Discover the truth behind Rothy’s, the popular eco-friendly shoe company, and whether they’re genuinely making a difference or just greenwashing to sell more shoes. In this episode, hosts Kat and Tiff unpack Rothy’s claims to use recycled plastic bottles, discuss whether their sustainability certifications hold up, and explore deeper concerns like microplastics and the true environmental impact of fast fashion. You'll learn how their innovative 3D knitting process reduces waste, but also how their rapid expansion into new styles and materials may dilute their eco-efforts.

They break down:

• The real story behind their recycled plastic shoes and their plastic bottle savings
• How credible their third-party certifications like LEED, TRUE, and SCS really are
• The hidden costs of microplastics from washable shoes
• Why greenwashing is more common than you think and how to spot it
• The broader implications of consumerism and fast fashion’s impact on our environment

Sources

• RunRepeat: https://runrepeat.com/womens-shoe-statistics
• Fashion for Good: https://www.fashionforgood.com/innovation-platform-2/how-it-works/footwear-circularity/
• Rothy’s website: https://rothys.com/
• Rothy’s sustainability page: https://rothys.com/pages/sustainability
• U.S. Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) TRUE - https://www.gbci.org/about-true
• U.S. Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI) LEED - https://www.usgbc.org/leed
• SCS Global: https://www.scsglobalservices.com/services/recycled-content-certification
• Good On You: https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/rothys
• The Commons: https://brands.thecommons.earth/brand-rating/122/rothy's
• Trust Pilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/rothys.com

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Leather can come at a devastating human and environmental cost — but what if the leather in a new bag could avoid that problem? Hosts Tiff and Kat talk about Dana Cohen, founder of HYER GOODS. Learn how her small-batch, deadstock Italian leather business is redefining sustainability in fashion, proving that luxury and responsibility can go hand-in-hand.

Sources

• HYER GOODS: https://hyergoods.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqCHYDvhwklE7ukgz8pTqNZVCcjDAPtUEt9pTPZpYAebENDzjiC 
• The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/17/hyer-goods-luxury-brands-leather-recyclying 
• The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/21/plight-of-child-workers-facing-cocktail-of-toxic-chemicals-exposed-by-report-bangladesh-tanneries 
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/handbags/comments/17e95yu/comment/mk0nn2l/ 
• Earth.org: https://earth.org/analysing-the-pros-and-cons-of-vegan-leather/ 

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In this episode, hosts Kat and Tiffany explore slow fashion clothing brand Hope for Flowers, built by designer Tracy Reese. Learn how the slow fashion movement offers more sustainable clothing choices, what it costs, and how Tracy Reese is using her resources to support the local art scene in Detroit. Also, learn about Tiffany's early lessons following a layoff.

Sources

• Hope for Flowers: https://www.hopeforflowers.com
• Hope for Flowers Sustainability Page: https://hopeforflowers.com/pages/sustainability
• Good On You: https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/
• Printful: https://help.printful.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409129698962-How-is-print-on-demand-more-sustainable-than-traditional-manufacturing

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It's right there in the name: ethical silk. But what does that mean? And can "cruelty-free sleepwear" be sustainable? Find out as we look into the Ethical Sleep Company and their eco claims, from peace silk production to Fair Trade Certification and beyond.

Sources

• Ethical Silk Company website: https://theethicalsilkco.com/ 
• World Fair Trade Organization: https://wfto.com/our-fair-trade-system/our-10-principles-of-fair-trade/ 
• Mehera Shaw, their chosen fair trade workshop: https://meherashaw.com/pages/manufacture 
• Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/08/01/when-fair-trade-isnt-fair-why-you-should-consider-direct-trade/
• Nature Sustainability: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0311-5.epdf 
• Corporate Accountability Lab: https://corpaccountabilitylab.org/calblog/2021/5/20/fair-trade-usa-amp-the-failures-of-eco-social-certificationnbsp 
• Treehugger: https://www.treehugger.com/silk-sustainable-impact-5094158 

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Underwear is the foundation of your wardrobe, and what you wear down there can have a bigger impact on your health than other pieces of clothing. So is it worth it to go organic for your women's undies? Take a look at Pact and their 100% organic cotton with us this week. 

