Podcasts / From Farm to Closet: the Icon Coat by Eileen Fisher

From Farm to Closet: the Icon Coat by Eileen Fisher

The timeless style Eileen Fisher is known for isn’t just a product of its creative design. It’s also linked to the brand’s sustainable sourcing and practices. In this episode, Susan Scow, Sustainability Specialist at Eileen Fisher, breaks down the steps to produce one iconic piece.

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: So, how would you describe your personal style? Are you comfy? Sporty?

Susan Scow: I would say it has to be comfy. If it’s not comfy, I will not wear it. I actually was into ‘athleisure’ before we even had the word. I had a dog care business growing up, and I basically wore synthetics all the time. It wasn’t until I started blacksmithing that I realized that you don’t want to wear synthetics because the slag or the fire from the blacksmithing could melt the synthetics onto your skin. Right?

RLS: Right. That’s Susan Scow — a blacksmithing enthusiast and the sustainability specialist at Eileen Fisher.

SS: I am someone who forgets to buy basics, and so everything I own is some kind of statement piece. It’s a little bit of a flaw on my part, but at least working for Eileen Fisher, the statement pieces that I buy are timeline, right? So it’s not going to go out of style in a year or two, which is very, very lucky for me.

RLS: Since 1984, the women’s clothing brand Eileen Fisher has been a leader in the slow fashion movement — combining sustainable practices with timeless designs. In this episode, we’re going to talk about one of those timeline pieces and its journey from farm to closet. Any idea what that piece could be? Here’s a hint: it’s iconic.

To learn more about Eileen Fisher’s Icon Coat, visit eileenfisher.com

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Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.

Podcasts / How to Make Clothing From Wood with Lenzing and Reformation

How to Make Clothing From Wood with Lenzing and Reformation

Source of Good Podcast

Trees are more than just bark, branches, and leaves. They contain a secret ingredient that is critical to a more sustainable fashion industry. In this episode, Thomas Matiz, Product Sustainability Specialist at Lenzing Group, takes us into a fairy tale world where responsibly managed forests become fabric. Except, it’s not magic. It’s science.

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: In the region of Upper Austria, there’s a town called Lenzing.

Thomas Matiz: It’s a rather little village but in a rather beautiful area surrounded with mountains and lakes and close to forests.

RLS: Picture a landscape straight out of a fantasy book, complete with castles.

TM: I’ve been here in this area now for only five years but I’m enjoying it very much. I’m glad to be this close to nature.

RLS: Thomas Matiz is the product sustainability specialist at Lenzing Group, a textile manufacturer that produces some of the most innovative and sustainable fabrics in the world. But here’s the thing: they’re made out of wood. How and why would a company want to make clothes out of wood? Stick around to find out…pun intended.

Listen below or click here to listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Lenzing, visit lenzing.com

Check out Reformation’s line of TENCEL-based clothing at thereformation.com/collections/tencel

Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.

Podcasts / Can Sneakers Be Carbon-Neutral? with Brooks Running

Can Sneakers Be Carbon-Neutral? with Brooks Running

Source of Good Podcast

If you’re a runner, you probably know about Brooks Running’s legendary Ghost sneaker. In this episode, Gabriel Mens, Sustainability Manager at Brooks Running, walks – or should I say runs – us through the process of building a truly sustainable shoe.

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: On the evening of August 6, 2024, Josh Kerr laced up his running shoes and walked into a stadium of roaring fans in Paris. He also had a few fans cheering him on thousands of miles away in Seattle, Washington.

Gabriel Mens: We actually all gathered in HQ to watch one of our athletes, Josh Kerr, participate in the 1500 in that final and win the silver medal, which is pretty awesome.

RLS: That’s Gabriel Mens, sustainability manager at Brooks Running. And, during the 2024 Olympics, they had quite a few athletes to watch.

GM: I think we have 11 athletes participating throughout the Olympics. Just the Olympics brings a lot of enthusiasm, and it does boost interest in the sport of track and field and running in general, so our HQ is buzzing.

RSL: In fact, the connection between the Olympics and Brooks goes back to 1972, when Frank Shorter won the gold medal for the marathon race in Germany in a pair of Brooks shoes. From then on, the company decided to focus solely — no pun intended — on running gear. Since then, the company has become a global leader in both manufacturing and sustainability.

Listen below or click here to listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Brooks Runnings, visit www.brooksrunning.com

Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.

Podcasts / Turning Trash Into Treasure with Recover and Primark

Turning Trash Into Treasure with Recover and Primark

Making clothes out of recycled cotton may sound like a new idea, but Recover has been doing it for 75 years. Based in southeastern Spain, the textile company is a leading expert in turning old clothes and industrial waste into new garments. In this episode, Orsolya Janossy, Recover’s Senior Sustainability Manager, breaks down Recover’s process, the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and why clothes made from recycled materials just makes sense.

Orsolya Janossy: It’s impossible to just recycle one t-shirt, so we have to mix it with others, right? So, we would put it into the pile and cut it into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces of the textile waste are processed inside something called a shredding machine. Here, we have created an optimized formula where the fabric pieces are shredded into long fibers at the lowest environmental cost.

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: So what does that fiber look like? When it’s initially shredded, what does it look like?

OJ: Like fluffy…maybe you would say, like these cotton things that you can eat in an attraction park. I would say something like that.

RLS: Like cotton candy or cotton fluff?

OJ: Yes!

RLS: Blue cotton candy. I’m imagining my T-shirt is now blue cotton candy.

OJ: Great

This episode features a conversation with Orsolya Janossy, senior sustainability manager at Recover. Exactly how Recover is able to turn trash into treasure and why more cotton should be recycled is what we’re talking about today.

