Fashion Our Future, Kering's podcast on fashion and the environment

Join Andrea Cheong’s conversation with renowned fashion historian Dr. Valerie Steele, director of the Fashion Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Dr. Steele offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the evolution of luxury, questioning whether we are just in an era of clever marketing or if true artistry still prevails. She reflects on the intersection of fashion, identity, and craftsmanship, shedding light on the fading presence of skilled artisans in a world dominated by mass production.

Andrea Cheong,  Fashion Our Future’s host talks with Emily Adams Bode Ojla, the creative director behind cult menswear brand Bode, as she celebrates heritage craftsmanship with a modern twist. She takes us on a journey through her childhood memories, from afternoon flea market digs with her aunts to amazing attic explorations. As she shares her dedication to preserving traditional crafts like quilting and beadwork, this episode explores how incorporating these typically feminine techniques into menswear creates a unique aesthetic that blends heritage and modernity.

Ksenia Schnaider, the Ukrainian designer redefining the art of upcycling is the guest of the first series’ last episode. Long xbefore sustainability started trending, Ksenia embraced her passion for turning old clothes into modern masterpieces. She shares her journey from creating one-of-a-kind jeans from secondhand materials to pioneering mass upcycling with a personal touch.

Orsola de Castro, a pioneer in ethical fashion and co-founder of Fashion Revolution shares thoughts on fashion ethical dilemmas with Andrea Cheong. In the wake of the Rana Plaza tragedy, Orsola has been a powerful voice addressing the industry’s ethical dilemmas. Discover her holistic approach to tackling complex issues, encouraging us to move beyond isolated problems. Learn how simple acts like mending and repurposing garments can foster sustainability and personal growth.

This episode welcomes Aditi Mayer, a sustainable fashion advocate, photographer, and writer based in California, always on a mission to explore the intricate relationship between fashion and social justice. In an enlightening episode, she highlights the importance of ethical practices in the industry while empowering marginalized communities, especially women in garment production.

Discover Andrea’s conversation with the vibrant Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada, a pioneering designer reshaping sustainability in fashion. Hilary shares her candid perspective on the industry’s ethical challenges and her approach to conscious design, emphasizing the importance of transparency and longevity in garment production. In this episode, the pair discusses the complexities of applying durable practices, encouraging listeners to rethink their relationship with fashion and its impact on the planet.

In the first episode of this series Andrea Cheong sat down with Katrin Ley, head of Fashion for Good, to unpack the complexities of the fashion supply chain and the growing push for global transparency. Together they tackle how sustainability, durability, and repair are shaping the future of fashion, and how a new generation of designers is leading the change. From the environmental and social impacts of the industry to the need for international standards, Ley highlights key milestones like the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive and its potential to drive change. She also evokes how Fashion for Good supports innovative startups and accelerates the transition from a linear to a circular fashion model. 
 

Catch Andrea Cheong’s conversation with Steven Kurutz, author of American Flannel, as it explores the shifting landscape of American textile manufacturing. From the decline of domestic production to the rise of reshoring efforts, Steven Kurutz shares the stories of entrepreneurs committed to bringing craftsmanship back to the U.S. and revitalizing locally made clothing – and what it could mean for the future of fashion production. In this episode, discover how trade agreements and globalization have shaped the industry, and how the pursuit of quality and sustainability is challenging the dominance of fast fashion. Explore the potential for revitalizing locally made clothing and what it could mean for the future of fashion production.
 

In this episode, Andrea Cheong speaks with Anna Foster, founder of E.L.V Denim (East London Vintage Denim), as she explains her innovative approach to upcycling and circular fashion. With over 25 years in the industry, Anna Foster is reshaping the fashion industry with creativity, craftsmanship, and sustainability through  her brand that transforms unwanted garments into one-of-a-kind pieces. This episode also tackles the challenges of sourcing vintage denim, the creative process, and the importance of local manufacturing in reducing carbon footprints.
 

In our opening episode, Laurianne Melierre speaks to two experts on biodiversity to examine the root of the relationship between fashion and nature, namely raw materials. Dr Helen Crowley, former Head of Sustainable Sourcing and Nature Initiatives at Kering, now partner at leading global investment firm Pollination, and M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International discuss the different raw materials used in the industry, their effect on the environment and why a change in agricultural practices is key to protecting biodiversity in the future. 

Find out more about Kering's sustainable innovation approach and the key pillars of research and development.

In the second episode, Andrée-Anne Lemieux, PhD, Professor at the Institut Français de la Mode, Apurv Gupta, Sustainability Future Thinker at Kering, and Camille Le Gal, co-founder of Fairly Made, share the practices and technologies that are making this vital information possible and how that knowledge can positively impact the fashion industry.

Kering bases its environmental actions on measuring its carbon footprint. Find out how the Group objectively assesses its impact using internal tools.

In this third episode, Maud Hardy, the General Manager of Refashion, Cyndi Rhoades, founder of Worn Again Technologies, and Jane Palmer, CEO of Nature Coatings sat down to discuss all things recycling, and how viewing the clothes we wear and buy through a cyclical lens will help shape a better fashion future. 

At Kering, Upcycling, recycling and regeneration are key drivers in overhauling the fashion and luxury industries. Explore the new solutions developed by Kering and its Houses. 

The fourth episode features Suzanne Lee founder and CEO of Biofabricate, Maurizio Montalti co-founder of MOGU and Ingvar Helgason, co-founder and CEO of Vitrolabs who walk us through new materials such as lab-grown leather with a focus on how technology-enabled innovations can, in fact, nurture nature. 

Learn more about how Kering brings together Luxury and Innovation on Luxury Highlights, an in-depth newsletter that looks into Kering’s and its Houses’ activities.

In this fifth and final episode of the first series, Fanny Moizant, co-founder of Vestiaire Collective, Victoria Prew, founder of HURR and Charlotte Dereux, founder of the B-corp brand Patine share their philosophies on the next-generation business models and how behavioral changes in consumers can play a significant role in ensuring a more sustainable fashion future. 

Change is an opportunity for growth. To secure its long-term prosperity, Kering is steadfastly working on disruptive innovations in order to transform traditional luxury models; click here to learn more.