Material Exchange

Sustainability blog posts

woman dressed in denim

Bringing deadstock back to life

Excess materials aren’t new to the fashion industry – but the sheer volume of them has reached a point at which it cannot continue. In this blog post, we explore what deadstock is; why the fashion industry needs to make some changes to reduce it; and how to make those changes happen.

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.