Material Exchange

Blog

Textile workers vs chickens

Why do chickens have more rights than humans?

Consumers who purchase a carton of eggs at the grocery store are given clear options about their options with labels like “free-range” and “caged.” The clothing industry has no such labels, meaning it’s up to the consumer to do their own research. Perhaps it’s time for the fashion industry to take a page from the food industry.

Sourcing smart with your heart with colorful thread

Sourcing smart with your heart

Is the sourcing we’re doing today smart enough? Is keeping up to date with sourcing strategies, landed costs, duty rates, global trade regulations, and economic conditions sufficient? Does staying in the know of all your sourcing data, analytics, time and action charts, vendor contract details, efficiency, and lead times make you better? Has all this smart sourcing caused anything that isn’t smart?

Amy Leverton of Denim Dudes

Making better jeans for a healthier planet

Trend forecaster, jean expert, and mastermind behind Denim Dudes: Amy Leverton knows what she’s talking about when it comes to denim and all that’s happening in the world of indigo. In a recent chat with Leverton, we got a glimpse of where the industry is today, and where it’s going from here. Click here for our insightful conversation.

World Water Day water droplet

Fashion and water: a complex affair

Water and the apparel industry have been deeply intertwined since the production of apparel first began. For thousands of years, water has been used to dye handmade materials. Now, as a tribute to the value of water on this World Water Day, we thought we’d take a look at the latest when it comes to apparel, footwear, and H2O.

comfort wear pandemic styles

Back in Touch with Comfort

Over these last couple years of the Covid pandemic, we have seen trends scale from “work from home” to professionals / practitioners who can “work from anywhere“. In line with this new norm, we’ve seen an increase in demand for intuitive athleisure and comfort wear that meets all consumer needs. Learn more about the latest fashion trends in our latest blog post by thought leader Andrew Thompson here on Material Exchange!

Alternative material handbags with a mushroom

Material Movements That Matter: Exploring Leather Alternatives

As consumers of today become more aware of the processes behind what they’re wearing, there is a growing need for industry players to consider sustainable alternatives to leather. Whether you’re on the supplier or the brand side, you’ll want to check out thought leader Andrew Thompson’s latest blog post here on Material Exchange covering the latest leather and leather alternative happenings!