In this episode, host Mili speaks with Bradley Seese,(“The Yarn Geek”), VP of Operations at Clothing 2.0 and a lifelong textile innovator and technical visionary, about the future of medicine-embedded textiles. Learn how Clothing 2.0 is infusing active ingredients like capsaicin (the spicy compound in chili peppers) into yarns to create health-promoting, pain-relieving garments. The conversation spans the science, safety, sustainability, regulatory landscape, and exciting possibilities for smart wearables that do more for our wellbeing—as well as Brad’s passionate journey from North Carolina yarn mills to the frontlines of textile innovation.

Key Topics

• What are medicine-embedded textiles, and how do they work?
• Capsaicin for pain relief: benefits, science, and use in smart clothing.
• Sustainability, wash durability, and minimizing waste in health textiles.
• The challenges and opportunities in bringing textile technology to market.
• Upskilling and creating new job pathways in US-based manufacturing.
• Brad’s personal journey and vision for the next wave of smart wearables.

Clothing 2.0: Website

Resources mentioned by Brad:

Manufacturing Solutions Center (for textile innovation and workforce training)

Advanced Textile Association

Synthetic Yarn and Fabric Association

Southern Textile Association

SEAMS: The Association for the US Sewn Products Industry

Hohenstein Institute: International textile test lab and standards organization

Connect with Mili Tharakan: Website I Linkedin I Insta I Buy me a cofffee

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

Special episode by No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District

In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, host Mili speaks with Jennifer Droguett Espinosa, a Colombian and Chilean Sustainable Fashion Designer and Creative Director, and the founder of Anciela. Jennifer shares how her early experiences with migration, identity, and upcycling shaped her personal and creative outlook. She discusses her journey from making her own clothes as a child through to studying fashion in Amsterdam, interning with Viktor & Rolf, and building her career and community in London.

Jennifer talks about the origins of Anciela, a brand deeply rooted in storytelling, South American folklore, and experimental tailoring, and grounded on the pillars of culture, sustainability, community, and visibility. She details her creative process, how she layers history, literature, music, and personal memory into collections, and the stories behind some of her signature pieces.

The conversation covers Anciela’s approach to circularity, including sustainable material choices, zero-waste techniques, refresh and repair services, and pioneering digital product passports for transparency. Jennifer opens up about collaborating with Latinx creatives, working with diaspora charities, and making fashion more accessible through inclusive events and workshops. She reflects on her time with the Fashion District’s Evo Fashion programme and the British Fashion Council’s low-carbon initiative, highlighting the challenges and rewards of growing a purpose-led business.

Jennifer concludes with advice on conscious consumption, the importance of small actions, and the need for more brands to center community, inclusivity, and honest storytelling.

Anciela: Website I Linkedin I Insta

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

Resources

Evo Fashion - a four-month experiential support programme for emerging brands and fashion technology businesses. It will help you to integrate sustainability into every aspect of your business, taking a holistic approach to business strategy and focusing on supply chain sustainability, ethical working standards, channels to market, and investment readiness. Deadline: 4th August 2025

Low Carbon Transition Programme for SMEs report by British Fashion Council

Ellen MacArthur

Fashion Revolution

The travels of a T-shirt in the global economy, book by Pietra Rivoli

One Hundred Years of Solitude, book by Gabriel García Márquez

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Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman

Join host Mili Tharakan as she sits down with Annabel Hought from Round Retail and Yayra Agbofah from The Revival to discuss innovative business models for sustainable fashion, the global crisis of textile waste, and the power of cross-border collaboration. This episode dives into the realities of the secondhand clothing market, the importance of community, and creative solutions for reducing waste while supporting vulnerable communities.

• Textile waste is a global problem that requires local and international collaboration.
• The rise of fast and ultra-fast fashion has led to a flood of low-quality, unsellable garments, overwhelming markets like Kantamanto in Ghana.
• Innovative business models like Round Retail and The Revival show how fashion can be a force for good.
• Consumer awareness and action are crucial for driving systemic change in the fashion industry. Consumers can drive change by voting with their money and supporting responsible businesses.
• Reduce stigma around secondhand fashion and foster a more conscious, circular fashion ecosystem.

How to Support
Donate or consign clothes to Round Retail
Follow and support The Revival’s ongoing efforts to rebuild Kantamanto market and community in Accra, Ghana - Donate
Advocate for extended producer responsibility and more transparent fashion supply chains

Fashion District Festival 2025

Fashion District Festival 2025: 3rd - 8th June 2025, Spitalfields, London

Launch and performance showcase: immersive fashion show

Rebuild and Reimagine with Round Retail: bring old clothes for creative upcycling sessions.

Accelerating Regenerative Fashion: workshop

Circular Design Practice: workshop

Past and Future fabrics: talks

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.

Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash

Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman