Join host Mili Tharakan as she sits down with Annabel Hought from Round Retail and Yayra Agbofah from The Revival to discuss innovative business models for sustainable fashion, the global crisis of textile waste, and the power of cross-border collaboration. This episode dives into the realities of the secondhand clothing market, the importance of community, and creative solutions for reducing waste while supporting vulnerable communities.

• Textile waste is a global problem that requires local and international collaboration.
• The rise of fast and ultra-fast fashion has led to a flood of low-quality, unsellable garments, overwhelming markets like Kantamanto in Ghana.
• Innovative business models like Round Retail and The Revival show how fashion can be a force for good.
• Consumer awareness and action are crucial for driving systemic change in the fashion industry. Consumers can drive change by voting with their money and supporting responsible businesses.
• Reduce stigma around secondhand fashion and foster a more conscious, circular fashion ecosystem.

How to Support
Donate or consign clothes to Round Retail
Follow and support The Revival’s ongoing efforts to rebuild Kantamanto market and community in Accra, Ghana - Donate
Advocate for extended producer responsibility and more transparent fashion supply chains

Fashion District Festival 2025

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

Launch and performance showcase: immersive fashion show

Rebuild and Reimagine with Round Retail: bring old clothes for creative upcycling sessions.

Accelerating Regenerative Fashion: workshop

Circular Design Practice: workshop

Past and Future fabrics: talks

Connect with me

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

If you enjoyed this, please share the episode with a friend or colleague. Subscribe and leave a review, I love to hear your feedback.

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

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

Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District

Guests:

• Amy Tsang, Head of Europe at The Mills Fabrica
• Georgia Parker, Innovation Team at Fashion for Good
• Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District London

This is the 5th in a series of episodes in collaboration with Fashion District - a dynamic hub for fashion innovation in East London, connecting fashion technology, business, and education to support startups with innovation networks, affordable spaces, business guidance, and investment opportunities.

This episode of No Ordinary Cloth podcast features an insightful discussion with three prominent ecosystem builders in the fashion and textile industry: Amy Tsang, Georgia Parker and Helen Lax. They delve into the crucial role of ecosystem partners in driving innovation and sustainability within the industry.

The conversation covers various aspects of supporting startups, including common challenges faced by innovators, such as funding, scaling production, and navigating the complexities of the fashion industry.

The guests highlight the importance of collaboration and alignment among different stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable solutions. They also stress the need for greater alignment with policymakers to drive meaningful change in the industry.

The episode explores the role of ecosystem builders in supporting startups through various stages of growth, from incubation to scaling. The guests share insights on impact measurement and the importance of founder wellbeing as well.

Looking ahead, the guests envision an even more critical role for ecosystem builders in facilitating industry-wide collaboration, addressing knowledge gaps, and helping stakeholders navigate the complex landscape of innovation and sustainability in fashion and textiles. The episode concludes with personal anecdotes about cherished textile items, highlighting the emotional connections we form with clothing and the potential for long-lasting, quality garments to be passed down through generations.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The role of ecosystem builders in driving innovation in fashion and textiles
• Common challenges faced by startups in the fashion industry
• Programs and support offered by The Mills Fabrica, Fashion for Good, and Fashion District London
• Building successful fashion innovation ecosystems
• Emerging technologies and trends transforming the fashion industry
• The importance of collaboration between ecosystem partners
• Funding and investment opportunities for fashion startups
• Measuring impact and success in fashion innovation

Fashion District London l Fashion District Festival 2025

Fashion for Good

The Mills Fabrica

World of waste

Mili Tharakan: Linkedin l Insta l Buy me a coffee

Contact me: No Ordinary Cloth

Recommended listening:

Ep 18. Investor Insights for Fashion and Textile Startups

Ep 12. Strategies and Ecosystems for Fashion / Textile Startup Success

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman