We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Helander a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alex, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience, for me, has always been rooted in my love of learning and exploration. From a young age, I was fascinated by new ideas and spent countless hours tinkering with DIY projects, using trial and error as my teacher. Those early experiments taught me problem-solving skills, and more importantly, how to persevere through failure.
Professionally, this curiosity has been the driving force behind my career. I’ve had the opportunity to work across multiple areas of the fashion industry, from supply chain and manufacturing to product development, sales, and sustainability. What has always intrigued me is how these different departments function together, each one playing a critical role in the bigger picture.
The fashion industry, especially retail, is constantly evolving. Over the past decade, the pace of change has only accelerated, bringing new challenges at every turn. It is this dynamic environment that has both fueled my curiosity and fortified my resilience. Each challenge became a chance to learn something new, to adapt, and to grow stronger.
In recent years, I’ve expanded beyond fashion, taking on roles in sustainability and academia. Becoming a part-time professor at two leading global fashion schools and working in industries outside of my comfort zone has required even more adaptability. These pivots demanded on-the-job learning and the ability to navigate unfamiliar territory—further sharpening my resilience.
At its core, my resilience comes from a lifelong commitment to learning, adapting, and embracing the unknown. Whether it’s a DIY project from my childhood or a career shift in adulthood, I’ve learned that growth comes from leaning into challenges rather than shying away from them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I spent the first six years of my life in Lima, Peru, which gave me a global perspective from an early age. This international mindset stayed with me, and when I graduated from college, I knew I wanted a career where I could utilize my Spanish. That path led me to the fashion industry, starting with Ralph Lauren. I was entrusted with overseeing quality control for the entire Western Hemisphere, where Polo was manufacturing much of its product at the time.
Over the past 30 years, I’ve been fortunate to travel the world, working with retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. This journey has allowed me to gain experience across multiple functions within the fashion industry, from product development to sales and manufacturing.
More recently, my focus has shifted to tackling the pressing issue of textile waste. I worked with companies like TerraCycle, whose mission is to eliminate the idea of waste. At TerraCycle, I was brought on as the first Director of their incubator program, where I helped launch TerraCycle Home, their first line of business, whose focus is to reimagine curbside recycling by offering consumers more choices to recycle everyday products.
Currently, my consulting business, Fashion Mentorship (fashionmentorship.com), is dedicated to helping fashion and consumer product companies—from startups to mid-sized firms—navigate branding, marketing, and product development. I also share my expertise through speaking engagements and teaching part-time at Parsons and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), covering topics such as Entrepreneurship, Technology & Innovation, Manufacturing, and Circular Economy for the Fashion Industry.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Curiosity and a willingness and interest to learn forever! In today’s work environment when things are changing so quickly, you have to be willing to upskill and be comfortable with constant change. Much of this requires you to make these investments on your own time. For me that means staying current on my industry by attending trade shows and conferences and actively fostering my network. Staying ahead of my students and fostering growth in my personal development.
Consistency and the power of small steady progress each day even when it feels like nothing is happening. This is the compound effect. This is easy to do, but hard to execute over the long term but the pay off for staying consistent and focused always pays off.
Networking and the power of building your professional and personal network. Personally, the focus should be surrounding yourself with good people and being aware that you really are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. So spend time with great people. Professionally, knowing how to build your network, which means giving to others and not asking. Get in a mindset of “How can I help”, instead of “What can you do for me?” All too often people reach out for help only when they need it, without having built a relationship over time. Professional relationship building takes a long time and needs to be intentional. All too often, people go about building their professional networks with the same method(s) they use with their social networks by building “likes” and followers. The saying “your network is your networth” is true, so be intentional about your professional network and treat it as a job.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
At Fashion Mentorship, our ideal client is someone who is driven, passionate, and committed to pursuing a career in the fashion, art, beauty industries or, individuals and businesses in need of guidance on building and growing their brands. We work with a variety of individuals and businesses, but those who thrive in our programs share a few key characteristics:
Academic: Aspiring Students in Fashion, Art, or Fashion Business Management: Our ideal clients are students seeking acceptance into top-tier fashion or art programs at the undergraduate or graduate level. They are serious about building a standout portfolio and need guidance on how to best present their creative work, when applying to prestigious fashion schools globally.
Creative Professionals: Designers, artists, and fashion entrepreneurs who are either launching their own brands or taking their existing businesses to the next level. They are looking for expert advice on design, product development, sustainability, branding, or navigating the complex world of fashion business management.
Small Business Owners and Startups: Founders in the fashion, beauty, and consumer goods sectors who need support with business development, branding, marketing strategy and product sourcing. These clients are typically looking to grow their businesses, develop sustainable solutions, or launch new products that will resonate with their target audience.
Individuals Who Value Mentorship and Collaboration: Our ideal client understands the value of mentorship and is eager to learn from experienced professionals in the industry. They are open to feedback, willing to invest time and resources into their growth, and are motivated to succeed in a competitive environment.
If this sounds like you or your business, we’d love to work with you! Whether you’re a student building your portfolio or a startup looking for business strategy guidance, Fashion Mentorship is here to provide tailored support, (fashionmentorship.com).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fashionmentorship.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhelander1/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
