5THREAD Podcast

In the fifth episode of the 5THREAD podcast, host Joanna Czutkowna welcomes guest Tess Howard to discuss the issues surrounding gendered kit and her campaign to change sportswear policy to enable greater participation by reducing barriers to play.

Tess discusses her motivations for starting Inclusive Sportswear and her academic research on gendered sports uniforms and whether they are Practical, Professional or Patriarchal. She shares her story about the key people who have influenced her and why she believes we all have the potential to make change.

Tess Howard is the Founder of Inclusive Sportswear, a CIC breaking down barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. She is a Great Britain & England Professional Hockey Player who won a Commonwealth gold medal at Birmingham 2022 and has been selected to play in the Paris Olympics 2024.

In the fourth episode of the 5THREAD podcast, Joanna interviews Nicole Bekkers to understand what happens to excess kit in professional football clubs. Spoiler alert-most of it gets destroyed by incineration or shredding.

They discuss the 'hidden problem' of the environmental impact of apparel within sports and Nicole stresses the urgency of the situation, sharing how FC88 provides an upcycling solution to support clubs.

Nicole is working with a range of clubs as their upcycling partner using the network of studios she has established across Europe. FC88 studios support local communities and invest in the craftsmanship needed to make these unique upcycled products. The due diligence, attention to detail and integrity Nicole shows is clear throughout the conversation and is what makes FC88 stand out as a leader in this space.

In the third episode of the 5THREAD podcast, host Joanna Czutkowna talks to Leigh Burns about the development of women’s cricket brand Lacuna Sports, cricketwear designed for women by women.

In this episode, they discuss why enabling access to empowering sportswear is crucial to enhancing the experiences of female athletes within sport. Aswell as the challenges, due diligence and compromises needed to make sustainability a priority in a small brand while balancing commerciality and brand integrity.

Leigh Burns is the founder of Lacuna Sports, a cricket brand created for women and girls who are serious about cricket, Lacuna’s mission is to remove the barriers to movement and ambition so that all sportswomen can walk out onto a pitch feeling confident, comfortable and able to focus on their game, not their kit.

More information and resources on clothing and kit for female cricketers and teams can be found at https://cricketforgirls.com/community/xenforum/clothing-and-equipment

In the second episode of the 5THREAD podcast, Joanna talks to Louise Pullan aka The Oracle of Teamwear. Louise has held various roles within the sportswear industry, including kit operations specialist for Commonwealth Games England, and head of kitting out for the British Olympic Association, she now acts as a consultant for sportswear organisations. In this episode they discuss the importance of involving athletes in developing process and how organisations can take simple practical actions to reduce waste and implement sustainable practices.

In the first episode of the 5THREAD podcast, host Joanna Czutkowna welcomes guest Lily Rice to discuss the product life cycle and environmental impacts of the sportswear industry from the initial design phase up until its disposal.

Joanna and Lily cover a range of topics including starting and growing a sustainable brand in an ethical way, and if taking investment is a good idea. They discuss how failure can be a very good thing and discuss Lily's research into what can be done about the number of ACL injuries within women's football.

Lily Rice is an award-winning designer who has worked on both bespoke collections and mass-market consumer wear at sportswear’s highest levels. She is the CEO of The Sportswear Designer, championing sustainability in sportswear, particularly within women’s sports.

Joanna Czutkowna is a CEO of 5THREAD, a consultant and doctoral researcher specialising in circularity within sports apparel.

In our series kickoff, we're joined by Lily Rice, aka The Sportswear Designer, covering sustainable design, entrepreneurship, investment, embracing failure, and tackling ACL injuries in women's sports.

Next up, we chat with Louise Pullan, aka The Oracle of Teamwear, revealing the behind-the-scenes efforts to outfit teams for major events like the Olympics while considering sustainability impacts.

In episode three, Leigh Burns, Founder of Lacuna Sport, discusses creating cricket gear tailored for women to optimize performance and inclusivity on the field.

Episode four features Nicole Bekkers, founder of upcycling brand FC88, shedding light on the staggering waste in professional sports and strategies to prolong garment lifespans.

Wrapping up our series, we sit down with Tess Howard, academic, activist, and gold-winning Hockey Player, who founded Inclusive Sportswear to advocate for policies ensuring sports apparel inclusivity for all.