Best E Textiles Podcasts (2025)

1
Insights from Next Gen Leaders on Running a Business 40:23

1h ago40:23

40:23

Next generation leader Donato Fraioli is joined by Kyle Van Damme, James Dillport and Jason Storozum to discuss running a textile product company. Listen in as they share previous experiences and how they entered the industry, from joining the family business to running a company for silent partners. They discuss finding new talent through word of …

1
🌱 Ep 22. Beyond the Bin: Fight Against Fashion Waste with Annabel Hought and Yayra Agbofah (x Fashion District) 39:53

20h ago39:53

39:53

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 c…

1
Chris Aslan, "Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia" (Icon Books, 2024) 47:07

6d ago47:07

47:07

The Silk Road may be the most famous trade network in history. But the flow of silk from China to the Middle East and Europe isn’t the only textile trade that’s made its mark on Central Asia, the subject of Chris Aslan’s latest book Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia (Icon Books, 2024), recently published in paperback. …

1
Lizhi Liu, "From Click to Boom: The Political Economy of E-Commerce in China" (Princeton UP, 2024) 59:37

13d ago59:37

59:37

Alibaba. Tencent. JD. Pinduoduo. Run down the list of China’s most valuable companies and you’ll find, for the most part, that they’re all e-commerce companies—or at least facilitate e-commerce. The sector created giants: Alibaba grew from just 5.5 billion renminbi of revenue in 2010 to 280 billion last year. But how did Chinese e-commerce firms sh…

1
🌱 Ep 21: Circular Fashion in Action: Insights From Luxury to Highstreet Brands with Laetitia Forst, Patrick McDowell and Philippa Grogan (x Fashion District) 1:13:01

16d ago1:13:01

1:13:01

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 jar…

1
Talking Textiles Workforce Special Series with AFFOA – Part One 1:00:42

18d ago1:00:42

1:00:42

In this episode, Robert Finnegan, [Director of Education and Workforce Development, AFFOA], hosts a discussion on best practices for recruitment, retention, and workforce development, including work-life balance, company culture, training younger staff, onboarding, automation, government involvement, and engaging local academia to attract the next …

1
Mayukh Sen, "Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood's First South Asian Star" (Norton, 2025) 57:15

20d ago57:15

57:15

In 2022, Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. But she wasn’t the first actress of Asian origin to be nominated. In 1935, Merle Oberon was nominated for Best Actress for the role of Kitty Vane in The Dark Angel, only her second film in the U.S. film industry. But no one knew Oberon was Asian. Her pu…

1
E-64: The SBA is boosting small manufacturers Made in America. 15:07

21d ago15:07

15:07

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s New Focus on ManufacturingBy NCMEP

1
Laura Spinney, "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" (Bloomsbury, 2025) 48:30

27d ago48:30

48:30

English. French. Italian. Hindi. Greek. Russian. All these different languages can trace their roots to the same origin: Proto-Indo-European, spoken in 4000 BC in the steppe that crosses from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. Whether by migration, diffusion or conquest, the Indo-European languages spread west across Europe, east across Central Asia, …

1
Odd Arne Westad and Chen Jian, "The Great Transformation: China's Road from Revolution to Reform" (Yale UP, 2024) 41:03

1M ago41:03

41:03

In 1968, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution, asserting his control of China 15 years later, Deng Xiaoping launched the reform and opening up period, putting China on the path to becoming an economic powerhouse. But what happens in between these two critical periods of Chinese history? How does China go from Mao's Cultural Revolution to Den…

1
From College to Career: A Personal Journey in the Workforce 50:01

1M ago50:01

50:01

Listen in as Jasmine Cox interviews Eleanor Enochs, Kathryn Kittrell, Max Ring, and Preston Bullock have a discussion on how they transitioned from college life to professional careers, highlighting the challenges, growth, and experiences they encountered as they adapted to the workforce.By Advanced Textiles Association

1
Atsushi Futasuya, Sashiko Story - Ep. 124 56:48

1M ago56:48

56:48

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! My guest on this episode is Atsushi Futatsuya, a Sashiko artisan and educator. Atsushi shares his Sashiko story, its cultural significance, and its evolution over time. He discusses the relationship between Sashiko and Boro, the importance of storytelling in preserving the craft, and the impact of Western t…

1
Chris Stowers, "Shoot, Ask...and Run" (Earnshaw Books Ltd, 2025) 53:53

1M ago53:53

53:53

Chris Stowers, longtime photographer, credits a fellow journalist for the title of his latest memoir, Shoot, Ask...and Run (Earnshaw, 2025). The journalist’s advice to a young Chris, just starting out, went like this. Shoot: Take the photo when the opportunity arises. Then, if someone notices that you took a photo, “ask” for permission to use the p…

1
Richard Overy, "Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima and the Surrender of Japan" (Norton, 2025) 39:39

2M ago39:39

39:39

September 2 will mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender to the United States aboard the USS. Missouri, ending the Second World War. The U.S. decision to drop two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—what drove Japan to surrender, at least in popular history—is still controversial to this day. How did the mass…

1
YarnCon 2025 and Final Shopping Trip to JoAnn’s - Ep. 123 31:30

2M ago31:30

31:30

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! This is a solo episode with host, Stephanie Socha. The two main topics are YarnCon 2025 and my final trip to JoAnn Fabrics. This was my first time attending YarnCon, a trade show type event for the knitting, crochet, hand dyers and yarn community. Vendor booths from IL and surrounding states show their beau…

1
Bin Yang, "Discovered But Forgotten: The Maldives in Chinese History, C. 1100-1620" (Columbia UP, 2024) 41:30

2M ago41:30

41:30

Chinese travelers first made their way to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean in the 14th century, looking for goods like coconuts, cowries, and ambergris. That started centuries of travel to the islands, including one trip by famed sailor Zheng He. Then, quickly, the Maldives—and the broader Indian Ocean—vanished as Ming China turned inward. Bin Yang…

1
Kornel Chang, "A Fractured Liberation: Korea Under U.S. Occupation" (Harvard UP, 2025) 55:15

2M ago55:15

55:15

Four decades of Japanese colonialism in Korea ended abruptly in August 1945. It took three weeks for U.S. troops to arrive, which started almost three years of U.S. military occupation. By the end of the occupation, Korea was permanently divided into North and South, with Seoul set on an authoritarian path that would persist for decades. Kornel Cha…

1
🌱 Ep 20. Ecosystem Builders Transforming Fashion from the Inside Out with Amy Tsang, Georgia Parker and Helen Lax (x Fashion District) 1:12:00

2M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

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, connecti…

1
Advocacy Highlights from USINFI and a Preview of Outlook Leadership Conference 44:23

2M ago44:23

44:23

Listen in as Joey Smith, Chad Twombly, Mark Harries, Sydney Price, and Matt Clark give a recap of USINFI Advocacy Days held on March 4-5 in Washington D.C. Day one included introductory meetings, while day two focused on meetings with elected representatives and legislative staff. New attendees Sydney Price and Matt Clark shared their experiences. …

1
Robert J. Antony, "Outlaws of the Sea: Maritime Piracy in Modern China" (Hong Kong UP, 2024) 52:43

2M ago52:43

52:43

Did you know Hong Kong used to be a hub for pirates? That factoid has long been part of the popular history for Hong Kong—and for Southern China broadly. For centuries, Chinese pirates raided merchants and coastal communities up and down the Chinese coast, taking advantage of weak imperial rule and safe havens like what’s now present-day Vietnam. R…

1
Ashis Ray, "The Trial That Shook Britain: How a Court Martial Hastened Acceptance of Indian Independence" (Routledge India, 2024) 41:50

3M ago41:50

41:50

In 1945 to 1946, postwar India was enthralled by the treason trial of three officers—formerly of the Indian National Army, who fought against the British in the Second World War. The trial sparked outrage across the country, among ordinary people, members of the pro-independence movement and, worryingly for the British Raj, members of the Indian ar…

