Host 1
Welcome to the Two on One podcast. I’m František, and sitting next to me is Honza. On this show, we invite inspiring Newton University students who’ve made things happen and have valuable experiences to share.
Host 2
And our guest today is Anežka Jizbová, founder of the bespoke fashion label Cameroni.
Host 1
Cameroni specializes primarily in custom-tailored women’s suits. The brand blends elegance, empowerment, and originality—giving women the power to dress in a way that truly reflects their personality and confidence. Anežka, welcome!
Anežka
Hi guys, thanks so much for having me.
Host 1
It’s great to have you! Let’s kick off with the obvious question: why women’s suits? When did the idea strike you, and what pushed you to start?
Anežka
It started when I was working at a luxury B2B startup connecting high-net-worth individuals who own private islands with owners of superyachts and private jets. Because it was a startup, I held a senior role early on and had to meet these affluent clients face-to-face. That was the first time I felt the deep frustration of being an underserved customer. Back then, the market basically offered two extremes: off-the-rack fast fashion suits that never fit my body properly and came with questionable production ethics, or shopping on high-end luxury streets like Pařížská. But once I dove deeper into luxury fashion supply chains, I realized many of those heritage brands aren’t producing ethically either. That’s when I decided to launch Cameroni—a brand dedicated to tailored women's suits that make women feel confident, feminine, and comfortable. A bespoke suit is magical because it accentuates your best features and conceals whatever you want hidden. Especially for women in executive roles, figuring out how to look polished, authoritative, and chic without overdoing it is a daily struggle. The turning point came when I won a mentorship program with an investor. I pitched him several startup concepts from my "idea vault." We validated each one, ran market research, and Cameroni emerged as the clear winner. Soon after, I secured seed funding, and the journey began.
Host 2
At what point did you realize this was a scalable, viable business? Does it sustain you full-time, or do you balance it with other ventures?
Anežka
It clicked when we landed our first corporate B2B contract. Bespoke private client tailoring has solid margins, but it requires three to four personal fittings per suit to close a sale. With B2B, it’s a scalable model. We are one of the few fashion houses able to design custom corporate uniforms tailored to a luxury hotel’s or corporation’s exact branding and aesthetic. That eliminates measuring every single employee individually or allows for streamlined bulk fitting. That’s when I knew the model had serious legs. From the start, I’ve been active in female business networks like the Inspire Impact Network, which connects prominent leaders like Simona Kijonková, Dana Bérová, and Michaela Bauer (CEO of ČSOB). Having access to that network meant we never had to spend heavily on aggressive marketing—our B2C and B2B clientele grew organically through word-of-mouth. Alongside fashion, I run a second business that came about completely spontaneously: a math tutoring platform built on TikTok.
Host 1
That's quite a pivot, but very cool!
Anežka
I really love working with kids. I didn't always have the best relationship with math myself, but now I enjoy teaching it. I run it with a few friends—we post viral educational TikToks, and students convert onto our Buy Me a Coffee platform, where we run weekly group calls and personalized prep for high school entrance exams.
Host 2
So it's built entirely through social media conversion?
Anežka
Completely organic through TikTok. It has nothing to do with my fashion clientele.
Host 1
Coming back to Cameroni: the suit you're wearing right now—did you design and sew it yourself?
Anežka
My core role in the business—besides client consultations—is creative design and 2D pattern construction. To create a tailored garment, you have to engineer it in 2D technical drawings before it translates into a 3D silhouette. I handle the design architecture, but I definitely don’t sew the pieces myself. Between my university studies and running the business, I wouldn't have the hours. We work with master tailors who have over thirty years of bespoke craftsmanship experience. To give you an idea: as we diversify our line with sophisticated silk blouses to wear under blazers, a single intricate piece can take over eight hours of manual bench work. I understand every detail of the construction and consult closely with our tailors, but delegating the sewing is essential.
Host 1
Women’s tailoring has such a sharp, modern silhouette. What does the client experience look like from the first meeting to the final fitting?
Anežka
We host our client consultations in a private hotel lounge on Wenceslas Square. When a client arrives, we sit down over coffee. There are two paths: either they choose from our curated signature cuts, which we adapt to their measurements, or—more frequently—they come in with a specific brief: "I need a power suit for board meetings or a major gala in these specific tones." We run a color-typology analysis to recommend the most flattering shade for their skin tone. Within a week, we present technical design sketches and take comprehensive measurements. Depending on the complexity, the finished suit is ready in three to four weeks, with a mid-production fitting in between to ensure the drape and silhouette are immaculate.
Host 2
What are the best parts of working directly with bespoke clients, and what are the hidden challenges?
Anežka
The client-facing side is wonderful—it’s the glamorous part. You’re in an upscale lounge, sipping coffee, discussing aesthetics, and designing something unique. But what outsiders don't see is the logistical grind. Sourcing is incredibly demanding. We stock premium fabrics for standard designs, but when a client requests an emerald green or liquid gold fabric, we have to scour European suppliers, source specialized lining, and match custom horn buttons. In the beginning, I handled every single supply run myself. Driving six hours across the country and back just to secure the right bolt of fabric was exhausting. Thankfully, my team helps with logistics now, but the operational backbone takes massive effort.
