We’re a brand-building agency for the modern era—focused on developing, scaling, and nurturing lifestyle brands that lead with cultural relevance, creative integrity, and strategic impact.
What We Do
Create. Monetize. Scale. Advocate.
Our Approach
We specialize in the full lifecycle of brand building—from early-stage incubation to long-term growth. Our process is collaborative, insight-driven, and agile. Whether we’re launching an in-house brand or partnering with outside talent, we build each concept from the ground up with a focus on design, strategy, storytelling, and scalability.
We integrate creative services with deep operational know-how, working across licensing, sourcing, distribution, marketing, and more. Every brand we touch is backed by data, driven by purpose, and designed to meet today’s consumer where they are—and where they’re going.
We are masters of reinvention - elevating iconic heritage brands to new, modern heights by infusing fresh, forward-thinking ideas.
Mission
+ Vision
MISSION
To build culturally relevant, creatively led brands that spark connection, drive value, and make an impact.
VISION
To be the leading brand incubator and agency for purpose-driven, future-forward lifestyle brands.
We Are...
01
Builders of Long-Term Brand Equity
02
Strategic Partners in Brand Growth and Development
03
Creative Thinkers with a Business Backbone
04
Advocates for Innovation, Sustainability, and Community
Our Purpose
We Are
Brand Builders
First
Advocacy Brands exists to create and grow brands with integrity, purpose, and commercial strength. We develop brands that are emotionally resonant, creatively sharp, and strategically built to scale.
We Lead with Strategy and Storytelling
From identity to execution, we craft compelling brand narratives supported by clear strategy, data-backed insights, and cultural awareness. Whether launching a new venture or evolving an existing brand, our work is grounded in big ideas and even bigger impact.
We Believe in Advocacy Through Action
We infuse every brand with purpose, building platforms that speak to real communities and real causes. Our agency model is built to amplify stories, voices, and ideas that matter—because brand loyalty is earned through authenticity, not algorithms.
Our Experience
+50
Brands the Team has Built, Developed and Managed
+$20B
Generated in
Retail Sales
+500
Licensees, Manufacturers
and Partners Worldwide
+80
Years of Collective Brand Building Experience
The Team
Led By Dedication & Experience
The Advocacy Brands team is comprised of passionate, talented, and tenured individuals who are committed to delivering excellence in everything they do. They strive to build meaningful brands with integrity while making a positive impact on the world.
Co-Founder | CEO
Dari Marder
Dari Marder helped build the second-largest licensing company in the world, Iconix Brand Group. As Chief Marketing Officer, she led global branding for some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the fashion, home, entertainment, and consumer electronics space, as well as the development of celebrity brands, including Madonna's brand, Material Girl. Marder's award-winning marketing campaigns have garnered billions of media impressions. Her passion lies in fusing strategic creativity with powerful celebrities and creators that resonate across all platforms and drive retail success. Marder is also an investor in and adviser to leading digital media and entertainment platforms that target Generation Z.
Co-Founder | COO
Rodney Hutton
Rodney Hutton is a multifaceted business executive with over 25 years of experience building and managing a wide spectrum of business enterprises. He is a veteran entrepreneurial merchandising, marketing, and licensing executive who has worked in pivotal leadership roles for some of the world’s most successful and iconic companies, including Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, Ethan Allen, and Iconix Brand Group. Rodney’s passion for scaling businesses by harnessing and driving change makes him an agile and effective business leader in today’s disruptive marketplace.
Chief Merchandising Officer
Mia Rothstein
Mia Rothstein is an accomplished and entrepreneurial executive with over twenty years of experience in successfully launching and leading lifestyle brands. She specializes in product development, marketing, and brand building, demonstrating a deep understanding of consumer needs and market trends in her work. Mia previously served as the SVP of Brand Management at Anne Klein and played a pivotal role at Marquee Brands as SVP, Head of Global Brand Merchandising. Before that, Mia was the Vice President of Brand Management at Iconix Brand Group, overseeing a diverse portfolio of twelve brands. Her career began in specialty retail, where she held roles in buying and product development at the Aldo Group, Vince Camuto, and Steve Madden.
Our combined experience includes owning and creating leading global brands, generating over $20 billion in collective retail sales. Our expertise spans across sectors, including fashion, sports, home, consumer electronics,
and entertainment.
