Straight From The Source: Recent Episodes
Fatima Anwar & Giovanni Palumbo
Straight From The Source podcast bringing you everything you need to know about the apparel industry - from two insiders working on the sourcing side and the brand side. So whether you are in design, merchandising, retail or production, this is the podcast for you! Hosted by Fatima Anwar - Founder & CEO of Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing (www.eandsources.com) & Giovanni Palumbo - Fabric & Product Development at Madewell
Guests:
Giovanni Palumbo:
Specialist in color and textiles in apparel product development - Madewell
Giovanni is also an educator at the NY School of Design
Tim Voit:
Chief Marketing Officer at Thomaston Mills
Dora Xu:
Sustainability Consultant - Metabolic
Special Edition: Sustainability in Textiles
The most comprehensive discussion on fiber and fabric to date on SFTS. Our diverse mix of experts represents fashion brands, mills, and upstream production. Their collective insight covers production waste, recycling challenges, brand preferences, and sustainable options. This is one episode that CANNOT be missed!
Guest: Avedis H. Seferian President and CEO of Worldwide Responsible Accreditated Production (WRAP)
Assent Compliance as one of the Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders for 2020
Chairman of the Executive Board of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA) and sits on the Impartiality Committees of several audit organizations
Avedis is the undisputed heavyweight champion in the Compliance and Audit space for Footwear and Apparel. In this episode, Avedis gives us an overview of the compliance landscape, and we also talked about the positive evolution of compliance in the face of COVID. This episode is critical for anyone working in or interested in the complex supply chains of apparel and footware
Guest: Julie Verdugo
Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at Free People, of URBN Inc
Member of the Fashion Advisory Board at LIM College
In this episode:
Julie talks to us about impact, body positivity, sustainability, and circularity at Free People. We discuss the importance of community building and STEM education in the fashion industry. She also talks to us about the unique journey that led her into fashion and corporate social responsibility.
List of resources for further learning:
The Responsible Company - By Vincent Stanley and Yvon Chouinard
Inconspicuous Consumption - By Tatiana Schlossberg
HBS Course online (Sustainable Business Strategy) - by Prof. Rebecca Henderson
Guest: Walter Bridgham
Sr. Business Development Manager – Home & Interiors, N. America for Tencel at Lenzing Fibers
In this episode:
Walter Bridgham talks to us about how to identify, source and use sustainable fibers with an emphasis on Cellulosic fibers made from wood pulp. We also talk about his upcoming panel at TexWorld where he will talk about a Sustainability Toolkit for those who are thinking about greener and cleaner operations!
Sources for further learning and thought leadership:
Texworld Registration: www.texworldusa.com/register
UN SDG: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Textile Exchange: https://textileexchange.org/
Sustainable Furnishings Council: https://www.sustainablefurnishings.org/
Canopy (NGO): https://canopyplanet.org/
Tencel: https://www.tencel.com/
Guest: Dr. Karen Pearson
Chair of Science and Mathematics at FIT & Chair of FIT’s Sustainability Council
In this episode:
Dr. Pearson is a leading voice in engineering, education, sustainability, and is among the 100 most influential women in STEM. She joins us to talk about FIT's approach to sustainability and the happy marriage between science and fashion in creating new job opportunities for graduates. This topic is very relevant in a shifting industry landscape for both young and seasoned fashion professionals
Sources for learning more/thought leadership:
FIT Sustainability Page: https://www.fitnyc.edu/sustainability/
Articles to learn more about FIT initiatives:
https://news.fitnyc.edu/2019/06/25/biodesign/
https://www.fitnyc.edu/sustainability/
Guest: Tim Voit - Chief Marketing Officer at Thomaston Mills
In this episode:
Tim is a textile industry veteran with deep experience in US manufacturing, overseas sourcing, and a prominent figure on the policy side working with the Department of Commerce, US Trade Representative, AAFA, and many others. In this episode, we discuss the future of US manufacturing in light of COVID, sustainability, and long term trends. This episode is must-listen for anyone interested in US manufacturing!!
