Hi Reader,

What an amazing time I had at the Future Fabrics Expo in Brussels, Belgium last week!

All that prep, travel and promo paid off because my fab Motif team mates and I had a blast talking with some really exciting people.

I’ve yet to read all their notes but even just from my conversations there’s big interest in all that Motif is up to from many different angles:

• an ethical shoe brand getting curious about our strong cotton/jute gauze for packaging
• institutes in The Netherlands and Canada keen to discuss how our Kind Fabric Course could be adapted in their fashion and textile design curricula
• a number of emerging brands wanting to embed sourcing with integrity into their business DNA
• some big name brands scouting out what circularity means for them – where to start?

And so many more!

One real treat was getting to speak Bangla twice! Fabulous Bangladeshi guys doing great things in the industry one of whom happened to be my student of 25 years ago, Ruhul Talukder!!! What a reunion – it was actually quite emotional! He’s very kindly written some lovely things about our time together on his IG – you can take a peek here @_ruhul.talukder_​

#bts = Behind the Stuff

Did you catch the LIVE I did in our Kind Fabric Collective? A quick buzz around the Expo to see beautiful materials – yes – but also what most people don’t see … the systems behind them!

As designers, we often encounter fabric at the end of a very long journey. By then the fibre has been grown, collected, recycled, spun, dyed, woven, finished, shipped, marketed, and sampled. An extraordinary network of people, machinery, relationships, and resources has already done its work, and most of it remains invisible.

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Yet the future of a sustainable fashion industry depends on understanding the process, not just the product. Amazing developments were on display of:

• recycling innovations that make new fibres possible
• infrastructure challenges that need solutions
• partnerships connecting waste streams with new opportunities
• practical realities behind ambitious sustainability goals

And of course, the dynamic panels discussing progress too. Scroll the link for topics. Although honestly, I am still waiting for a panel to engage the role of craft in this conversation. Prompts have been sent … crickets! Will keep trying!

Always, the most useful question raised isn’t “What’s new?” It’s “What’s genuinely creating positive change?” As someone who works closely with both designers and artisan producers, I’m always interested in how innovation can strengthen human relationships rather than replace them. Over the coming weeks I’ll share some of what I’ve discovered.

Kind Fabric Course

Many of those questions, and challenges, sit at the heart of the Kind Fabric Course because designing fabric means designing consequences too. And that's where real change begins. I really hope you'll join us, or let your people know about all the good we'll be creating together so that they can!

Remember the course is forever free for alumni, and the Early Bird offer of just $597 (🎉a $200 discount🎉) is now extended til 10th July. Want to share a ticket with a colleague? Yes, up to 3 can join on 1 ticket ... just let me know and we'll chat the details!

A question to ponder:​
​What do you know about the journey of your fabrics before they reach your hands?

Here's to making things, all things, better together! 🙌🫶🙌