1
Ep 19. Now and the Future of Smart Textiles with Victoria Nickerson 49:44

3M ago49:44

49:44

In this special episode of No Ordinary Cloth, we're joined by Victoria, the Material Innovation Lead at the World Textile Information Network (WTIN). Victoria shares her insights on the rapidly evolving field of smart textiles, highlighting key innovations and challenges in this industry. We discuss how smart textiles are bridging the gap between t…

1
Ep 122: Guest Jenny Kae Parks (Jenny Kae Quilts); Machine Quilting and Color for Quilters 1:24:54

3M ago1:24:54

1:24:54

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! You can watch the video recording of this podcast on my YouTube Channel @makeanddecorate In this episode of the Make and Decorate Podcast, host Stephanie interviews quilt designer and teacher Jenny Kay Parks. They discuss Jenny's journey into quilting, her experiences working at big box fabric stores and lo…

1
E-63: From Textiles and Tobacco to Technology 31:52

3M ago31:52

31:52

AI will be a Game Changer for an Optimistic Economic Outlook for North CarolinaBy NCMEP

1
The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History 40:45

3M ago40:45

40:45

Geographic labels are sometimes misnomers. The Dead Sea’s name is not, for the most part. Its high salinity levels kill most forms of life, barring a couple hardy microbes and algae—and even these are threatened by environmental change. Except the Dead Sea has been part of human history for millennia. Jericho, the world’s oldest city, sits nearby. …

1
Manu Pillai, "Gods, Guns and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity" (Allen Lane, 2025) 1:02:51

3M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

What is Hinduism? For centuries, that question was particularly thorny, both for local Indians and for colonial outsiders. People inside and outside the country tried to define what Hinduism was. Missionaries grappled with Hindu practices, finding both similarities and dangerous differences with their own Christian faith. The East India Company ado…

1
Kishore Mahbubani, "Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir" (Public Affairs, 2024) 43:27

3M ago43:27

43:27

Kishore Mahbubani, longtime Singaporean diplomat and academic, opens his new memoir with a provocative line: “Blame it on the damn British.” Kishore, who later served as Singapore’s ambassador to the UN and founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, was born to poor migrants in Singapore, studied philosophy on a government scholarsh…

1
Navigating Succession Planning for Business Longevity 42:43

3M ago42:43

42:43

Listen in as Charlene Clark interviews Chris Ritsema, Travis Jenkins, and Scott Neville as they provide valuable insight into succession planning and the long-term success of a business. They discuss how they got their start – whether through acquisition, external purchase, or as long-term employees. They also talk about the must haves when it come…

1
Tahir Kamran, "Chequered Past, Uncertain Future: The History of Pakistan" (Reaktion Books, 2024) 1:00:53

3M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Pakistan’s history since independence is…complicated. Partition wrecked the economy, leaving all the economic infrastructure in India. Democracy was weak, as the military launched multiple coups to overthrow the civilian government. The country was split into an unsustainable two halves–with one declaring independence as Bangladesh by the Seventies…

1
Bertil Lintner, "The Golden Land Ablaze: Coups, Insurgents and the State in Myanmar" (Oxford UP, 2024) 48:14

4M ago48:14

48:14

Four years ago, on Feb. 1 2021, the Burmese military overthrew the fledgling democratic government in the Southeast Asian country of Burma, officially known as Myanmar. That sparked a civil war that continues today–with neither the military junta nor the various rebel groups coming closer to victory. How did the country get here? Veteran Asia journ…

1
Ep 18: Investor Insights for Fashion and Textile Startups with Gabrielle Swycher, Joseph Aziz and Nic Gorini (x Fashion District) 1:06:44

4M ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District In this episode, host Mili Tharakan partners with Fashion District London to bring an insightful discussion on securing investment in the textile and fashion industries. Featuring three seasoned venture capitalists—Gabrielle Swycher (Redrice Ventures), Joseph Aziz (True Global), and Nic Gorini (…

