Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What do you do when no factory wants to work with you because you're breaking all the rules?
Most fashion brands let factories source materials and handle production, but that model doesn't work when you're pioneering plant-based footwear. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo talks with Holly Garrard (linkedin.com/in/fundae-founder-holly-garrard/), founder and chief visionary officer of Fundae (https://www.fundae.com), about cold calling Italian factories, getting rejected repeatedly, and finally cracking the code to convince leather craftsmen to work with sustainable materials. Holly shares her unconventional sourcing strategy—bringing her own materials to factories—and why starting with small batches and imperfect prototypes was the key to eventually partnering with larger manufacturers.
Holly Garrard is the founder and chief visionary officer of Fundae, an eco-chic footwear brand built on plant-based materials. With zero fashion industry experience, Holly spent years cold calling Italian factories, creating prototypes with small manufacturers, and learning the art of compromise to build relationships with craftsmen known for traditional leather work—all while maintaining her sustainable brand standards.
-- SUBSCRIBE --
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the knowledge you need to grow your business and source on Alibaba.com: bit.ly/3oZjGVc
-- Get connected on social --
Facebook: facebook.com/Alibaba.comBuyers
Instagram: instagram.com/alibaba.com_official
Twitter: twitter.com/AlibabaSourcing
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alibaba-com
What do you do when no factory wants to work with you because you're breaking all the rules?
Most fashion brands let factories source materials and handle production, but that model doesn't work when you're pioneering plant-based footwear. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo talks with Holly Garrard (linkedin.com/in/fundae-founder-holly-garrard/), founder and chief visionary officer of Fundae (https://www.fundae.com), about cold calling Italian factories, getting rejected repeatedly, and finally cracking the code to convince leather craftsmen to work with sustainable materials. Holly shares her unconventional sourcing strategy—bringing her own materials to factories—and why starting with small batches and imperfect prototypes was the key to eventually partnering with larger manufacturers.
Holly Garrard is the founder and chief visionary officer of Fundae, an eco-chic footwear brand built on plant-based materials. With zero fashion industry experience, Holly spent years cold calling Italian factories, creating prototypes with small manufacturers, and learning the art of compromise to build relationships with craftsmen known for traditional leather work—all while maintaining her sustainable brand standards.
-- SUBSCRIBE --
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the knowledge you need to grow your business and source on Alibaba.com: bit.ly/3oZjGVc
-- Get connected on social --
Facebook: facebook.com/Alibaba.comBuyers
Instagram: instagram.com/alibaba.com_official
Twitter: twitter.com/AlibabaSourcing
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alibaba-com
