Episode 19: Katie Elks and JD Davis
Material Wise
Brooklinen is the most popular sheet brand on the internet and has received over 80,000 five star consumer reviews for its products. Katie Elks, Director of Design & Product Development, and JD Davis Production, Procurement & Quality Manager of the multi-award-winning luxury bedding & bath brand, share with us why the brand has become so popular. We discuss the company’s dedication to quality, responsible manufacturing and transparency – and what consumer trends have shifted during the pandemic.
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Episode 18: Dr. Andrew Dent with Material ConneXion
Material Wise
Dr. Andrew Dent is the executive vice president research at Material ConneXion, a world -class library known for its innovative problem solving and thought-leadership by influential brands across every industry. Dr. Dent shares how became interested in material science, his fondness for the human interaction side of materials, and how this combination led him to his post at Material ConneXion. We also talk about what sustainability means to him, his passion for waste and the future of material development.
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Episode 17: Ruth Kelly of SSACHS
Material Wise
Ruth is the head of materials and materials editor of SSACHS, a design agency for performance and active lifestyle apparel. We discuss her journey of leaving corporate life to join SSACHS with her partners. Ruth also shares insights as to how she approaches material development, what makes a good material partner, how the pandemic has influenced design trends and sustainability, along with the necessary digital marketing tools that are needed to help connect suppliers, mills, and brands.
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Episode 16: Wayne Fan of Frontier
Material Wise
Wayne Fan is the chief strategy officer of Frontier, a textile collaboration program that is built upon three pillars: digitalization, search capability and collaboration. Wayne shares how Frontier and other digital tools help bring fabrics to life while also building community between suppliers and brands with respect to fabric samples, inventory, price quotes, and more. He also gives us a glimpse into a few lessons he's learned from the pandemic.
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Episode 15: Best of 2019
Material Wise
Happy New Year! While in production with our new 2020 line-up of episodes, we wanted to share some highlights of my conversations with last year’s smart and talented guests whom I was honored to have spent time with. We discovered that sustainability is still a huge topic. While it means many things to different people, sustainability is no longer a trend, but a business approach that’s here to stay. We also learned how collaboration throughout the entire supply chain lifts individual businesses and the industry as a whole. We catch a glimpse into the future with digital manufacturing,...
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Episode 14: James Morin of Flowfold
Material Wise
James Morin, COO and president of sales for Flowfold – a brand of minimalist gear made with some of the strongest and lightest of weight materials – gives us insight on how he’s helped build a small Maine-based company into an international brand. In this episode of Material Wise, James shares how he and his team have formed collaborative partnerships with suppliers, retailers, ambassadors, and non-profits to make Flowfold the thriving company it is today.
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Episode 13: Gihan Amarasiriwardena
Material Wise
Gihan Amarasiriwardena is the co-founder/president of Boston-based Ministry of Supply, a modern brand of performance professional apparel. Gihan shares how he and co-founder/CEO, Aman Advani, shared a desire to create professional apparel that had the same performance benefits as their favorite athletic pieces. We learn how the brand got its start, the significance of its name and the role materials, attention to design and fit play into each and every piece to make the apparel scientifically better.
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Episode 12: Elizabeth Whelan
Material Wise
Textile designer, Elizabeth Whalen’s materials can be found in work environments and on athletes all over the world. She creates textiles for brands like Humanscale, Nike, Tumi and more. Elizabeth voices her views on her personal design philosophy, stance on sustainability - really good design is sustainable - and the need for design inclusivity in technological development.
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Episode 11: Louisa Smith
Material Wise
With over 24 years of international experience in the global fashion and textile industry, Louisa combines her creative know-how with market and product development intelligence to ensure an accurate forecast. She shares how her intuition, curiosity, vision, and research led her to where she is today. Louisa gives us insight as to how she anticipates consumer needs up to 3 years in advance. She also shares her views on sustainability (be smart), top trend-inspiring cities, and how she stays relevant.
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Episode 10: Emily Walzer of Textile Insight
Material Wise
Emily Walzer is a savvy journalist who's had direct access to active sports/lifestyle brand VPs since the '80s. Today, she’s the editor/co-publisher of Textile Insight, a trade publication that focuses on textile design, innovation, and its product applications. Emily discusses her publishing career, recent trade shows, textile trends and concern over sustainability and social responsibility. Emily also reveals how she fuels her creativity, which finds its way into inspiring us with her informative storie
info_outlineNick Armentrout is the supply chain manager of Ramblers Way, a high-quality, sustainable apparel brand founded by Tom and Kate Chappell, founders of the infamous Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and other all-natural products. Nick shares how his background in animal science led him to find and establish relationships Rambouillet sheep, the knitters, dyers and manufactures that all go into the crafting of Ramblers Way apparel. Nick also dives into Ramblers Way’s Global Organic Textile (GOTS) and Cradle to Cradle certifications and how they influence today’s consumer.