The Modern Cotton Story

We have a very exciting podcast this week as we hosted La Rhea Pepper, CEO and Co-Founder of Textile Exchange, the influential nonprofit dedicated to industry advocacy, standards for preferred raw materials used in textile supply chains, development of industry data, and actionable metrics for brands and retailers.

During our discussion with Ms. Pepper, we covered a wide range of topics including a definition of “preferred” fibers and the role of Textile Exchange in the industry. Further, we discussed various challenges facing the industry today — such as efficient ways for companies to embrace sustainable production, the development of sound standards, and the use of data and insights to enable brands and retailers to measure, manage, and track their usage of fibers and materials.

Finally, we discussed the problem of “greenwashing” in textile supply chains, along with ways of distinguishing fact from marketing and metrics from spin. This week’s program is an essential and insightful conversation with Ms. Pepper, a farmer and leading advocate for sustainability initiatives throughout the farm-textile-apparel supply chain.

We had a special podcast this week as we hosted Steve Lamar, President & CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, for an enlightening discussion about the rapidly changing global apparel industry.

We tackled topics including various challenges facing the industry today and tomorrow — such as problems at the ports and ensuing supply chain bottlenecks, trade agreements, environmental sustainability, and working to bring all industry stakeholders together to try and solve these and other problems facing the industry.

We also discussed the impact of the Covid pandemic on the industry, and how it has changed the apparel business. We also had a fascinating discussion about near-shoring and re-shoring, or as Mr. Lamar puts it, “new-shoring,” as many of the new textile and apparel businesses launched in the U.S. in recent years are very different from legacy companies that dominated the domestic industry in years past.

This is an important and insightful conversation with Mr. Lamar, an accomplished writer, former Peace Corp volunteer, experienced legislative and trade policy expert, who today leads the major apparel and footwear association in Washington.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had an engaging discussion with Trinidad Garcia, President and CEO of Trinidad3, a jeans and apparel maker based in Los Angeles. We covered an extensive range of topics including the challenges of creating a new brand from scratch, made-in-America production, and the importance of sustainability.

Additionally, we discussed the impact of the Covid on the industry, and how it affected Trinidad3 as a company. We also had a fascinating discussion about re-shoring and if it’s a temporary or permanent trend. This is a terrific conversation with Mr. Garcia, former U.S. marine, apparel maker, and passionate advocate of domestic manufacturing.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had an amazing discussion with Eric Henry, President and CEO of TS Designs, an apparel maker in Burlington, NC. We covered a wide range of topics including supply chain transparency, sustainability, made-America production, and “dirt-to-shirt” manufacturing partnerships with cotton farmers.

Additionally, we discussed the impact of the Covid on the industry, and how TS Designs met the challenge of making face masks early in the pandemic as part of a U.S. textile and apparel initiative to supply masks to the U.S. government and private companies. These masks, in turn, represented a shift from t-shirts, the company's core product, to meet the crisis of the pandemic. This is an important and fascinating discussion with Mr. Henry, a keen businessman, strategic thinker, and passionate advocate of domestic manufacturing.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had a special interview with Kerry Bannigan, Executive Director of The Fashion Impact Fund, and Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office at the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Together Ms. Bannigan and Ms. Brigham have coordinated their efforts to help the global fashion industry to be more sustainable.

During our not-to-be-missed interview, we examine a wide range of issues facing today’s textile and apparel industries including the importance of sustainability from both the practical level industry production, supply and distribution, to policy initiatives to help guide the industry to better, more equitable ways of conducting business.

Additionally, we discuss their joint initiative at the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network to bring about positive change in the textile and apparel industry around the world and to help the industry to be better stewards of the planet’s environment.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had an important and far-reaching discussion with Edward Hertzman, Founder and Publisher of the leading online publication, SourcingJournal.com. We explore an extensive range of issues facing today’s textile and apparel industries including supply chain disruptions, the importance of sustainability, the sales outlook for this year’s holiday season, trade relations between China and the U.S., and future challenges facing the industry, as well as many other topics of great importance to companies operating throughout the entire textile supply chain.

Additionally, we discussed the impact of Covid on the industry and the ongoing changes seen in the industry as a result of the pandemic. This is a podcast not to be missed. Mr. Hertzman is publisher of one of the most influential publications in the textile and apparel industry today. His knowledge of the business and insights into the forces affecting the industry today and in the future are second to none.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had a terrific discussion with Mauro Scalia, the Director of Sustainable Businesses at the European textile organization, EURATEX. We covered a wide range of topics including with the importance of sustainability to so many companies in Europe and around the world, EURATEX’s efforts to encourage sustainable environmental practices, and various challenges faced by the textile industry.

Additionally, we discussed the impact of Covid on the industry, the role sustainability as a business strategy, and the ongoing changes seen in the industry. This is an important and fascinating discussion with Mr. Scalia, a leader in sustainability and representative of the major textile trade organization in Europe. Far reaching and insightful, Mr. Scalia’s perspective represents decades of experience in Brussels and the textile industry.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had an informative discussion with textile industry consultant and former CEO of NCTO, Auggie Tantillo, about trade policy, new developments in government policies, and the changing relations between the U.S. and China.

Indeed, this week’s discussion pulled no punches regarding U.S. government policies related to the textile and apparel industries. We discussed updates regarding CAFTA and regional trade agreements, as well as broader trade issues related to sourcing from Asia including possible implications of forced labor in the Xinjiang province of China.

Far reaching and insightful, Auggie’ perspective represents decades of experience in Washington and the textile industry. He offers thoughtful advice about many of the problems plaguing the industry today and its prospects for improvement tomorrow.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we enjoyed visiting with Alex Helander, a consultant and Associate Professor at the Parson’s School of Design in New York City.

Our discussion covered a wide range of topics where not only learned about Alex’s career beginning literally on factory floors of manufacturers throughout the U.S., to his experience with major brands and retailers, like Ralph Lauren and the Limited. Alex also shared his insight into the current state of the industry and its possible future, as well as the importance that technology will play in the marketing of products to consumers.

This is a fascinating conversation with a leading consultant and industry veteran — a great discussion for people throughout the fiber-textile-apparel supply chain.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.

For this week's podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Thom Boehm, who not only works for knitting company Stansfield Ltd in Nova Scotia, but is an influential blogger on LinkedIn.

With a large and engaged following of industry professionals, Thom Boehm writes about all sorts of things on LinkedIn. One day he may discuss the intricacies of running a knitting machine. The next day, Thom may discuss world events. Yet on another day, when he may write about friends and family.

Thom’s perspective of the textile industry is directly from the factory floor. He’s seen changes come and go, but offers sage advice about many of the problems plaguing the industry today and its prospects for improvement tomorrow.

Hosted by Jennifer Crumpler, Fiber Development Manager and Manager of the e3 Sustainable Cotton Program from BASF, and interviewed by industry consultant Bob Antoshak.