Garmology: Inside the Reality of Modern Fashion with Anthony Princi (#171)

In this episode of Garmology, Nick heads to London to meet Anthony Princi — designer, educator, and founder of Fashion Department. What unfolds is an intense, honest, and deeply practical conversation about how fashion actually works behind the scenes.

Anthony shares his journey from Australia to Paris and London, working across every level of the industry—from tailoring at Levi’s to designing for major brands—and how that experience led him to build Fashion Department: a platform focused on bridging the massive gap
between fashion education and real‑world industry skills.

Together, they dive into what really makes a garment work: construction, process, logistics, and communication—not just creativity. From tech packs and manufacturing relationships to deadstock, overproduction, burnout, and the illusion of sustainable fashion, this episode challenges many of the assumptions people have about the industry.

It’s fast‑paced, brutally honest, and packed with practical insight—an essential listen for anyone serious about clothing, design, or how
things actually get made.

00:00 – Intro

01:20 – Who is Anthony Princi?

05:10 – What is Fashion Department?

10:40 – Why fashion education doesn’t prepare students

18:30 – Creativity vs logistics in design

24:50 – What is a tech pack (and why they fail)

33:10 – Working with manufacturers (the reality)

45:00 – Why skill matters more than creativity

52:40 – The truth about working in big vs small brands

01:05:20 – Overproduction, stock, and sustainability

01:18:10 – The reality of starting a fashion brand

01:30:00 – Digital tools vs physical making

01:42:30 – Why designers need to understand materials

01:52:00 – The obsession with having a brand

02:00:00 – Final thoughts

You can find Anthony and the Fashion Department on the web at fashiondepartmentlondon.com and on Instagram as @fashiondepartment.ld

Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmology

Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.

Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.