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 (Spin Ventures)—the conversation explores what investors look for in startups, actionable advice for founders, and the trends shaping the future of sustainable fashion. Whether you're a founder seeking funding or an industry professional curious about investment dynamics, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Fashion District is a hub for fashion innovation in east London. They connect fashion, technology, business and education to provide an ecosystem of support for fashion and textile startups that includes innovation networks, affordable space, business support and investment.

Topics covered on this episode:

1. Investor Expectations:The importance of founder resilience, passion, and purpose in early-stage startups.
   How startups can demonstrate traction, scalability, and market potential to secure funding.
   
2. Actionable Advice for Founders:Tips for crafting a compelling pitch deck and avoiding common mistakes.
   How to identify the right investors by researching portfolios, mandates, and value alignment.
   The significance of building strong networks and understanding your target audience.
   
3. Sustainability and Circularity:Key factors investors assess when evaluating sustainable innovations in textiles and fashion.
   The role of regulation, measurable impact, and integration into existing systems in driving investment decisions.
   
4. Emerging Investment Trends:The rise of circular fashion, re-commerce platforms, traceability technologies, and regulatory-driven opportunities.
   Insights into the challenges and opportunities in biomaterials and new business models.
   

Meet the Expert Guests:

• Gabrielle Swycher (Redrice Ventures): Principal at Redrice Ventures, specializing in early-stage investments in purpose-driven consumer brands and tech across the UK.
• Joseph Aziz (True Global): Investor at True Global, focusing on early-stage consumer and retail startups with a robust network of corporate partners to support scaling efforts.
• Nic Gorini (Spin Ventures): Founder of Spin Ventures, a niche boutique fund dedicated to accelerating the transition to a circular economy through innovative technologies.

Resources:

• Venture Deals by Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson – A guide to understanding venture capital for first-time founders.
• Waste to Wealth by Peter Lacy – Exploring business models behind circular practices.
• Estia Ryan's LinkedIn post on newsletters in consumer sustainability spaces.

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Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

Join us on this episode of No Ordinary Cloth as we welcome Madison Maxey, the visionary founder and CEO of Loomia, a pioneering company in e-textiles. Host Mili Tharakan sits down with Maddy to explore her incredible journey from fashion design at Parsons to creating cutting-edge, soft and flexible electronics that are now making way into the automotive and robotics industries.

In this episode, Maddy shares her story of resilience, innovation, and the highs and lows of building a business in a challenging industry. Loomia’s breakthrough LEL (Loomia Electronic Layer) technology is helping redefine how we think about integrating electronics with textiles for better electro-mechanical properties but the road hasn’t been easy. With limited funding and market interest in e-textiles, Maddy has successfully built a revenue-generating e-textile startup.

For many listeners working in emerging textile technologies, this conversation will resonate deeply. As you work to find that elusive product-market fit, early adopters, and the right market, Maddy’s insights offer a beacon of hope and practical strategies for navigating this complex journey.

We dive into the real challenges of turning prototypes into products, and Maddy highlights the role of perseverance and customer obsession in creating a successful business. She also shares career advice for aspiring e-textilers and her vision for the future of this rapidly evolving field. Discover the fascinating intersections of textile, electronics and engineering — and gain invaluable insights on what it takes to make an impact in e-textiles.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation packed with insights, strategies, mindsets for textile entrepreneurs.

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Recommended listening:

Ep 9. Disobebient Fabrics: A Journey in Smart Textiles with Linda Worbin

Ep 3. Knitting Mathematics and Musical Textiles with Sophie Skach

Ep 1. Light and Lace with Sara Robertson

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, I sit down with Nina and Amanda, the brilliant minds behind the Future Fabrics Expo, to dive deep into how they’re revolutionising the textile and fashion industries through an expo that drives sustainability and innovation. The Future Fabrics Expo has become a key platform in the industry, showcasing thousands of sustainable materials and driving discussions around environmental responsibility, circularity, and collaboration across disciplines to drive the change we want to see in the Fashion and Textile industry.

We explore the growing need for materials that have a positive impact on both the planet and the people working in the supply chain, and discuss how interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to scaling these innovations. Additionally, we take a hard look at the issue of overproduction and how brands need to rethink their business models to prioritise circularity and reduce waste.

Whether you’re a designer, innovator, or sustainability advocate, this episode is packed with insights about the future of sustainable fabrics and why the Future Fabrics Expo is a must-attend event for anyone in the fashion, textile, home and interiors industry.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Future Fabrics Expo is not just about showcasing eco-friendly materials—it’s about finding materials that have a net-positive impact on the environment and communities.
2. Cross-industry collaboration is vital for the future of fashion. Partnerships between designers, scientists, and manufacturers are driving textile innovations forward.
3. The fashion industry must address overproduction and overconsumption by adopting circular business models and focusing on sustainable growth.

Highlights:

• The origins of the Future Fabrics Expo and how it grew into one of the most anticipated events in the sustainable fashion calendar.
• Why materials with regenerative qualities are crucial for the future of the textile industry.
• The role of collaboration between fashion designers, material scientists, and sustainability experts in creating scalable solutions.
• The challenges and opportunities that come with shifting toward more sustainable practices in fashion, including circularity and on-demand manufacturing.
• A preview of what to expect at the Future Fabrics Expo in New York, happening on November 19th and 20th, 2024.
• Hear from attendees and exhibitors about their experience at the Future Fabrics Expo London 2024

Join me on my journey to craft the future of this podcast. I would love to hear your feedback and ideas for the podcast. Get in touch with me here: Contact me

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Future Fabrics Expo NYC Edition, November 19 - 20th, 2024. Register here

Seminar Series 2024: Listen here

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Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman