Applying a founder mindset to scale a heritage brand at Adrianna Papell
July 22, 2026
How does a 45-year heritage brand use generative creative to solve the visualization gap in high consideration fashion? This week, Slisha Kankariya, SVP of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing at Adrianna Papell, shares her approach to deploying automated imagery that maintains brand integrity. She explains why helping the customer make a better decision must always come before simple production cost savings.
Transitioning from a high-growth jewelry startup to a legacy fashion institution requires a specific owner mentality. Slisha Kankariya explains the difference between the beacon of studio photography and the supplemental role of generative lifestyle assets at Adrianna Papell. She outlines the decision framework they use to ensure every automated visual helps a customer visualize a garment for their specific occasion.
The conversation covers the current limitations of visual technology in apparel, specifically why virtual try-on tools often fail to meet the necessary barometer of realness for different body types. Slisha also details how automated experimentation is accelerating the speed of marketing teams and improving inventory efficiency by minimizing seasonal wastage. The recording concludes with a look at evolving traffic patterns in search and the priorities for the upcoming peak shopping period.
Slisha Kankariya is the SVP of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing at Adrianna Papell Group. Previously, she co-founded and scaled With Clarity, a VC-backed online jewelry retailer, to over 10,000% revenue growth before a successful exit. She brings fifteen years of expertise in digital marketing and ecommerce to her current role, focusing on reinvigorating heritage brands through a founder mindset and innovative technology.
What you’ll learn:
- How to evaluate generative lifestyle imagery using integrity first
- Why virtual try on technology for apparel remains a major unsolved problem
- The framework for accelerating experimentation across design and marketing teams
- How to optimize content structure for visibility in agentic discovery platforms
- Why inventory efficiency is a significant operational win for seasonal fashion
- The strategy for reducing acquisition costs during high noise retail periods
- How a founder mindset helps scale innovation within a heritage brand environment
- Why authentic photography and automated assets must coexist to maintain customer trust
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