Sources:

• Healthline - https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/underwear-hygiene
• The Good Trade - https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/ethical-lingerie-brands/
• MATE the Label on Why Organic Intimates Matter - https://matethelabel.com/blogs/mate-journal/why-organic-intimates-matter-a-conversation-with-fertility-specialist-dr-sasha-hakman
• Good On You: Pact - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/pact
• Pact’s website - https://wearpact.com/women/underwear/undies
• Pact’s Sustainability site - https://wearpact.com/sustainability
• Simplizero - https://simplizero.com/
• Fair Trade Certified - https://www.fairtradecertified.org/
• Vela - https://www.vela.eco/

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In the era of athleisurewear and comfort clothing, should you sweat buying organic cotton leggings? We take a look at MATE the Label and see if their sustainability claims hold up.

Sources

• The Good Trade: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/mate-the-label-activewear-review/ 
• Change Climate Project: https://www.changeclimate.org/standards and https://explore.changeclimate.org/brand/mate-the-label 
• MATE The Label’s website: https://matethelabel.com/pages/about and https://matethelabel.com/pages/2020-impact-report 
• Good On You review: https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/mate-the-label 
• Certified B Corp: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/mate-the-label/ 
• Jungmaven: https://jungmaven.com/collections/womens-activewear 
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ethicalfashion/comments/1e3ci80/avoid_mate_the_label_at_all_cost/ 
• Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/matethelabel.com 

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It's our 100th episode! Most podcasts don't make it past three, so we're pretty proud of ourselves. Pop the bubbly and join us on a retrospective of all we've learned and what we're looking forward to. And THANK YOU for listening all this time!

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We may be the only podcast currently in existence that isn't sponsored by Quince. They bill themselves as providing quality, sustainable items at an affordable price. Is that possible? Find out this week as we take a look at Quince and their sustainability claims (and likely lose out on any hope of ever being sponsored by them, ever).

Sources

• Quince website: https://www.quince.com 
• The Business of Fashion Podcast: Can Fashion Still Meet Its Climate Promises?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-fashion-still-meet-its-climate-promises/id1225204588?i=1000737458578 
• Good On You (brand rating): https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/quince 
• Commons: Instead of Quince, Try These 5 Sustainable Brands: https://www.thecommons.earth/blog/instead-of-quince-try-these-5-sustainable-brands 
• Toad&Co: https://www.toadandco.com/pages/sustainability
• Ecocult: https://ecocult.com/quince-ethical-sustainable-greenwashing/ 
• NYTimes Wirecutter:https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/my-month-testing-quince-products/

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What if, instead of mindlessly buying another new outfit, you could just rent it? And what if you could stop the fashion industry from making up 10% of global emissions every year from manufacturing new clothing by stopping their need to make that new clothing? Take a look at Rent the Runway this week to find out if renting your clothes will solve all your green-living fashion problems, or just cause new ones.

Sources:
- Rent the Runway sustainability - https://www.renttherunway.com/impact
- Vogue UK – Is Renting Your Clothes Really More Sustainable? - https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/is-renting-your-clothes-really-more-sustainable
- MIT - https://sustainable.mit.edu/rentalclothing/
- Mother Jones - https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/07/renting-runway-clothes-environmental-problems-fast-fashion-study-climate-change/

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Kids grow up so fast, but you've gotta' keep 'em clothed. Can supposedly sustainable children's clothing brands like Hanna Andersson meet the needs of eco-minded parents? Find out what sustainability claims are legit and which ones are just green hooey in our first episode of season nine. 

Sources 

• The Good Trade: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/organic-baby-clothes/
• Journal of Textile Science and Fashion Technology “mini review”: https://irispublishers.com/jtsft/fulltext/a-review-sustainable-material-selection-for-childrens-wear.ID.000708.php 
• Wirecutter, NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/is-organic-cotton-better-for-the-environment/ 
• The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/20/cost-cotton-water-challenged-india-world-water-day 
• Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.hannaandersson.com
• Hanna Anderson FAQ: https://www.hannaandersson.com/faqs.html?srsltid=AfmBOopAQKYHbtsIFFaAR03jx11CxJdcl9_wTxmQbE9j3eE5r9nZPdeS 
• Hanna Anderson sustainability page: https://www.hannaandersson.com/sustainability.html 
• Good On You: https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/hanna-andersson 
• NIH: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8755403/ 

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