It was an early internship at a showroom that first brought Nicole Clayton’s fascination with fashion into commercial focus. The New York native says that it was while working alongside designers and buyers that she began to understand how an idea becomes a product, and how that product finds a market.
An early role at a retail boutique added another perspective: the connection between a product and its customer, and her own inclination for selling and styling. Those first experiences also taught her grit. Faced with a fast pace and high expectations, she took on every task and asked for more, showing an eagerness to learn that still shapes her leadership style today.
Now General Manager for Pandora in the UK and Ireland, Clayton has built a career spanning fashion, footwear and consumer goods.
Clayton was previously CEO of the Americas at Dutch denim brand G-Star, and Global Vice President at American footwear company Caleres, while her earlier career saw her in leadership positions across premium and luxury companies including LVMH, Aritzia, Bottega Veneta and the OTB Group. Prior to joining Pandora, she also held the position of Global Chief Digital Officer for Nestlé-Nespresso in Switzerland.
In this interview, she talks about why grit was the first lesson those early jobs taught her, why she thinks of a business as a puzzle of “the right pieces, people, and opportunities”, and why building, transforming and reigniting brands is where she does her best work.
Have you always had an interest in fashion? Why does it appeal to you and why did you want to work within it?
Fashion has always been a true passion of mine. At its heart, it’s one of the most powerful forms of self-expression, a way for people to show up as who they are without saying a word. I love the attention to detail, the variety, and refreshed change that each season brings.
Tell us about your first job in fashion. What drew you to the role, and what was the experience like?
One of my most memorable early experiences was my first internship at a showroom in New York City. I was drawn to the energy of working alongside product, designers, and buyers, at the point where creative vision meets commercial reality. The pace was fast and the expectations high, but I took on every task and bargained for a few more, I was eager to learn. From attending trade shows to supporting buying appointments, I began to understand how an idea becomes a product—and how that product finds its market.
An early role in a retail boutique gave me another perspective: the connection between a product and the person buying it. There, I discovered a natural knack for selling and styling, adding a new dimension to my interest in the industry.
Pandora Talisman collection featuring zodiac-inspired jewellery.
What were the most valuable skills or lessons you gained from that first experience?
Grit! I learned early how much work goes on behind the scenes to create the moments everyone sees—whether it’s the spectacle of a fashion show or the satisfaction of exceeding a sales target. Both take meticulous attention to detail, clear strategy, and the resilience to keep going when things don’t go to plan. Those lessons still shape how I lead today: great results are built and achieving that takes a willingness to roll up your sleeves and see things through.
What do you most enjoy about your current role?
Honestly, it’s that I get to touch every part of the business. No two days look the same, and I thrive on connecting teams, solving problems and turning ideas on paper into something real that drives results. I also enjoy building partnerships nobody quite expected.
I think of the business as a puzzle, and you have to put all the right pieces, people, and opportunities together. I’m drawn to the almost impossible. Building something new, transforming something that’s stuck, reigniting something that’s lost its spark: that’s where I’m happiest, and do my best work.
Patrick McDowell SS27 runway show featuring Pandora jewellery at London Fashion Week.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice at the very start of your career, what would it be – and why?
Trust yourself and follow your gut. It’s usually right, and even when it isn’t, the lesson becomes part of the journey. Confidence in your own judgment is something I’ve had to build, and it’s what I now encourage in the people I lead.
What does the next chapter of your own career look like and how are you hoping to grow from here?
The next chapter is always an evolution of the last. I’m grateful for the progression I’ve earned over the years, and I want to keep growing by taking on broader scope and greater impact while developing the next generation of talent along the way.
Has there been a person in fashion that you have always admired and why?
There are too many legends and icons to name just one. For me, fashion is less about any single individual and more about moments in time that capture culture. Great fashion, like great leadership, doesn’t just read the moment. It decides what comes next.