Sources for learning more/thought leadership:
https://www.nrdc.org/resources/clean-design-apparel-manufacturing-and-pollution
www.aafaglobal.org
www.ncto.org
www.americanblossomlinen.com
The latest episode of Stright From The Source presents a CSR and raw materials deep dive with the amazingly talented Dora Xu - a sustainability expert with deep experience in upstream supply chains, carbon-sequestering, and raw material production! This episode shines a spotlight on cotton and the impact of COVID on CSR commitments in the fashion industry.
Link from our discussion:
https://www.goblu.net/blog
In this episode:
We discuss in detail the short run fallout from the halt in manufacturing, long-run strategies to mitigate problems around over-reliance, lack of transparency, and rising costs and tariffs. Note: At the time of recording, the no. of infected cases was 73,000 currently, the numbers are closer to 89,000 and growing.
For those looking to diversify production in Bangladesh here is a link to a YouTube series created by US travel bloggers showcasing everyday life in the country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlNLIHxuTe0
Guests:
Kerry Bannigan - Founder of the Conscious Fashion Campaign and Tricia Carey - Director of Global Business Development at Lenzing
In this episode:
Kerry and Tricia - two industry leading advocates on sustainability - join us to discuss their latest collaborations, the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), industry updates, and how you can learn more and get involved!
Links from our discussion:
Conscious Fashion Campaign: https://consciousfashioncampaign.com/
Lenzing: https://www.lenzing.com/
Earth Month - From Trees For Trees Campaign: https://wwd.com/business-news/business-features/lenzing-from-trees-for-trees-campaign-1203096339/
Arcadia Earth (AR earth museum in Soho NYC): https://www.arcadia.earth/
Sources for learning more/thought leadership:
Publications:
EcoTextile News: https://www.ecotextile.com/
Sourcing Journal: https://sourcingjournal.com/
Textile Exchange: https://textileexchange.org/
Common Objective: https://www.commonobjective.co/
Lenzing Craved In Blue (Denim Blog): https://carvedinblue.tencel.com/
Podcast:
Green Biz: https://www.greenbiz.com/
Tradeshow:
Texworld: https://texworld-usa.us.messefrankfurt.com/new-york/en.html
Certifications:
Oeko-Tex: https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/standard-100-by-oeko-tex
Canopy - Annual Report for wood-based fiber resource: https://canopyplanet.org/
Changing Markets: https://changingmarkets.org/
ZDHC: https://www.roadmaptozero.com/
Climate change is probably the most pressing issue that we will face in the upcoming decade, and the fashion industry is responsible for about 8 to 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. This episode breaks down the supply chain to shed more light on high emission areas within the process as well as the changes in technology and brand planning, which are moving us closer to a sustainable and cleaner process.
Amazon is the second-largest apparel retailer in the world, and about two-thirds of its products come from third-party sellers on their platform. A recent Wall Street Journal expose revealed that some of the sellers are working with manufacturers who have been banned by major brands for failing compliance and safety. In this episode, we take a detailed look at this story, the implications for human rights, and possible remedies.
Many of us have made inventory decisions based on past purchases; however, in this new ear of data analytics, we now have the tools to delve into actual purchase behaviors for insights that lead to better business practices and real efficiencies in areas such as inventory management. This episode talks about the data landscape and how to start thinking differently about your own business
Two fashion industry insiders from both the brand and the sourcing side have come together to give their combined perspectives on the how-to combat excess inventory. Please join Fatima Anwar (Founder & CEO of Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing) and Giovanni Palumbo (expert in color, fabric, product development, and fashion education) to talk about implications and mitigation strategies
Two fashion industry insiders from both the brand and the sourcing side have come together to give their combined perspectives on the Bangladeshi manufacturing industry Please join Fatima Anwar (Founder & CEO of Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing) and Giovanni Palumbo (expert in color, fabric, product development, and fashion education) to talk about implications and mitigation strategies
Two fashion industry insiders from both the brand and the sourcing side have come together to give their combined perspectives on the Trade War with China. Please join Fatima Anwar (Founder & CEO of Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing) and Giovanni Palumbo (expert in color, fabric, product development, and fashion education) to talk about implications and mitigation strategies