The Textile Nerd Podcast

We adore natural fiber fabrics for their imperfect perfection. The factors that get them from field to finished product are numerous.  Lori  and Dan wanted to hear more, so they brought TVF Apparel & Home Décor Program Director Brian Vieweg on to the Textile Nerd  Podcast to give us a taste of what he's learned about cottons, lines, and more in his over 30-year career that includes dyeing, finishi...

There's more at stake for textile designers, makers, and manufacturers to execute the right fit than meets the eye. So much is on the line, an experienced and innovative pattern maven,  Julia Watts of PatternRoom.com , has developed an entire business around perfecting the fit and helping others nail it the first time. Lori  and Dan discuss the often overlooked world of pattern making on this edit...

The spectre of so-called "forever chemicals," or PFAS, looms over a significant portion of the textile industry. Lori  and Dan will take a closer look with our colleague, TVF Global Trade & Logistics Manager Laura Martin , who joins us for an overview of some challenges and considerations for everyone from mills to manufacturers.

Rachal McCarthy is a new-age leader in an old-school industry. On this edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, the second-generation president of NTI Global in New York talks with Lori  and Dan about the key place communications play in leadership in a world where the lines between on-site vs. off-site, high-tech vs. low-tech, and confidence vs. training are increasingly blurry.

Guest after guest on the Textile Nerd Podcast brings up sustainability as a primary industry concern and opportunity. It's such a pervasive topic of discussion, Lori  and Dan captured three expert perspectives on this vast subject: pediatric hand surgeon and medical sustainability scholar Dr. Holly Morris ,  Gaston College Textile Technology Center Executive Director  Jasmine Cox , and PatternRoom...

Let's face it, the textile printing process can be pretty bland. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, the cofounder of an innovative print studio believes more creativity could be injected into every facet of textile printing. Lori  and Dan welcome back Western Sensibility CEO Kathryn Sanders to explore why and how creativity can be baked in every step of the way to elevate projects.

Access is everything for print media professionals. Third-generation textile printer Kathryn Sanders , founder and CEO of print studio Western Sensibility , hips us to a philosophy she calls the "Democratization of Design." This concept, as Lori  and Dan find out, involves access by creatives to printers and technology to move thier designs from drawing board to substrate.

In the ever-evolving textile ecosystem, industry-focused education remains a critical piece of the puzzle. In the United States, issues including supply chain, sustainability, and onshoring/nearshoring remain top of mind for educators working to teach and skill-up the next generation of textile nerds. On the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will talk with Jasmine Cox , executive director of Gast...

Does polyester get a bad wrap in the fashion, apparel, and movie world? If you ask longtime textile print maven and Hollywood costume printer Steven Moreno of MY Prints , the answer is an emphatic "yes." Lori , and Dan explore a concept Steven raised during our behind-the-scenes in Tinseltown episode that we'll call Polyester Prejudice, deepening a discussion on the need for additional education o...

Bringing any fabric to market takes a dizzying number of people along the way... especially for a newly-developed material. From fiber-to-fruition, textiles will be put through the paces until they're ready to find their end use. On this episode of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori , and Dan travel along the production chain and bring in TVF Senior Sales Consultant Chris Russo to illuminate and salut...

As new textiles evolve faster than we can measure, modeling, testing, and quality control are increasingly going 3D to keep pace. One of the great minds on the forefront of this technology is  GORE-TEX Fabrics Digital Business Process Specialist  Christina Rapa.   Lori and Dan explore how this technology - very different from 3D printing - is already changing the game for several key facets of the...

The principles of employee ownership can apply to so many facets of textiles. Along with the financial benefits, it also involves concepts like constant improvement, leading from where you are, and an ownership mindset. In this edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast,  Lori and Dan will discuss their experience as employee owners and how it applies to fabric.