Listen below or click here to listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.

Podcasts / The Factory of the Future with CIEL Textile and Levi’s

The Factory of the Future with CIEL Textile and Levi’s

Source of Good Podcast

In this episode, we explore CIEL Textile’s AQUARELLE Samudra facility, a factory powered by renewable energy that minimizes water use and supports its community. Sarbajit Ghose, former Asia Executive Director of CIEL Textile, shares how their innovative approach shows that sustainable production is not only possible but already in practice.

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: Imagine that I’m walking with you and my eyes are closed and you have to describe the factory to me. What does it look like?

Sarbajit Ghose: You know, the simplest answer is that it’s not easy to describe. You have to see it to believe it. It’s a very simple building. It’s very tastefully done, but it focuses on natural elements. It’s in the middle of nature, surrounded by trees. There’s a lot of use of natural light and cross ventilation.

RLS: That’s Sarbajit (or Serbie) Ghose, the [former] Asia Executive Director of CIEL Textiles. And he’s describing AQUARELLE Sumudra, a factory located in a small village in India. This isn’t your typical manufacturing facility and there is a serious commitment to sustainability. How this place came to be and how it operates in today’s episode.

Listen now:

Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.

Podcasts / From Climbing Glaciers to Saving Them: The Rick Ridgeway Story

From Climbing Glaciers to Saving Them: The Rick Ridgeway Story

Leadership

We kick off our first season of “Source of Good” with a true legend: mountaineer, environmentalist, writer, and Cascale co-founder, Rick Ridgeway. In this episode, Rick recounts how his breathtaking adventures on the world’s highest peaks ignited a lifelong commitment to sustainability. He takes us behind-the-scenes on the creation of Cascale and the Higg Index tools.

Cascale Source of Good Podcast Episode 1

We kick off our first season of “Source of Good” with a true legend: mountaineer, environmentalist, writer, and Cascale co-founder Rick Ridgeway. In this episode, Rick recounts how his breathtaking adventures on the world’s highest peaks ignited a lifelong commitment to sustainability. He also takes us behind the scenes at the creation of Cascale and the Higg Index tools.

Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.

Press Releases / Cascale Debuts “Source of Good” Podcast

Cascale Debuts “Source of Good” Podcast

Source of Good Podcast

Rick Ridgeway, outdoor adventurer, writer, and Cascale co-founder, is the first guest.

Rick Ridgeway on stage at the Cascale Annual Meeting 2024

Rick Ridgeway, outdoor adventurer, writer, and Cascale co-founder, is the first guest

Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – October 1, 2024: Cascale, the global nonprofit alliance formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, today launched its new podcast, “Source of Good,” featuring an exclusive interview with Rick Ridgeway—outdoor adventurer, writer, and Cascale co-founder. After dropping the podcast trailer in September, the organization will release its first season of 10 episodes bi-weekly through February 2025.

“Source of Good” spotlights inspiring stories and crucial decision points across the supply chain, exploring how consumer products can be made better for both people and the environment. Each episode features an interview with a manufacturer or brand that highlights how companies use data and insights from Cascale’s Higg Index—available exclusively on Worldly—to inform decisions that drive positive change. “Source of Good” reflects the organization’s vision of catalyzing impact at scale and giving back more than it takes to the planet and its people.

“As sustainability becomes more urgent, it’s vital for Cascale to engage audiences in new, dynamic ways,” said Lee Green, Cascale senior director of marketing and communications. “The ‘Source of Good’ podcast provides an opportunity to tell the real stories behind the data—showcasing how brands and suppliers are working together to make lasting, positive changes in the supply chain. This podcast allows us to connect with a diverse group of listeners and share insights that are transforming the industry. Our goal is to show that sustainability isn’t just an ideal but a practical, scalable reality.”

“I am proud to participate in Cascale’s new podcast, ‘Source of Good,’ which reflects the values that guided us when we first brought brands and manufacturers together over a decade ago to develop the Higg Index tools,” said Rick Ridgeway, Cascale co-founder. “This podcast provides rare insight into supply chain inflection points where more sustainable choices can and must be made.”

Among others, guests include:

Rick Ridgeway, Cascale co-founder
Sarbajit Ghose, Asia Executive Director, Ciel Textiles
Orsolya Janossy, Senior Sustainability Manager, Recover Fiber
Gabriel Mens, Sustainability Manager, Brooks Running
Thomas Matiz, Product Sustainability Specialist, Lenzing Group
Susan Scow, Sustainability Impact Specialist, Eileen Fisher

In 2023, Cascale piloted the three-episode “Drivers of Change” podcast. “Source of Good” is produced by Hueman Group Media, a woman- and BIPOC-led media company that inspires social change through impactful, high-caliber podcasts and digital content. The show is hosted by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Cascale’s communications director and a former journalist. “Source of Good” is available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and more. Click here for more information and episodes.

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Spanning over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe, we are united by a singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index and a unified strategy for industry transformation.

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Podcasts / Season 1 Trailer: Introducing “Source of Good”

Season 1 Trailer: Introducing “Source of Good”

Source of Good is coming soon! This podcast goes beyond the label of your favorite products to showcase how manufacturers and brands are making their products better for people and the planet. Listen to the season trailer now.

We go beyond the label of your favorite products to show you all the ingenious ways they are being made better for the environment, better for people, and better for our future. In each episode, you’ll hear brands and manufacturers break down how they’re making their products more sustainably.

Source of Good is a co-production of award-winning producer Hueman Group Media and Cascale, the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry.