Beyond The Spin - What Circular Fashion Gets Wrong (And What We’re Missing)
In this episode, host Philip Berman sits down with Dr Talia Hussain, whose recent academic paper on circular fashion sparked lively debate across the industry. Dr Hussain, a PhD in design innovation and MBA, is known for her critical analysis on the mainstream circular fashion narrative. Together, they take a deep dive into the promises—and potential pitfalls—of circularity in the textile sector, with a particular focus on the influential 2017 Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) and its A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future report. Key Topics Discussed The EMF’s $460 Billion Claim Dr Hussain questions the widely cited figure from the EMF report, its assumptions and real-world implications for industry revenues and the potential size of the reuse sector. She explains why she thinks greater scrutiny is needed when using such reports to drive regulation, and discusses what gets overlooked when focusing solely on circular models. Further Reading & Resources Dr Talia Hussain’s academic paper: The Emperor’s old clothes: a critical review of circular fashion in gray literature The Ellen MacArthur Foundations 2017 Report: A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future How to Listen & Subscribe Ecotextile Talks is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen to podcasts. For more news and analysis, visit our website at ecotextile.com. Contact & Feedback For questions, feedback, or to suggest a guest, email philip@larchmontfilms.com F9lNQYxZAGUkFJRwZZ9r