The term expert witness often evokes high-pressure courtroom scenes and "gotchya" moments for ne'er-do-wells. In the case of the textile industry, an expert witness could also be a knowledgeable, experienced voice to protect the integrity of creatives and innovators. One such expert, Frances Harder of Fashion for Profit , will discuss with Lori and Dan  how this legally-critical role plays out and...

The textile industry's history and influence goes back centuries, but during the last 50 years, the company that brings you this podcast has imprinted its own mark on the ancient craft. As TVF winds down its golden anniversary year, Lori and Dan take a few moments to reflect on their company's journey, employee ownership, and a few key events along the way that have turned a humble, two-man operat...

There's no question our industry's knowledge centers are changing. As the waves of experienced members of the workforce continue to clock out for the last time, the Textile Nerd Podcast will explore some strategies to cultivate and become the next generation to drive fabrics forward. Lori and Dan turn to material and textile scientist Dr. Apurba Banerjee of Standard Textile about networking, knowl...

Climb into our time machine as we peek into the future of textiles. The frontier is vast and the experts we talk with always have thoughts on where the industry – from fibers to finishes – is headed. Lori and Dan will offer their expert-informed thoughts on what's next for substrates, sustainability, and beyond.

Happy Anniversary, Nerds! The Textile Nerd Podcast turns one, and Lori and Dan have the highlights, storylines, and curiosities from our engaging experts! We've explored the depths of the industry we love along with you, so let's honor and celebrate our first 12 months of many. From Hollywood intrigue to fiber origins and futures to textile technique breakdowns and more, it's time to celebrate the...

Often known as an affordable workhorse that will eventually get thrown away, vinyl is usually only thought about when it rips. On the latest edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will break out the crystal ball with industry big wig Robert Hinsch to examine what could be for the too-often-taken-for-granted material. Could new scrim or coating concoctions be on the horizon for venerable...

As the scales of globalization continue to rebalance textiles and the supply chain, the Textile Nerd Podcast will once again talk with Courtney Williams of textile innovator, brrrº , about the international economic ecosystem. Her insights from working more than two decades in fabric in markets including Asia, Europe, and the United States illuminate challenges and opportunities. Join Lori , Dan ,...

What does circularity mean to you? More imporantly, are there textile-to-textile life cycles out there that could be feasible and scalable? The newest edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast picks the globally-experienced mind of brrrº Vice President of Operations & Product Development Courtney Williams . Lori , Dan will explore everything from mushroom leather to home compost as 3D printing filament...

There's no visual platform as scrutinized as a movie or show made in Hollywood. Costume design, especially, has to look the part and function as one with the characters. In the newest edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan connect with MY Prints Co-Owner Steven Moreno , a film and TV industry go-to for exceptional fabric printing collaborations to pull back the curtain on printed fabric...

Can true sustainability be achieved in today's global, far-flung logistical and manufacturing landscape? The second part of our series on sustainability will again call on the expertise of TVF's Samantha Marion, Georg+Otto Friedrich's Lothar Vorbeck, and Epson America's Timothy Check to weigh in on sustainability and how it affects the fabric world. We're easy to listen to and love giving industry...

Your Textile Nerd countdown is on… THREE textile industry heavy-hitters. TWO big editions. ONE critical topic. Join Lori and Dan on the newest edition of the podcast to tackle sustainability in the first of two episodes with TVF's Samantha Marion, Georg+Otto Friedrich's Lothar Vorbeck, and Epson America's Timothy Check. Download, listen when its convenient, and learn something without wasting your...

The print media fabric universe is vast… More vast than we typically acknowledge. Adding even more complexity is ensuring that printers and inks jive with the substrate. On the newest edition of the Texile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan turn to two pros with decades of print media prowess for a focused discussion on why attention at the front end of a project means more success along the way.

Not to be confused with finishes, although the terms are often interchanged, coatings are a super power for fabrics in their own right. On the new edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will examine this all-star of additives. TVF Vice President of Business Development Robert Hinsch will handle the overview of common coatings and their benefits. Download, listen when its convenient, and...