In the late 1990s, while working in high-end fashion in NYC, Lindsey Boyd came to despise the weekly ritual of dry-cleaning; not only was it expensive, but it often did damage to her clothes. So she and college friend Gwen Whiting studied up on the science of dirty laundry to create The Laundress: a line of eco-friendly detergents gentle enough to be used at ... Show More
May 2021
Sponsored: Small Business Stories | Columbia Sportswear | 2
<p>This episode is brought to you by Wondery in partnership with Dell Technologies. In honor of small businesses, we're featuring inspiring stories of successful companies that started out small.</p><p>It’s 1970 and Gert Boyle’s life is in ruins. Her husband’s just died, and now, ... Show More
31m 23s
Oct 2021
Fast Fashion | Dress for Excess | 4
<p>It’s 2018, and H&M is drowning in billions of dollars worth of unsold inventory. Brick and mortar stores are struggling. But on the internet, Shein is thriving, capitalizing on social media trends to get desirable, ultra-cheap clothing made and into customers’ hands in a m ... Show More
22m 54s
Oct 2021
Fast Fashion | Clothes Call | 3
<p>It’s 2010, and a series of deadly tragedies at factories in Bangladesh paint H&M and the fast fashion industry in a negative light. In response, the company doubles down on sustainability, launching a new eco-friendly line.</p><p>Meanwhile, Forever 21 goes to court over co ... Show More
29m 7s
Nov 2020
Denim Wars | The Unravelling | 6
<p>It's 1999 and Levi's is a company in trouble. It's drowning in debt, out of fashion, and hobbled by sub-par distribution.</p><p>But while Levi's searches for a way to make a comeback, a new, fast-growing enemy is out to convince people to abandon jeans altogether.</p><p><stron ... Show More
26m 4s
Nov 2020
Denim Wars | Are Your Jeans Blue or Red? | 7
<p>Consumers are increasingly looking to buy from brands whose values match their own, and denim is no different. These days, the jeans giants are not only facing down threats from each other, but navigating a new era of partisan consumerism. For more on how denim and other indus ... Show More
22m 53s
Oct 2021
Fast Fashion | Stitch by Stitch | 2
<p>It’s 1974 and Amancio Ortega, determined to break the cycle of poverty he experienced growing up in Spain, uses his background in retail and manufacturing to found future fast fashion giant Zara. </p><p>Meanwhile, Topshop is born as a small section in the basement o ... Show More
24m 25s
Nov 2023
Lindsay Holden: Co-Founder of Odele
<p>In 2020, Lindsay Holden, alongside her Co-Founders Britta Chatterjee and Shannon Kearney, set out to disrupt the haircare space with the launch of their clean, inclusive, and salon-grade haircare brand, Odele. Derived from the Norwegian phrase for “to share,” Odele can be used ... Show More
51m 16s