Designing a World of Authentic Luxury – Interview with Samantha Regan, Founder & CEO of Fera Poppies
- Brainz Magazine
- Nov 17
- 4 min read
When you meet Samantha Regan, there’s an immediate sense of grounded confidence, an understanding that fashion, for her, isn’t just about aesthetics but about connection, equity, and cultural legacy. As the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Fera Poppies, a Park City–based design house redefining Eye-Catching Contemporary Luxury, Regan has cultivated a brand that stands at the intersection of purpose, innovation, and artistry.
Recently, Fera Poppies was accepted into the Design Council’s 2025 roster, joining the ranks of legacy brands like Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Rebecca Minkoff. The brand is also in active conversation for alignment with Saks Fifth Avenue’s Contemporary International market, furthering its mission to bridge design, data, and social consciousness.
We sat down with Samantha to talk about ethical leadership, craftsmanship, and how building a CFDA-aligned brand means creating systems that last as long as the beauty they produce.
Samantha Regan, Business Leader, Designer, Owner & Founder
Samantha, congratulations on Fera Poppies’ recognition by the Design Council. How does this milestone align with your brand’s values and CFDA’s mission for the future of fashion?
Thank you, it’s an incredible honor. This milestone is meaningful because it reinforces something I deeply believe, that fashion can be both commercially successful and ethically sound.
The CFDA’s focus on sustainability, inclusion, and business innovation directly mirrors how we’ve built Fera Poppies. From responsible production to transparent logistics and community mentorship, we’ve always treated fashion as a vehicle for connection. Recognition from peers and institutions that share those values tells us we’re on the right path.
You coined the phrase “Eye-Catching Contemporary Luxury.” What does that mean in today’s design landscape?
For me, Eye-Catching Contemporary Luxury means intention. It’s about crafting garments that draw attention not through excess, but through emotion and integrity.
Every Fera Poppies piece is designed to start a conversation about identity, about where and how it’s made, about why it exists. We pair classic craftsmanship with sustainable materials and storytelling. It’s the fusion of aesthetic impact and ethical intelligence that defines modern luxury.
CFDA champions the integration of creative innovation with scalable business practices. How has Fera Poppies balanced artistry with infrastructure?
That balance is everything. Creativity thrives when supported by structure. Our 82% sell-through rate and 97% on-time delivery come from combining artistry with data-backed operations.
We’ve built EDI-compliant logistics, a transparent production network, and real-time inventory systems to ensure our storytelling doesn’t get lost in the supply chain. This foundation allows our creative team to take risks, knowing the operational side can support growth sustainably.
That’s very aligned with CFDA’s approach, build beauty, but build it to last.
How does equity and inclusion show up in your design and business philosophy?
Equity is central to our mission. At Fera Poppies, inclusion isn’t a marketing angle, it’s a production standard.
We collaborate with artisans across France and the U.S., and we run Fera Poppies Internships, our mentorship program for emerging creatives from underrepresented communities. The goal is to share access, to knowledge, to opportunity, to resources.
Design is a language of belonging. When more people get to speak it, the entire industry becomes stronger, more innovative, and more representative of our world.
Data and storytelling often feel like opposites. How do analytics shape your creative direction?
We treat analytics as empathy in numbers. Every sell-through report, every customer journey, tells a story about how people connect emotionally to what we create.
We use data to listen, not to dictate. When we notice that a silhouette or textile is resonating, say, 78% sell-through in 90 days, that insight guides refinement, not repetition. It’s about designing with awareness, not an algorithm.
The CFDA emphasizes sustainability as both environmental and economic resilience. What does sustainability look like at Fera Poppies?
Sustainability, for us, is circular by design. Our production partners use low-waste processes, and our collections are released intentionally, never to oversaturate, always to endure.
But sustainability also means emotional longevity. We want people to wear our pieces for years, not seasons. That requires honesty in design, quality in craft, and transparency in how things are made.
As you prepare for the 2026–2027 seasons, what’s next for Fera Poppies and its alignment with global retail platforms like Saks?
We’re aligning with Saks Fifth Avenue’s Contemporary International market and preparing for the Spring 2027 buy cycle. Our strategy is to scale consciously, balancing DTC growth with select wholesale partnerships that share our ethos.
We’re also investing in interactive showroom experiences, connecting the digital and physical through storytelling. The CFDA’s vision of fashion as a cultural and creative ecosystem inspires us to design with both presence and purpose.
Lastly, what message would you share with emerging designers navigating today’s industry?
Do your homework, and know your heart. Understand EDI systems, analytics, and fulfillment, but also understand your purpose, creativity without infrastructure burns out quickly. But also never lose your humanity. In an industry where, as Eric Asense said, “everyone takes everything from everyone,” your authenticity is your greatest currency.
In a world where trends move faster than meaning, authenticity is the most sustainable resource we have. The future of fashion belongs to those who build with empathy, integrity, and vision.
And if you could redefine Fera Poppies’ mission in one line?
To design a world that moves people, and systems that last, beauty builds community, and community builds the future.
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