In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, host Mili Tharakan is joined by three pioneering voices in sustainable fashion and textiles: Dr. Laetitia Forst (University of the Arts London), Patrick McDowell (designer and founder of Patrick McDowell), and Philippa “Philly” Grogan (Sustainability Manager at Nobody’s Child). Together, they break down the jargon around circular design, and circular business models-exploring why these concepts matter and how the fashion industry can shift from linear to circular ways of thinking and working.

What We Cover:

• What circular design really means in fashion and textiles, and the three core pillars of circularity
• How circular design is being implemented at different scales-from luxury, made-to-order brands to large high street labels
• The creative opportunities and technical challenges of designing for recycling, durability, and closed-loop systems
• How circular business models like rental, repair, and resale are changing the way we use and value clothing
• The importance of storytelling, emotional durability, and customer engagement in making circularity a behaviour change.
• The role of emerging technologies, policy, and regulation in accelerating circular innovation

⭐️ Fashion District Festival: 3rd - 8th June 2025, London, UK ⭐️

Check out these events and buy your tickets here:

• Launch and performance showcase
• Accelerating Regenerative Fashion
• Circular Design Practice - join our guests for this hands-on workshop
• Past and Future fabrics

💛 Support FLOCC:
Help transform Madras lace waste into valuable cotton flock fibre by supporting the FLOCC crowdfunding campaign. Your pledge helps scale sustainable material innovation and keeps textile waste out of landfill. FLOCC Crowdfunder Campaign

Resources & Further Reading:

• Circular Design with Next Gen Materials Guidebook – UAL Research Online (Laetitia Forst)
• Garment Lifecycle Map – Interactive Tool
• British Fashion Council’s Institute of Positive Fashion
• Future Fabrics Expo
• Centre for Circular Design
• Try your hand at sewing or repairing a garment-engage with your clothes in a new way!

Mili Tharakan: Linkedin I Instagram I Website I Buy me a coffee

Connect with me: mili@militharakan.com

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman