In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, we sit down with Charles Ross, Performance Sportswear Design Lecturer at the Royal College of Art, to explore what durability and sustainability looks like in the fashion and sportswear industries. Charles has spent over two decades at the intersection of functional design and environmental responsibility, championing the idea of sustainability through longevity — creating durable, meaningful clothing that stands the test of time.

Together, we unpack the idea of emotional durability: how designers can foster deeper connections between people and their garments, making us value what we wear more and waste less. Charles shares insights from his extensive experience working with brands like Patagonia, The North Face and Adidas as well as from his teaching, research, and outdoor pursuits that inform his hands-on approach to design.

It's an episode where you will laugh and learn from one of the legends of outdoor and performance wear.

Key Takeaways

• Designing for both physical and emotional longevity is one of fashion’s most sustainable acts.
• Storytelling, authenticity, and personal connection drive emotional durability.
• Consumers are more likely to repair, care for, and retain garments they’re emotionally attached to.
• The sportswear sector can lead in circular thinking by blending innovation with human-centered design.
• Longevity is not just about how long clothes last, but how long they matter.

Resources:

DO Lectures

A Climate of Truth by Mike Bernes-Lee

There is No Planet B by Mike Bernes-Lee

Performance Days

Connect with Charles Ross: LinkedIn

Connect with Mili Tharakan: LinkedIn I Insta I Website I Buy me a coffee

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Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

Special episode by No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District

In this episode, Mili speaks with Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best, and Anoli Mehta, founder of Circular Threads, two inspiring women tackling fashion’s social and environmental challenges from different angles. Sol’s award-winning social enterprise helps bridge the gap between clothing waste and clothing poverty by allowing people in need—such as refugees and survivors of domestic violence—to shop donated fashion online for free, preserving choice and dignity while promoting circularity. Meanwhile, Anoli’s platform gives South Asian wedding and occasion wear a meaningful second life by creating a space for people to buy, sell, and rediscover preloved garments, extending their lifespan and reducing waste.

Both founders are proving that community-driven circularity—whether through redistribution or resale—can reshape the fashion system, reducing waste while building inclusivity and meaningful connection in how we consume and value clothes

Key Topics Discussed:

• How Sol and Anoli’s businesses address fashion waste and offer alternatives to buying new
• The problem of clothing poverty in the UK and how Give Your Best gives agency and dignity to vulnerable individuals through free shopping for donated clothes
• The challenge of overconsumption and the cultural significance of South Asian fashion, and how Circular Threads is building a dedicated marketplace for preloved occasion wear
• The power of community: building genuine connections with buyers, sellers, donors and volunteers
• Stories of personal identity, belonging, and the emotional meaning tied to clothing
• Behind-the-scenes experiences in entrepreneurship, including overcoming failure, learning resilience, and finding inspiration from lived experiences
• What success looks like—impact, culture shift and empowering others

Calls to Action:

• Listeners are invited to support both projects by donating clothing, becoming a volunteer, attending events, or simply spreading the word to raise awareness
• Anyone with South Asian outfits or formalwear they no longer use is encouraged to visit Circular Threads’ store or online marketplace
• For Give Your Best, all are welcome to donate clothes, connect with local volunteers (“Besties”), and help extend the platform’s mission
• Join these communities to help fashion last longer than an evening out

Follow and connect with Sol Escobar and Anoli Mehta:

• Give Your Best: Website I Insta
• Circular Threads: Website I Insta

Connect with me

Mili Tharakan: LinkedIn I Insta I Website I Buy me a coffee

If you enjoyed this, please share the episode with a friend or colleague. Subscribe and leave a review, I love to hear your feedback.

Recommended listening:

Ep 22. Beyond the Bin: fighting against Fashion Waste

Ep 21. Circular Fashion in Action: Insights From Luxury and Highstreet Brands

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

In this episode, host Mili Tharakan, dives deep into the extraordinary mind and career of Amanda Parkes—a true pioneer at the intersection of science, fashion, and engineering. Amanda has consistently challenged boundaries and redefined what’s possible in textiles and sustainability.

Amanda Parkes is a renowned fashion scientist with more than 20 years of experience pioneering innovation, sustainability, and smart materials across the fashion and technology sectors. As founding scientist and Chief Innovation Officer at Pangaia, she led the creation of market-first, sustainable materials, helping to earn the brand a top spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Brands list. She holds a PhD and MS from the MIT Media Lab and degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Art History from Stanford. As an Advisor at Regeneration VC Amanda also advises leading climate tech and biomaterials startups and is an internationally recognised speaker, honoured by the Business of Fashion and Vanity Fair for her influential work shaping the industry.

In this episode they explore Amanda's latest venture - Mothership Materials, where she is translating cutting-edge molecular separation technology to turn waste into valuable ingredients for the next generation of textiles and glucose for microbes. Amanda's insights offer a hopeful and innovative vision for the future of the textile industry.

Key takeaways from this episode include the potential of waste valorisation in creating sustainable textiles, the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, and the need for robust business models in sustainable fashion.

Mothership Materials

00:00 Introduction to the No Ordinary Cloth Podcast

00:43 Meet Amanda Parkes: A Pioneer in Sustainable Textiles

05:52 Defining the Role of a Fashion Scientist

13:53 Amanda's New Venture: Mothership Materials

36:03 Navigating Interdisciplinary Skills and Innovation Diplomacy

43:44 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling Sustainable Technologies

51:53 Insights from Leading Innovation at Pangaia

01:09:40 Future of Emerging Textile Technologies

01:10:33 AI in Textile Innovation

01:11:18 Regeneration VC Fund's Mission

01:12:50 Challenges in Impact Measurement

01:15:12 Investment Nervousness in Fashion Startups

01:18:43 Career Path and Advice for Young Professionals

01:42:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Pangaia Lab I Regeneration VC

🎧 Recommended Listening:

Ep 14. Farm to Fibre

Ep 15. Brewing Beer for Bio Leather

Ep 2. From Garden Waste to Leather

Ep 16. Catalyst Shaping the Future of Sustainable and Ethical Fashion

Connect with me

Mili Tharakan: Linkedin I Insta I Buy me a coffee I Email

❤️ Subscribe and leave a review, I love to hear your feedback

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman