Calling Kavita Parmar a cultural powerhouse barely scratches the surface. As the founder of IOU Project, she champions handloomed Madras cotton and artisan-made fashion rooted in transparency and respect. She's also the visionary behind Xtant, an annual event that feels more like an otherworldly experience, bringing together a beautifully curated community of artists, textile makers, and cultural custodians from around the world.

In this episode, Kavita shares powerful insights on reimagining fashion beyond its extractive, linear systems. Tune in to explore the beauty of craft, the urgency of systemic change, and the role of storytelling in building a more just fashion system that puts makers at the centre.

www.xtant.io

@Kavitaparmar

@_Xtant_

George Kwame Baah is an inspiration.  A nuclear engineer by day, he is a dedicated shoe designer and social entrepreneur in his free time.

He founded Sunsums, a brand that creates handcrafted footwear and accessories using printed and handloomed Kente cloth, woven in Ghana’s Volta region.

With a strong social mission, Sunsums employs over 40 artisans in Ghana, paying a fair wage that is up to 20 times higher than the national average. Each design is exclusive to the brand, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.

In this episode, George shares his remarkable journey, the values behind Sunsums, and what it takes to merge heritage, innovation, and impact.

Support weavers in Ghana by purchasing the product & follow them on Instagram.

Sunsums.comInstagram: @kwamesunsums

Facebook: @SunsumsFashion

Meet Cristina, an adventurer at heart and an economist by training. Having lived across the globe, from Burkina Faso to the Middle East and Latin America, Cristina has charted a unique path that fuses her deep passion for artisan textiles and gender equity with a practical understanding of global development.

In this conversation, she shares how she’s aligned her values with the realities of business whilst creating meaningful opportunities for artisans and opening up access to international markets for farmers and makers across the Global South.

Get in touch with Cristina.

LinkedIn

@Cristina_madeinafrica

Alice Robinson and Sara Grady are the visionary entrepreneurs behind British Pasture Leather, a pioneering farm-to-fashion business transforming British cattle hides into beautifully finished, traceable leather. Supplying premium brands with ethically sourced materials, this multi-disciplinary duo exemplifies how creative thinking can address deep-rooted structural challenges in the leather industry, which is wasteful, polluting and majority sourced from outside the British Isles.

In this conversation, we dive into their journey from uncovering the hidden complexity of the leather industry to navigating the challenges of true provenance, supply chain transparency, and the overlooked links between food, farming, and fashion. A must-listen for anyone interested in regenerative systems, material innovation, and values-led entrepreneurship.

Find out more about British Pasture Leather here

www.britishpastureleather.com

@british.pasture.leather

Read Alice Robinson’s Book  'Field, Fork, Fashion'

https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/field-fork-fashion/?srsltid=AfmBOopm5XLF0HCKrmADD5sf8QMurdN3oc9Xac_sgAmuY3SKTQ6M2ku6

If you're wondering what it takes to correct the global power imbalance in fashion, listen to the amazing Vanna Sann’s insights on ethical manufacturing.

From studying liberal arts to managing Dorsu, a sustainable fashion brand with an integrated manufacturing arm, Vanna is an eloquent, refreshing voice with a unique perspective on creating an ethical fashion supply chain.

Click the link to discover what the future of ethical fashion manufacturing looks like.

Struggling to find the right staff? Skills can be taught and knowledge found online. Using outdated methods to select staff could be the root of all your HR problems. Listen to my conversation with seasoned Change Manager, Celita Begbie and find simple yet powerful ways to grow and maintain your team.

Find out more about Celita @Celitabegbie

Get in touch to improve your HR strategy at www.anisajohnny.com

Listen to my latest conversation with Christelle Nouviaire-Domec Creative Director and Associate Lecturer in Sociology & Fashion.

What do Kaia Gerber and Charlotte Rampling have in common? Find out by listening to this exclusive podcast! Designed for students and those contemplating a career change, this podcast delves into the world of model agency representation.

Join us as Natalie Hand, the Creative Director of London's renowned boutique model agency, Viva London, shares her insights and experiences. With an impressive roster of models such as Kaia Gerber, Liya Kebede, Emily Ratajkowski, Natalia Vodianova, and notable figures like Charlotte Rampling, Juliette Binoche, and designer Ines de la Fressange, Viva London leads the way.

Discover Natalie's remarkable journey from an Assistant Booker to spearheading the London chapter of Viva. Follow her path, starting in acting, living in Paris, and collaborating with esteemed photographers, stylists, fashion magazines, and creative directors from luxury fashion houses worldwide.

Tune in to gain invaluable insights into the inner workings of model agencies. If your company is considering partnering with a model agency, don't miss this episode, where Natalie reveals the pitfalls to avoid. Get ready to delve into the fascinating realm of model representation

Find out more about what I do at www.anisajohnny.com

Fashion Entrepreneurs get excited about creating logos and so they should. But the logo should be the last thing you do not the first. Jana Dambekalne is a Visual Communication Senior Lecturer and ex Art Director with a wealth of experience. 

Listen to our chat about how logos are defunct unless they are memorable and how to ensure your brand identity is doing its job. This is a great place to start if you are thinking of starting a fashion brand or re-branding.

Fashion Hub Singapore is a podcast for fashion brands looking to create social impact. 

Follow Jana's adventures in design at @bedesigneducated

Siim Sainas is a Social Media Measurement and Insights Lead APAC at Google. You can't get better than that right? I sat down with Siim, to get his 101 on how fashion brands can create successful Influencer Marketing campaigns.  Siim, originally from Estonia, has a wealth of experience in research and analytics, across a myriad of international brands; 170+ at the last count, including Google (I'm so excited I had to mention it again), Pepsi, Intel, H&M and VISA. 

His work has been featured in the New York Times, used by WFA (World Federation of Advertisers), and many Omnicom and WPP agency teams. Siim is also a member of ESOMAR. And if that is not enough he started a blog, Brand Hero, with a learning component to pass on his knowledge and save you time and money. 

If you want to learn more about Influencer Marketing head over to brandhero.co. And if you want to know more about me, I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing & Management at Raffles College of Higher Education in Singapore. I love helping fashion and lifestyle brands who want to use fashion to impact society. You can find out more at www.anisajohnny.com 

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