Marina Larroudé: Reinventing the Footwear Business Model

Marina Larroudé: Reinventing the Footwear Business Model

Author: Victoria Smith January 18, 2026 Duration: 39:26

In this episode, Victoria sits down with Marina Larroude, founder of Larroudé, to unpack how she built one of fashion’s fastest-growing footwear brands by rewriting the rules. Marina shares her journey from interning at Condé Nast to leading fashion at Barneys, and how those experiences revealed the white space that inspired Larroudé. They dive into why footwear is one of the hardest categories in fashion, how vertical integration and pre-orders became a growth engine, and why the brand chose profitability over “growth at all costs.” Marina also offers sharp career advice for early builders, the truth behind “good taste,” what fashion school doesn’t teach, and why progress done daily compounds over time.


Follow Fashion & Founders:

Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders

Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders

Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com

Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders

Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders

Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders

Podcast Links: Shop My

Victoria Pickle Closet: @victorias


Follow Larroude:

IG: @marinalarroude

IG: @larroude

Website


Fashion Job Board HERE


Rent the Runway:

Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!


Thanks for listening! 


Ever wonder how a clothing line actually gets made or what it takes to build a brand from a sketch to a global name? Fashion & Founders The Podcast, hosted by Victoria Smith, pulls back the curtain on the entire process. This isn't about seasonal trends or red carpet looks; it's a deep exploration of the machinery behind the glamour. Each episode features candid, long-form conversations with the founders, investors, and operators who are actively building the future of apparel and wearables. You'll hear real stories about the hurdles of fundraising, the complexities of ethical manufacturing, the explosive growth of resale, and the practical application of AI in design. Victoria guides discussions that connect the dots between capital, technology, and creativity, covering essential topics from sustainability to career navigation within the business of fashion. Tune in for a grounded perspective on an industry in constant flux, where ideas meet execution. This podcast delivers substance for anyone curious about the foundational work that makes fashion function.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

Fashion & Founders The Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Fashion Career Playbook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:46
Fashion Career Playbook to break into fashion in 2026. How to break into the fashion industry in 2026. Part One out now on Substack.Link Here: https://fashionandfounders.substack.com/p/the-fashion-career-playbook-partFol…
Archival Vintage Fashion Reimagined by Isle of Monday [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:24
In this episode, Victoria sits down with Gabriella and Janelle, co-founders of Isle of Monday, to discuss how they’re making runway vintage and archival fashion accessible through their fashion tech rental platform. They…
Styled Sara: How to Break into the Fashion Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
On this episode of Fashion and Founders, Victoria is joined by Sara Walker who you’ve probably seen on Instagram as @styledsara. Sara talks about how she broke into the fashion industry, the first steps she took, and lan…
Fashion Tech Weeks: Takeaways from NYC, SF, LA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:57
This week on Fashion and Founders the Podcast, Victoria shares a solo episode with takeaways from major fashion and fashion tech events from the past month. From New York Fashion Week, Climate Week, San Francisco Tech We…
How to Start and Scale a Fashion Brand with ALIGNE CEO Ginny Seymour [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
In this episode of Fashion & Founders Victoria Smith sits down with Ginny Seymour, CEO and re-founder of Aligne. Founded in East London and freshly expanded to New York, Ginny rebuilt ALIGNE as a design-led, DTC-first wo…