1
Rosemary Wakeman, "The Worlds of Victor Sassoon: Bombay, London, Shanghai, 1918–1941" (U Chicago Press, 2024) 49:18

4M ago49:18

49:18

The 1920s and 1930s were a period of cosmopolitan globalization–and no one, perhaps, exemplified it more than Victor Sassoon, business tycoon, trader and industrialist. He’s the subject of Rosemary Wakeman’s latest book The Worlds of Victor Sassoon: Bombay, London, Shanghai, 1918–1941 (U Chicago Press, 2024) which traces Victor’s journey through th…

1
Ep-62: Even Programmers Can Fall in Love with the Manufacturing Environment 8:33

4M ago8:33

8:33

CTI Systems Realizes the Value in Retaining Their Workforce.By NCMEP

1
From Quilter to Marine Canvas Maker 48:26

4M ago48:26

48:26

During the Marine Fabricators Conference in Corpus Christi, Kyle Van Damme sat down with David and Barbara Huntington to talk about doing canvas work for boaters vacationing in the 1000 island region. Barbara shares about her start in the quilting industry, and how the love of boating led the Huntingtons to the marine canvas trade. They touch on th…

1
Jorge Flores, "Empire of Contingency: How Portugal Entered the Indo-Persian World" (U Pennsylvania Press, 2024) 56:04

4M ago56:04

56:04

Portuguese India was tiny—a handful of trading posts and enclaves, centered on the colony of Goa. The Estado da Índia faced the Mughal Empire and the Deccan Sultanates, large Muslim and Persian-based societies that ruled the subcontinent. How did Portuguese India survive? Well, by spying. Jorge Flores in his book Empire of Contingency: How Portugal…

1
One Health, Hope, and a Greener Future: Finale with Dia Mirza 1:12:29

4M ago1:12:29

1:12:29

In the last and final episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema brings together inspiring voices to explore the intersection of climate change, health, and sustainability. She engages in an enlightening and passionate conversation with actor and environmental advocate Dia Mirza, who shares her journey from childhood inspiration to championing collective a…

1
Avinash Paliwal, "India's Near East: A New History" (Oxford UP, 2024) 49:06

4M ago49:06

49:06

After student protests toppled Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year, New Delhi and Dhaka have been at odds. Indian politicians complain about Hindus being mistreated in the Muslim-majority country; Bangladesh’s interim government fears that Hasina may launch a bid to return to power from India. It’s the latest development in what’s bec…

1
Corporate Social Responsibility and Climate Action 48:17

5M ago48:17

48:17

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema brings together two inspiring conversations with sustainability leaders Anirban Ghosh from the Mahindra Group and Swati Kalra, a sustainability champion from Accenture Development Partnerships. Together, they explore the intersection of business, personal responsibility, and the growing green economy. Anir…

1
Glenn Diaz, "Yñiga: A Novel" (Ateneo de Manila UP, 2022) 40:34

5M ago40:34

40:34

Yniga, the main character of Glenn Diaz’s novel of the same name, returns to her unnamed fishing town after her urban neighborhood burns down in a fire–what many suspect is retaliation for the capture of a wanted army general near her house. What follows is a story about activist politics, state retaliation and returning home. Yñiga (Ateneo de Mani…

1
Seeds of Change: Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action 43:07

5M ago43:07

43:07

In this insightful episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema delves into the intricate relationship between agriculture and climate change with four passionate advocates for sustainable farming. With Timothy J. Krupnik, Regional Director, Sustainable Agrifood Systems Program, Asia and Country Representative, CIMMYT Bangladesh, the episode also explores th…

1
Peter Hessler, "Other Rivers: A Chinese Education" (Penguin, 2024) 52:06

5M ago52:06

52:06

In 2019, journalist and writer Peter Hessler traveled with his family to China. He’d gotten a gig as a teacher of writing—nonfiction writing in particular—in what he’d hoped would be a sequel to his 2001 book River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. But plans changed—radically. At the very end of 2019, the COVID-19 virus emerges in Wuhan, leading to c…

