Episode 132: Tess Mann

Podcast 2026
Written By Ally Portee

Tess’ journey from the FBI to becoming a fashion designer is not just a story of career change; it's a narrative of passion, creativity, and purpose….

Allyson Portee Episode 132: Tess Mann

Tess’s fascination with fashion began in her childhood, where she and her mother transformed hand-me-downs into unique creations. This early experience laid the foundation for her lifelong love of design, which she pursued alongside her career in law enforcement. "I continued to sew and sketch and create my clothing," Tess reflects, illustrating how fashion was always her creative outlet amid the serious nature of her FBI duties.

Ally Portee

Starting out in the world of politics, Ally interned and worked in Washington, DC, in Congress, at The White House, and on political campaigns. Today she’s in a totally different arena: fashion. Developing an eye for sartorial craftsmanship, Ally has learned how to put intricate and detailed collections into words, while developing relationships with some of the world's most leading brands and covering Paris, Milan, and Riyadh Fashion Week shows. Ally started SEELE in 2012. Seele [ze-le] is the German word for Soul and its aim is to encourage people with faith-inspired and lifestyle content that stir the soul. Ally has written for Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, The Hollywood Reporter, GQ Middle East, Vogue Arabia, Refinery29, NPR, Arabian Business, and Euronews.

Previous

Episode 133: Sonu Shivdasani
Next

Episode 131: Tracy Robins