BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®

BLUE CAST Ep 515 - Sedef Uncu Aki / Gozen

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks with Sedef Uncu Aki, CEO at Gozen.

About Dr. Sedef Uncu Aki
GOZEN CEO, Dr. Sedef Uncu Aki, brings 25 years of leadership experience in operations, commercial strategy and business growth, alongside her PhD in Textile Technology & Management. With a proven track record in managing over $100 million in P&L for global textile companies, she now oversees the delivery of LUNAFORM to product industries across mass, premium, and luxury segments - driven by a bold vision to create a new material reality.

About GOZEN
GOZEN (www.gozen.world) is a design-led biotechnology scale-up based in San Francisco, California & Istanbul, Turkey, that creates exceptional biomaterials for visionary creatives. Established in 2022 by fashion designer, Ece Gözen, GOZEN acts as a bridge between the worlds of next-generation technology, progressive design and the established traditions of artisan craft – united by a core purpose to protect the Earth.

About LUNAFORM™
LUNAFORM is an advanced nanocellulose biomaterial crafted in collaboration with nature. Through GOZEN’s BioCraft™ technology, the ingenuity of microorganisms are harnessed in a process of controlled fermentation, creating a fibrous biological lattice. The result is a material whose cascading drape, tensile strength and unmatched versatility position it as the natural successor to traditional materials - one source offering infinite possibilities.

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 20 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING. 

BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®   
A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue.
And get in touch: [email protected]

BLUE CAST Ep 514 - Andrew Olah

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks with Andrew Olah.

Andrew is the owner and CEO of Olah Inc. where he has worked since 1976 spending his early years involved in Denim Development and marketing . In 2004 he founded the Kingpins Show which is today the largest jean supply chain show in the world. 

Being a big believer in education Andrew spent 15 years helping FIT with their capstone jeans course.  In 2015 he started Kingpins Transformers, an event meant to educate the denim industry and in 2019 Transformer’s ED, a program to educate students about the jeans industry was launched.  He also started Ethical Denim Council in 2022 fighting for contract sanctity.

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 20 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING.  

@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy   

BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®    
A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue.
And get in touch: [email protected]

BLUE CAST Ep 513 - Diana Verde Nieto

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks with Diana Verde Nieto.

Diana Verde Nieto is a globally recognised business leader and sustainability expert with over two decades of experience in driving sustainable economic growth and fostering innovation. In 2002, she founded one of the world’s first sustainability communication consultancies, which she successfully exited in 2010. In 2011 Diana co-founded Positive Luxury, leading the enterprise until 2022, and remains an active board member. Her latest venture, Edify Collective, is a cutting-edge micro-learning platform focused on sustainability and critical skills. Through Edify Collective, Diana aims to help embed sustainability into every job role across organisations, breaking down silos and enabling sustainability literacy.

Diana serves as an advisor to several noteworthy organisations, including, The British Beauty Council, The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affair. Her education in Global Leadership & Public Policy was attained from the esteemed Harvard Kennedy School. She was trained by former US Vice President Al Gore at the Alliance of Climate Protection and received title of Young Global Leader from the World Economic Forum.

Diana has recently released a book- Reimagining Luxury: How to Build a Sustainable Future for Your Brand in January 2024, which further solidifies her as a highly respected authority in the realm of sustainability and business.

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 20 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING.  

@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy   

BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®    
A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue.
And get in touch: [email protected]

BLUE CAST Ep 512 - Sina Steidinger

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks with Sina Steidinger.

Sina Steidinger is a denim designer, sustainability lecturer, and consultant dedicated to shaping the future of circular fashion. Originally from Germany, she relocated in Amsterdam—widely regarded as Europe’s denim capital—where she continues to push the boundaries of sustainable design.

For Sina, denim is more than just a fabric, and jeans are more than just blue pants. A great pair of jeans should fit perfectly, be comfortable and flattering, and feel effortlessly special— never complicated. And today, denim should also be as circular as possible, but that’s only possible when circularity is embedded from the very first sketch of the design process.

With a background as Head of Design in Germany and expertise in designing for MUD Jeans, a pioneer in circular denim, Sina seamlessly merges her passion for denim with innovative sustainability practices. She is an active member of Clean & Unique and serves on the advisory board of Circular Textile Days, embedding her work deeply within the Dutch textile community.

Beyond design, Sina shares her expertise as a lecturer at multiple fashion universities, equipping the next generation of industry professionals with the knowledge and tools to make responsible choices. Through dynamic workshops, engaging lectures, and thought leadership, she is committed to driving change—because, as she says, she has a blue heart and a green mindset. 

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 20 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING.  

@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy   

BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®    
A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue.
And get in touch: [email protected]

BLUE CAST Ep 511 - LaundRe

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talk with Salli Deighton from LaundRe.

Salli Deighton is the Founder of LaundRe, the UK’s first circular denim finishing hub. LaundRe transforms unsold denim stocks, enables nearshore finishing in flexible quantities, development workshops and supports fast, responsible denim drops to meet the demands of a rapidly changing retail landscape.  
 
With over 25 years of experience consulting for brands like Wrangler, Fat Face, Marks & Spencer, and ASOS, Salli has been a leader in driving sustainability within the global denim industry. LaundRe’s expert team is united by a shared passion for creating positive change the UK, helping brands reduce their waste, carbon footprint and achieve circularity on shore.

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 20 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING.  

@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy   

BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®    
A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.   

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue. And get in touch

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BLUE CAST Ep 510 - WeftSide

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talk with new brand WeftSide. 

WeftSide, Founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2024 by three friends with extensive experience in the global fashion and denim industry, Weft Side is a premium brand committed to crafting denim: no more, no less. 

Our core belief is that genuine quality lasts beyond the temporary, bridging the gap between what was, what is, and what will be. That is why foundation is 3 models / 3 colors, prioritizing seasonless durability and quality over a flood of options.

WeftSide ensure the highest quality by producing our denim with premium manufacturers in Tunisia and Italy during periods of low production intensity – standing for the pleasure of slowness in a fast paced world. 

WeftSide work is simple and minimal, and in the end, it’s the idea that stands out. Denim—no more, no less.  Always and (n)ever the same.

Weft Side is exclusively available through weftside.com

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 20 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING.  

@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy   

BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®    
A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.   

Graphics, recording and editing by Mohsin Sajid and Sadia Rafique from ENDRIME® for TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®.     

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue. And get in touch

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks Nick and Max from Brand Lil Denim Jean

Nick Baur (25 Polish/German) bachelors degree in architecture and current Master Student for Fashion at Politecnico di Milano 

Max Kaupp (22 German) Bachelor Student for Fashion Design at Hochschule Pforzheim (Germany) 

Both long time friends and founders of Denim Platform and Brand Lil Denim Jean

 
Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 19 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING. 
 @carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy
   
BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®
   
 A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.
   
Graphics, recording and editing by Mohsin Sajid and Sadia Rafique from ENDRIME® for TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®.
   
  Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue. And get in touch

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks to Beth Esponnette founder of unspun. 

Beth Esponnette founded unspun, a company building the future of fashion manufacturing, automated and on-demand. The brand started producing custom-fit jeans from body scans nearly five years ago and has progressed to production for the industry from their proprietary 3D weaving. She's previously worked at Mountain Hardwear, Pearl Izumi, TechShop, Ekso Bionics, and the University of Oregon as an Assistant Professor of Product Design. Vogue Business named Beth a 100 Innovators Sustainability Thought Leader and MIT Tech Review named Beth a 35 Innovator under 35. She has a BS in Fiber Science & Apparel Design from Cornell and an MFA in Design from Stanford University.

unspun: Our mission is to reduce global human carbon emissions by 1%. To get there, we've created the tools needed to realize zero-waste production and circular reuse — a future where nothing becomes trash. The world's first 3D weaving tech, transforming yarn into clothes in minutes. Deployed in microfactories, Vega™ eliminates the need for large order quantities while reducing transport emissions and lead times. We partner with brands and manufacturers who are committed to streamlining and decarbonizing fashion supply chains using automated, localized, and low-impact production.

 
 
Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 19 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING. 
@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy
  
 BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®
  
 A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.
  
 Graphics, recording and editing by Mohsin Sajid and Sadia Rafique from ENDRIME® for TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®.
  
 Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue. And get in touch

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks to Daniel Rufenacht CEO of bluesign® 

Daniel Rufenacht has over 25 years of experience in corporate sustainability, institutional marketing, and public relations, working both for the public and private sectors. With a background in business management and communications, he began his career with the Swiss government, identifying new market opportunities for sustainable trade from developing countries, and overseeing the development of the first sustainable label in Switzerland for the textile industry.

He then worked for 8 years as Operational Director of CSR, Compliance and Integrity, Marketing and Communication for a famous textile company where he transformed a traditional clothing company into what is now a widely recognized sustainable brand that offers product traceability throughout the lifecycle. Before joining bluesign technologies ag he worked as Group Vice President, Corporate Communications and Sustainability at SGS for more than 10 years.

As CEO of bluesign he has developed a new service portfolio and extending the bluesign partnership and services to new market segments and geographies.

 

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 19 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING. 
@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy
 
 BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®
 
 A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.
 
 Graphics, recording and editing by Mohsin Sajid and Sadia Rafique from ENDRIME® for TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®.
 
 Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue. And get in touch

This BLUE CAST Episode, Tuncay Kilickan talks Arshiya Lal, Director of Corporate Development at Circ

Circ is on a mission to power the clean closet with patented technology that recycles global fashion waste back into textiles, over and over again. Circ is protecting our planet by reducing the need and demand for petroleum, trees, and other materials harvested from nature to manufacture clothes. Circ is building a truly circular economy for the fashion industry. Headquartered in Danville, Virginia, a former epicenter of textile production in the United States, Circ is an Earthshot Prize Finalist, a Certified B Corporation revitalizing the future of material technology and manufacturing, and has been named in Fast Company’s list of World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. To learn more about Circ, visit www.circ.earth.

Arshiya is helping create a more sustainable consumer future at Circ, where she works with brands and the textile supply chain to bring the first blended textile-to-textile recycling solution to market. 

Arshiya Lal has spent her career leading product strategy and growth for global emerging technologies in the sustainability and traceability space. She is passionate about addressing non-renewable material inputs and supply chain fragmentation with technology solutions. 

Before joining Circ in December 2022, Arshiya served as Head of Product at biotech company Modern Meadow, where she launched the start-up’s first lab-created leather products with renowned global fashion brands and informed the future roadmap of Modern Meadow’s BioMaterials business. 

Before working in materials, Arshiya led the development of enterprise blockchain technology and executed key partnerships for IBM’s blockchain business – bringing transparency to fragmented supply chains. 

Arshiya has worked on bespoke fashion technology projects including 3D-printed and cognitive clothing for Milan Fashion Week and Berlin Fashion Week, which sparked her interest in materials creation and fashion innovation. She holds expertise in bringing retail technologies to CPG companies - including augmented reality, virtual reality, and gesture recognition. While in university, she founded and hosted the Atlanta Fashion Tech Summit, which brought together over 200 fashion enthusiasts & technologists to talk about fashion and retail innovation. 

Arshiya currently resides in New York City, where she enjoys biking, running, and aerial arts. She brings sustainable fashion to her personal life by committing to shopping secondhand and hosting clothing swaps. 

Arshiya graduated with highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia where she studied Finance and Industrial Design. 

 

Tuncay Kilickan - Highly respected Industry figure, having cut his teeth at Turkish giant ISKO spanning 19 years. Most recently Tuncay was part of R&D team of ISKO. Tuncay has a number of patents under his name. No doubt most of us have worn fabrics developed by him and his team. Tuncay takes on the Head of Global Business Development - Denim at LENZING. 
@carvedinblue  @tencel_usa   #tenceldenim #tencel #Circularity  #circulareconomy
 
 BLUE CAST by TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®
 
 A podcast series created Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Denim team. Each month, they will host an in-depth talk with a special guest working in the industry or on the fringes of the denim community. Listen for discussions on sustainability, career trajectories, personal denim memories and more.
 
 Graphics, recording and editing by Mohsin Sajid and Sadia Rafique from ENDRIME® for TENCEL™ / CARVED IN BLUE®.
 
 Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @carvedinblue. And get in touch