Host 1
How is Cameroni performing today in terms of volume and growth?
Anežka
We’re experiencing very healthy, steady growth. For our private B2C bespoke clients, we actually maintain a waitlist. To ensure I can personally vouch for the flawless quality of every garment, I cap production so we don’t take on more than thirty private orders a month. On the B2B side, our manufacturing capacity can easily deliver hundreds of tailored corporate pieces.
Host 1
Do you cater to men as well?
Anežka
We do, but mostly within our B2B corporate contracts. On the private side, we occasionally tailor suits for Newton students, but women’s tailoring remains our primary focus. The menswear market is oversaturated, whereas women have historically lacked high-end, empowering tailoring options. Our clients know we aren't some anti-men collective—we simply want women to feel formidable, feminine, and comfortable in corporate spaces. But if you or Honza ever need a suit, our master tailors can definitely take care of you!
Host 2
You recently graduated with straight A's and honors while running two companies. How did you pull off academic excellence while scaling a brand?
Anežka
Thank you! The secret was complete transparency and strict delegation. During the weeks leading up to my final state exams, I stepped away from daily business operations entirely. The company had to keep running, but school was my non-negotiable priority. Fortunately, my team is exceptionally proactive. They’d call for strategic sign-offs, I’d give quick directions, and then I went straight back to studying.
Host 1
Delegation is the hardest hurdle for most young founders. How do you approach delegating effectively?
Anežka
My biggest strength is spotting what people naturally excel at and enjoy doing. I delegate tasks to people who are far better at execution in those specific areas than I am. Of course, you make mistakes along the way—I’ve delegated tasks to people who dropped the ball. That’s just the cost of doing business. But without trusting your team, a company cannot scale. Building a business is never a solo achievement. A founder might get the Forbes cover and set the vision, but the company is powered by the collective drive of every craftsman and operator behind the scenes. Cameroni is the fusion of passionate specialists creating something that transcends any single individual.
Host 2
Have you encountered negativity or skepticism as a young female entrepreneur?
Anežka
Thanks to my early investor mentorship, I learned to tune out external noise. In my experience, high-caliber entrepreneurs who’ve built hundred-million or billion-crown enterprises will never tear you down. They’ve been in the trenches; they know how grueling the early stages are. The only people who try to discourage you are those too afraid to leave their own comfort zones. I only internalize feedback from people I deeply respect. We’ve faced serious operational crises, though. A month after our launch, a prominent Czech fashion brand completely copied our proprietary designs and patterns. In high-stakes business, you have to build deep internal resilience and stay anchored in your long-term mission, especially when personal emergencies strike. During one regional trunk show, a close family member passed away that very morning. You have to compartmentalize, stay professional, and push forward.
Host 1
You stay grounded in core values rather than just chasing revenue.
Anežka
Revenue and profitability are critical—they keep the lights on and measure market validation. But without a deeper mission, you won’t survive the early stages. Startup overhead is brutal, especially in fashion where a single roll of luxury fabric can cost over 100,000 CZK before you’ve made a single sale. Believing in a purpose larger than yourself is what keeps you going.
Host 1
Where do you see Cameroni in five to ten years?
Anežka
My ultimate vision is making ethical, sustainable tailoring accessible in mainstream retail environments so consumers aren't forced into fast fashion out of convenience. Internationally, our roadmap targets expansion into Germany and the Netherlands. Consumer awareness around sustainable supply chains is significantly higher there, sustainability is a core buying criterion, and clients are willing to pay for ethical craftsmanship. In the Czech market, we still spend a lot of time educating consumers on why bespoke, slow fashion commands a higher price point.
Host 2
What advice would you give to young students on the fence about starting a business?
Anežka
Don't wait. When you're young, you have fewer financial and family obligations. I personally wouldn't want to launch a risky startup once I have children because providing financial stability for my family would come first. But only jump into entrepreneurship if you have an undeniable inner drive—never do it solely to get rich. Running a company is mentally grueling; you carry the weight of your team on your shoulders every day. If you have a high risk tolerance, embrace failure, and know how to dust yourself off, go all in. If you hate uncertainty and can’t handle setbacks, entrepreneurship isn't for you.
Host 1
What’s your parting motto?
Anežka
One of my favorite quotes from Wayne Dyer: "You can never squeeze apple juice from an orange." To achieve genuine success, you have to stay true to what’s inside you. If you build your life around societal expectations and external validation, you’ll never unlock your full potential. Stay authentic to your natural talents.
Host 1
Anežka, our time is up. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your journey. We wish Cameroni incredible success!
Anežka
Thank you so much, guys!
Host 1
Thanks to Newton University and Newton TV for hosting us. Follow and subscribe on YouTube and Spotify, and we’ll catch you next time on Two on One. Bye!