1
Policy Insights for Climate Action 47:22

5M ago47:22

47:22

In this compelling episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema brings together three inspiring voices in the climate action space. Ashish Beergi, a social entrepreneur, shares his journey from early environmental advocacy to innovative waste management solutions, emphasizing the power of community and youth in driving change. Kaushik Deb, Executive Director…

1
Sustainable Fashion: Embracing Thrifting and Textile Recycling 33:32

5M ago33:32

33:32

In this episode of Cool It Down, host RJ Sayema delves into the transformative potential of the shared economy in waste management and sustainable fashion. She engages with Shekar Prabhakar, co-founder of Hasiru Dala Innovations, and Alfiya Khan and Sana, co-founders of Bombay Closet Cleanse, to explore innovative solutions in textile recycling and…

1
Victor D. Cha, "The Black Box: Demystifying the Study of Korean Unification and North Korea" (Columbia UP, 2024) 45:23

5M ago45:23

45:23

North Korea is, to this day, still one of the world’s most mysterious countries. What little we know about daily life in the country comes from defectors or foreigners who’ve spent time there–some of whom have been on this show. But both camps present narrow, if not slanted, views of what life is like in the country. Korea expert Victor Cha, along …

1
Juan José Rivas Moreno, "The Capital Market of Manila and the Pacific Trade, 1668-1838" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) 55:31

5M ago55:31

55:31

Many authors have written about the Manila Galleons, the massive ships that took goods back and forth between Acapulco and Manila, ferrying silver one way, and Chinese-made goods the other. But how did the Galleons actually work? Who paid for them? How did buyers and sellers negotiate with each other? Who set the rules? Why on earth did the shipper…

1
E-Mobility 37:34

5M ago37:34

37:34

In this episode of Cool It Down, Shruti Narayan, Regional Director at C40 Cities, and Anirudh Arun,Co-founder and CEO of BluSmart Fleet, delve into the transformative role of cities and individuals in driving climate action through e-mobility. Shruti discusses the critical importance of sustainable urban planning, the shift to electric vehicles (EV…

1
Deborah Fisher, Ceramic & Textile artist - Fish Museum and Circus - S7 E 121 53:16

5M ago53:16

53:16

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! This is the last episode of 2024! Happy Holidays to you and enjoy a very Happy and Healthy New start to 2025. Check out my Patreon page for a few unlocked Bonus Episodes at patron.com/makeanddecorate My guest on this episode is Deborah Fisher, a ceramic and textile artist with a background in fine art. She …

1
A Guide to Eco-Friendly Celebrations 35:43

6M ago35:43

35:43

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema dives into the world of sustainable weddings with insights from sustainability expert Swati Singh Sambyal and green event planner Ashwin Malwade. Together, they explore how to celebrate love responsibly while minimizing environmental impact. Swati highlights the environmental challenges of Indian weddings,…

1
USINFI: Understanding Advocacy 41:13

6M ago41:13

41:13

Listen in as Mark Harries, Joey Smith, and Chad Twombly discuss the 2025 Advocacy Days held on March 4-5 in Washington, DC. They will discuss their own experiences participating and how being involved has helped them within their companies. In addition, they will discuss why it is important for members to be part of advocacy efforts, who should par…

1
Paul French, "Her Lotus Year: China, the Roaring Twenties, and the Making of Wallis Simpson" (St. Martin's Press, 2024) 48:00

6M ago48:00

48:00

When defenders of the British royal family scrounged around for dirt on Wallis Simpson, the divorced U.S.-born fiancee of King Edward VIII, they often highlighted her year spent in China—often sharing scurrilous, and poorly-sourced–if not entirely unfounded–details of her time there. China historian Paul French tries to set the record straight with…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

E Textiles Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen