identity crises.
Ready to discover accessories that speak to your authentic self? Explore the colorful world of Hadley Pollet and join a community of women who understand that true style comes from expressing who you really are, not following what everyone else is wearing.

Learn more at:
https://twinteriors.com/podcast/

https://scottwoolley.com

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Introduction to Hadley Pollet (00:00:00)

2. Personal Tragedy to Business Launch (00:06:20)

3. Building a Belt Brand (00:13:44)

4. Expanding Beyond Belts (00:21:45)

5. Ethical Production & Sustainability (00:28:12)

6. The Hadley Woman & Design Philosophy (00:35:00)

7. Future Plans & Brand Evolution (00:49:08)

8. Closing Thoughts (00:58:35)

53 episodes

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