[SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT] Meet Mary Furtas of Cultnaked🎙️ Tech Powered Luxury LIVE Wednesday, July 16th 2025, Cafe en Seine, Dublin
Introducing Mary Furtas, founder and mastermind behind Cultnaked - the sustainable solution to partywear.
✨ As we shared previously, Tech Powered Luxury is shifting gears - moving from studio-recorded episodes to exclusive live shows. And what better way to start than with one of our most exciting events yet?
🚨 Save the date: July 16th at Cafe en Seine, Dublin.
🎤 We're thrilled to announce that Mary Furtas, founder and creative director of the acclaimed partywear brand Cultnaked, will be joining us at Tech Powered Luxury LIVE with Mary Furtas on July 16th at Cafe en Seine, Dublin.
⭐ I’m Siobhan Whelan and I’m delighted to welcome you to this week’s edition!
Meet Mary Furtas 🪩
A fashion entrepreneur from Lviv, Ukraine, Mary Furtas is the founder and creative director of Cultnaked, a growing slow fashion brand that infuses the industry with a refreshing, playful, and effortless spirit. Drawing from her background in fashion photography, her distinct perspective and unwavering passion shine through in every creation, be it a new drop, project, or a night out.
With a decade of experience honing her craft as a photographer, capturing captivating editorials for renowned publications like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, Mary discovered a yearning for the perfect wardrobe that flawlessly combines style and comfort. Driven by an unwavering determination and a desire to tell her story, she unveiled Cultnaked to the world in 2018 - a label that specialises in exceptional partywear, embracing individuality and celebrating the beauty of the human form.
As CEO, creative director, and founder, Mary's main focus is designing collections and making strategic PR moves. Her industry vision centres on creating more comfortable, female-oriented clothes, driven by a belief that fashion is lacking a genuine female perspective on fit and concepts.
About Cultnaked 🍸
Born from a rebellion against disposable fashion, yet a need for a functional to-go-tonight wardrobe, Cultnaked emerged in 2018 in Lviv, Ukraine, under Mary's creative direction. The brand redefines partywear as a mission, crafting garments that blend comfort, style, and beauty while rejecting the ordinary. Each item is treated as a unique project that undergoes rigid testing, providing genuine solutions for real people seeking a sustainable and sexy alternative for authenticity in their wardrobe.
Behind every stitch, skilled craftswomen form a close-knit family that rejects mass production in favour of scalable personalised shopping. Looking ahead, Cultnaked aspires to be more than a clothing brand; it's a movement challenging industry flow, empowering individuals to embrace quality over quantity on a sparkly dancefloor.
Since its launch, Cultnaked has rapidly amassed a devoted global following, attracting a multitude of influential figures who are drawn to its magnetic allure. The brand has become the go-to choice for style-conscious celebrities such as Beyoncé, Cindy Crawford, SZA, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Megan Fox, Ariana Grande, Paris Hilton, Tyla, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Margot Robbie, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo-Levine, and numerous other influential personalities, editors, and dedicated fans who simply can't resist the brand's appeal.
What drives Mary's approach to business and fashion?
"Industry-wise, the vision is to create more comfortable, female-oriented clothes. Even though it sounds weird, I feel like we're lacking female view on fit and concepts. I love to create items I fantasise about wearing and then test them in the wild.
My mission is to create as sustainable a future for fashion as possible. Lead by example. Bring fun and innovation to the product. Be the light. Be the positive, the non-snobbish brand persona."
What drives you?
Mary's resilience and optimism are deeply rooted in her Ukrainian heritage. As she puts it: "How resistant Ukrainians are. There's no giving up. Adapt, survive, thrive." This philosophy permeates every aspect of her work, from her creative process to her business strategy.
Her final piece of advice? "Be sexy" - a mantra that perfectly encapsulates Cultnaked's fearless approach to fashion and femininity.
Why you won't want to miss this conversation 🎙️
Mary's journey from fashion photographer to celebrity-beloved designer offers unique insights into building authentic brands that resonate with both A-listers and everyday consumers. Her commitment to sustainable luxury, combined with her fresh perspective on female-focused design, positions her at the forefront of fashion's evolution. Her Ukrainian resilience and commitment to positive change make her perspective invaluable for anyone interested in the intersection of sustainability, celebrity culture, and innovative design.
🎟️ Tickets for the highly anticipated show are now SOLD OUT! However, you can join the waitlist by clicking the button below if you are eager to attend. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of fashion's most dynamic entrepreneurs as she shares her insights on sustainable luxury, celebrity styling, and building a brand that celebrates authentic femininity.
This week, stay tuned as we take a deeper dive into the professions of our remaining panelists for the upcoming live show in Café en Seine, including founder of the first data intelligence platform focused on the luxury industry ‘Luxurynsight’ Jonathan Siboni, Catrice Cosmetics ambassador and former Miss Universe Lynn Kelly, founder of the acclaimed Beyond Luxury group Carlota Rodben. 💫
Thank you for reading!
See you next edition,
Siobhan Whelan
💫 Who are we and what led us here today?
🎙️ Launched as a podcast on November 1st 2022 by Ashley McDonnell, Tech Powered Luxury has since nurtured a vibrant community of experts passionate about the evolving synergy between technology and luxury. We have reached over 20 million people through the podcast, social platforms and media, and have hit +500K downloads.
💌 This season, our weekly newsletter will be curated by Siobhan Whelan - an International Business dual-degree graduate from Northeastern University and Dublin City University, with cross-continental experience in marketing, brand management, and styling. Alongside a professional background that spans corporate law firms in Dublin and New York to backstage at New York Fashion Week, Siobhan brings a sharp eye for detail, a love of storytelling, and a passion for Irish business and fashion. We’re excited to welcome her perspective as this season’s curator and can’t wait to share the fresh, dynamic lens she’ll bring to each issue!