REV On Air: ISKO & Hiut Denim on Inclusive Solutions to Sustainability - a podcast by Rêve En Vert

from 2022-06-08T12:20:04

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Hello everyone, Cora here - welcome back to REV On Air, the Rêve En Vert podcast. A place for sustainable story telling with founders, activists, creatives and phenomenal individuals who are paving the way for a more conscious future for us all.

Today I am so excited to have a joint conversation between two very different companies taking very different approaches to sustainability issues within fashion. But in working together, they have used a smaller business model and a more large scale one to create an incredibly innovative recycled denim line that is the result of a joint venture. I truly believe that we cannot overlook either small or big business in solving the climate crisis and issues of sustainability within fashion and today’s conversation is really interesting in hearing two different view points on what that means.

First off, I will be chatting to Keith O’Brien of Isko Denim, a woven textiles and sustainable denim company that uses technology to produce the fabrics many designers create with. They were the the first denim producer in the world to be recognised with the Nordic Swan and EU Ecolabel certifications. Their waste management innovations reduce the environmental performance impact from yarn to fabric production, by using reused and recycled materials. Keith talks about leaving a job at Acadia Group to learn about sustainability with a role at ISKO and work to push more and more ethical collaborations.

David Hiat is the founder of Hiat Denim, an amazing jeans brand looking to bring back an ethical industry to a small town in Wales. In 2002, 400 of the world’s most talented jeans makers were suddenly put out of work when their employer outsourced denim production overseas. Overnight, 10 percent of the population of Cardigan, U.K., lost their jobs, as the country’s largest jean factory moved to Morocco. Now, David and his wife Clare are looking to put Cardigan back on the map by reopening the factory, and rehiring the original team to make the world’s best jean, using sustainable materials and local manufacturing.

With ISKO producing Hiut’s recycled and organic denim fabric, I wanted to ask both of these men about how this collaboration brought great results for each side in very different ways. This conversation shows us that actually we can look to al different sorts of companies for doing things well, and also truly the power of partnerships in sharing strengths to solve so many of the issues we face today, especially at a time when there seems to be so much division.

I loved talking to Keith and David, and I truly hope you all draw some inspiration for listening. Now over to our conversation!