Is Designer Dead? Podcast
Hosted by Kris Harvey
A trio of fashion professionals dissects industry news, from runway trends and business deals to cultural representation, with a sharp, comedic edge.
This is a roundtable discussion show where three hosts analyze the week's fashion news through two distinct lenses: the culture and the business. Episodes often toggle between dissecting brand strategies, like ambassador choices or resale market entries, and breaking down major financial news, such as the bankruptcies of major retailers, with a focus on how these shifts impact the industry at large.
“The show's strength is its dual focus on both the cultural zeitgeist and the unglamorous business realities of fashion, like retail bankruptcies and vendor payments. The three-host format provides a lively, conversational dynamic that feels like eavesdropping on an insider discussion.”
Who hosts this show
Hosted by Kris Harvey, Elaina Joyner, and Chelsea Jackson, "Is Designer Dead?" is a podcast offering a funny yet critical take on fashion culture. The hosts, described as fashion lovers and business professionals, blend their industry knowledge to discuss everything from pop culture trends and iconic designers to the financial side of the business, like retail bankruptcies and quarterly earnings.
Credentials & credits
- Kris Harvey: Founder of TheLuxeLend, Yale University graduate, MBA from The Wharton School.
- Chelsea Jackson: Features Reporter.
Other ventures
- Kris Harvey: TheLuxeLend (luxury fashion rental).
- Kris Harvey: Kris Averi (bespoke jewelry brand).
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Who does fashion actually pick for Black ambassadors? Is Designer Dead?Apr 24, 2026 · 9 min
- 03
- 04
- 05Designer Do-Si-Do: Balmain, Versace, and Hermes EditionFeb 27, 2026 · 4 min
- 06
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01Ep 15: Designer Collabs, Summer Trends & WYouth w/ Arianna J. Moultrie
A clear example of the show's guest interview format, featuring the Creative Director of Alice + Olivia discussing her career and the industry.
- 02Ep 14: Who Sells Style? Black Athletes vs Actors, Saks Collapse & Resale’s Rise
A representative roundtable episode where the hosts analyze Black representation in brand ambassadorships and the business implications of the Saks bankruptcy.
- 03EP 9 & 10: With Jérôme Lamaar
A comprehensive two-part interview with designer Jérôme Lamaar, covering his career from starting at Baby Phat at 15 to his views on the future of NYFW.
What you'll be asked on this show
When conducting interviews, the hosts begin with a detailed, formal biography of the guest before Kris Harvey kicks off the conversation with the show's titular question, "Is designer dead?". The hosts guide the conversation from the guest's origin story into the specifics of their craft and the broader industry challenges they face, often using their own professional experiences to frame questions and build rapport. They directly tackle controversial topics like the gender gap and AI's impact.
The show alternates between co-hosted roundtable discussions on fashion news and long-form interviews with industry guests. News-focused episodes are structured around recurring segments like "Designer's Deficits and Dividends" and "Designer Do-Si-Do." The hosts have a casual, energetic rapport, often laughing and building on each other's points.
Questions Kris Harvey keeps coming back to
7 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Kris Harvey reaches for it.
mindset
1- Q.01
“Is designer dead?”
This is the show's signature opening question, used to immediately engage the guest on the central theme of the podcast.
origin
1- Q.01
“How did you get involved in fashion design and was it always your goal?”
Asked early on to establish the guest's background and personal connection to the industry.
process
1- Q.01
“Can you give an overview of your design process?”
This question helps demystify the creative and logistical work that happens behind the scenes for the listeners.
craft
1- Q.01
“How do you delegate your creative vision to a team?”
This question probes the challenges of leadership and scaling a creative endeavor.
personal
1- Q.01
“What are the social dynamics and sense of community like within the industry?”
Aimed at uncovering the personal and cultural side of working in fashion, beyond the clothes.
controversy
1- Q.01
“Is the industry making progress on the gender gap in leadership roles?”
The hosts use this to address known, systemic issues within the fashion world.
future
1- Q.01
“What are your thoughts on AI and its future effect on the industry?”
This question seeks an insider's perspective on how new technology will shape fashion.
Signature segments
- · Is Designer Dead?
- · Fit Check
- · Designer's Deficits and Dividends
- · Designer Do-Si-Do
- · Hote Headlines
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books established creative and business professionals from within the fashion industry, such as creative directors (Arianna J. Moultrie) and designers (Jérôme Lamaar), who can provide an insider's perspective on their craft and the industry's future.
- Arianna J. Moultrieon Ep 15: Designer Collabs, Summer Trends & WYouth w/ Arianna J. Moultrie
- Jérôme Lamaaron Ep 9 & 10
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show has featured sponsors like theluxelend.com, a luxury rental service. The audience consists of fashion-savvy consumers and industry insiders, making it a good fit for direct-to-consumer fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands, as well as B2B services targeting the fashion industry.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the format of the 'Is Designer Dead?' podcast?
- The show alternates between roundtable discussions where the three hosts analyze fashion news and long-form interviews with industry professionals.
- Who are the hosts?
- The podcast is hosted by Kris Harvey, Elaina Joyner, and Chelsea Jackson.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast appears to release episodes on a regular basis.
- What kind of topics are discussed?
- They cover fashion news, business and financial reports, cultural representation in the industry, runway trends, and designer career trajectories.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Buzzsprout.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Is Designer Dead? - Buzzsproutbuzzsprout.com
- [02]Is Designer Dead? - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [03]Is Designer Dead? Podcast - YouTubeyoutube.com
- [04]About Us - TheLuxeLendtheluxelend.com
- [05]About Kris Averi | Inclusive Bespoke Jewelry Designer NYCkrisaveri.com
- [06]Official Websiteisdesignerdead.com
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