The Textile Nerd Podcast

In the ever-evolving textile ecosystem, industry-focused education remains a critical piece of the puzzle. In the United States, issues including supply chain, sustainability, and onshoring/nearshoring remain top of mind for educators working to teach and skill-up the next generation of textile nerds. On the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will talk with Jasmine Cox, executive director of Gaston College's Textile Technology Center about solutions, successes, and fabric's future forces.

Does polyester get a bad wrap in the fashion, apparel, and movie world? If you ask longtime textile print maven and Hollywood costume printer Steven Moreno of MY Prints, the answer is an emphatic "yes." Lori, and Dan explore a concept Steven raised during our behind-the-scenes in Tinseltown episode that we'll call Polyester Prejudice, deepening a discussion on the need for additional education on the polyester options of today.

Bringing any fabric to market takes a dizzying number of people along the way... especially for a newly-developed material. From fiber-to-fruition, textiles will be put through the paces until they're ready to find their end use. On this episode of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori, and Dan travel along the production chain and bring in TVF Senior Sales Consultant Chris Russo to illuminate and salute the many hands behind every yard.

As new textiles evolve faster than we can measure, modeling, testing, and quality control are increasingly going 3D to keep pace. One of the great minds on the forefront of this technology is GORE-TEX Fabrics Digital Business Process Specialist Christina Rapa. Lori and Dan explore how this technology - very different from 3D printing - is already changing the game for several key facets of the textile industry.

The principles of employee ownership can apply to so many facets of textiles. Along with the financial benefits, it also involves concepts like constant improvement, leading from where you are, and an ownership mindset. In this edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will discuss their experience as employee owners and how it applies to fabric.

The term expert witness often evokes high-pressure courtroom scenes and "gotchya" moments for ne'er-do-wells. In the case of the textile industry, an expert witness could also be a knowledgeable, experienced voice to protect the integrity of creatives and innovators. One such expert, Frances Harder of Fashion for Profit, will discuss with Lori and Dan how this legally-critical role plays out and discusses her decades of global experiences that have enriched her vibrant career in fabric.

The textile industry's history and influence goes back centuries, but during the last 50 years, the company that brings you this podcast has imprinted its own mark on the ancient craft. As TVF winds down its golden anniversary year, Lori and Dan take a few moments to reflect on their company's journey, employee ownership, and a few key events along the way that have turned a humble, two-man operation into a globally-known textile business.

There's no question our industry's knowledge centers are changing. As the waves of experienced members of the workforce continue to clock out for the last time, the Textile Nerd Podcast will explore some strategies to cultivate and become the next generation to drive fabrics forward. Lori and Dan turn to material and textile scientist Dr. Apurba Banerjee of Standard Textile about networking, knowledge transfer, and mentorship.

Climb into our time machine as we peek into the future of textiles. The frontier is vast and the experts we talk with always have thoughts on where the industry – from fibers to finishes – is headed. Lori and Dan will offer their expert-informed thoughts on what's next for substrates, sustainability, and beyond.

Happy Anniversary, Nerds! The Textile Nerd Podcast turns one, and Lori and Dan have the highlights, storylines, and curiosities from our engaging experts! We've explored the depths of the industry we love along with you, so let's honor and celebrate our first 12 months of many. From Hollywood intrigue to fiber origins and futures to textile technique breakdowns and more, it's time to celebrate the first anniversary of the Textile Nerd Podcast.