The MV collection stemmed from a dream of bringing machines to Fair Isle to trigger the development of other businesses in the island (3:43)  The cost breakdown of a hand-knitted jumper (7:10)The MV collection was inspired by museum pieces and how the “Hooded Jumper” was born (9:33)The colorwork and innovation in the “Crew Neck Jumper” (12:40)  The MV collection is a celebration of the very early Fair Isle knitting design, yet industrially manufactured (15:16)Challenges with the 2018 MV collection (17:42)Learnings from the MV collection (19:25)It's very difficult to put your passions and your beliefs into words, creating a business or a brand. How to transmit the message?  (21:47) Why the mainstream fashion system doesn’t work for Mati (22:45)  Why is it more important for Mati to produce pieces that are made to last (25:55)The new design ideas need to be a celebration of the island and of its traditions, it has to be more profound than a simple change of color (a computer can do it!) (26:50)Mati thinks that we are entering a period where like-minded individuals and communities are more important. Connecting with people will probably be the answer to grow the business (27:45)  Advice for building a meaningful brand: make sure that you know perfectly what is it that you're standing for? And then to grow from there and to keep that connection as you grow and as you diversify (31:07)Book coming out in September “KNITTING FROM FAIR ISLE” (33:34)  ===================CONNECT WITH MATI VENTRILLON       https://www.mativentrillon.co.uk/===================Pre-order Mati's book "KNITTING FROM FAIR ISLE" by Mati VentrillonHost: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

Fair Isle, the most remote inhabited island in the UK (03:22) Today, a crofting community of 54 permanent inhabitants (07:27) Mati first encounter with Fair Isle and application process to move there (12:14)Discovery of Fair Isle knitting and of its role throughout history (17:50) Research and launch of the brand after the dissolution of the knitting cooperative  (28:21) Bringing Fair Isle knitwear on-line and development of the bespoke service  (34:33) The Walpole Group “Crafted UK” Mentoring programme (36:06)Development of FAIR ISLE ARTISANS to pass on the Fair Isle knitting skills (37:10) The growth of the business is limited by the space available on the island (39:47)===================CONNECT WITH MATI VENTRILLON       https://www.mativentrillon.co.uk/===================Mentioned in this episode   National Trust for Scotland  and Walpole Crafted  Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

Why the COVID pandemic could be an opportunity for the fashion system? (00:23)Why small independent fashion business owners could play an effective role in the reshaping of the fashion system? (1:20)Why you need to reframe your situation? (3:07)How to manage your cashflow? (7:04)Why you need to keep LEARNING? (8:58)Why you need to learn from other industry sectors? (9:38)=============Mentioned in this episode: Turning the Tables by Simon RatcliffeHost: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

Kathleen’s entrepreneurial journey (1:55)  On being an image consultant from a more holistic point of view (3:15)  Why continuous learning is so important (5:05)  Learning stories from doing the work, asking for help & sticking to your values (7:31)  Learning to decline “opportunities” (8:54) What Kathleen loves about her work “people learning and growing and moving towards who they are, how they're created to be and, and that makes them happy and more productive and more useful in the world” (14:06)What’s coming next for Your Authentic Image and Kathleen  (17:01)  CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN at Your Authentic Image https://yourauthenticimage.com=======================================Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

Kathleen’s approach to image consulting is to help people connect who they are on the inside to the clothing on the outside (2:29)Women’s closets are usually overstuffed, too many clothes but no outfits (6:37)  Decluttering closets (7:30)   Image improvement tip #1: wear colors (8:09) Image improvement tip #2: get a seamstress or a tailor (10:00) Image improvement tip #3: be clear about where you are getting your image from (10:30) How Kathleen helped a successful executive with a college student looking style transition to a corporate role (12:12)  How Kathleen helped her client keep her job and get promoted twice (14:24 )To take helped her client gain confidence to take over her dad’s company (17:30)Kathleen’s life vision: a world where women would be heard in the same capacity that men (19:07)  Clothing can be used as resources (20:15)Kathleen uses her business as a platform to increase awareness for better fashion consumption (23:29) CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN at Your Authentic Image https://yourauthenticimage.com=======================================Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

https://www.leapfarm.com.au/Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

To connect with Kate https://www.leapfarm.com.au/Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

02:00 Why Janice chose an on-demand production model: to optimize use of cash flow with lower inventory and less waste08:00 Room for improvement for higher sustainability: sewing threads and packaging09:30 Why it is right now the time for small sustainable brands to be ahead of the curve.14:30 How to find the right suppliers17:00 Achievements and humble brag 19:00 Launching an online business 20 years ago and today, what has changed?23:00 What’s next? New product launch? CONNECT WITH JANICE TRAYES at Connecticut Country Clothinghttps://www.ctcountry.clothing/https://themindfulfounder.com/===========Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

02:00 Growing up in Connecticut, summer in New Hampshire and deep love for nature and water05:30 Looking for an outfit for a wedding inspired Janice to launch Connecticut Country Clothing09:30 Being a sustainable company is a no brainer12:30 What set Connecticut Country Clothing’s blazers apart? The fabrics and… the fit18:00 Sustainable from farm to dye, natural, biodegradable fabrics produced in a closed-loop system21:00 Fairtrade practices and manufacturing hemp fabrics and moss used to clean the waterCONNECT WITH JANICE TRAYES at Connecticut Country Clothinghttps://www.ctcountry.clothing/ PEOPLE AND PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODEKatherine HepburnRobert GrahamCupro fabricHemp fabricCorozo buttons (Tagua nuts)=========Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes

02:00 How Mary transitioned from being an Investment Banker to become a Fashion Business Owner06:00 Why Mary’s business plan did not work out and the difficulties of finding the right manufacturers09:00 “technology is a lot of our future” [in the fashion manufacturing sector]12:00 Things that Mary had to “unlearn” when she left her corporate to pursue her new career and new skills she has developed19:00 Mary is launching of the Adjustable collection with a smart innovation to address waste generated by infant’s wear23:00 The importance of finding the right manufacturing partners26:00 An adjustable bodysuit with facts and figures in the time capsule for future generations to realize to understand how we got here, where we are right now.==============NUGGETS:Expectations and timeline have to be reset when transitioning from a large corporation to a startupIn a startup, before you can delegate, you need to learn just enough what they are doing on a daily basis in order to delegate and to manage the resources properly“technology is a lot of our future” [in the fashion manufacturing sector] A simple innovation can address a complex problem of waste==============To connect with Mary Marland and to find out more about WILD DOVES https://wilddoves.com/Email to the Podcast Host (Leekei Tang) podcast (at) themindfulfounder.comWebsites mentioned: SPOONFLOWER and MAKER’S ROW=============Host: Leekei TangContact: hello (at) betterbusinessfounder.comMusic credits: Mister Sunny Face by Wayne Jones / Blue Skies by Silent Partner / Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes