No Ordinary Cloth: Intersection of textiles, emerging technology, craft and sustainability
Mili Tharakan
27 episodes
3 weeks ago
Textiles matter! It is the most ubiquitous and powerful material we live with - it has the power to fulfil both our senses and our soul.
Join Mili Tharakan, a Smart Textiles designer and researcher with 20+ years experience, as she speaks to textile makers, engineers, bio-chemists, material scientists, artists, innovators and others who are pushing the boundaries of the Textile and Fashion industry by creating textiles that challenge the very meaning, role and function of fabrics as we know it today.
Through her conversations and insights with global experts, she brings alive the myriad facets of the world of Textiles - a world where there are no ordinary cloths and fabrics have the power to change us and our world.
So listen in and be inspired, learn, find connections and create extraordinary textiles...
Connect with Mili Tharakan:
Email: mili@militharakan.com
www.noordinarycloth.com [https://www.noordinarycloth.com/]
Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/noordinarycloth/] I Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjtharakan/]
Your support means the world to me, if you enjoyed this podcast why not consider buying me a coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/noordinarycloth]
Credits
Cover art: Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman
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Textiles matter! It is the most ubiquitous and powerful material we live with - it has the power to fulfil both our senses and our soul.
Join Mili Tharakan, a Smart Textiles designer and researcher with 20+ years experience, as she speaks to textile makers, engineers, bio-chemists, material scientists, artists, innovators and others who are pushing the boundaries of the Textile and Fashion industry by creating textiles that challenge the very meaning, role and function of fabrics as we know it today.
Through her conversations and insights with global experts, she brings alive the myriad facets of the world of Textiles - a world where there are no ordinary cloths and fabrics have the power to change us and our world.
So listen in and be inspired, learn, find connections and create extraordinary textiles...
Connect with Mili Tharakan:
Email: mili@militharakan.com
www.noordinarycloth.com [https://www.noordinarycloth.com/]
Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/noordinarycloth/] I Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjtharakan/]
Your support means the world to me, if you enjoyed this podcast why not consider buying me a coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/noordinarycloth]
Credits
Cover art: Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman
Ep 26. Clothing Poverty, Pre-loved South Asian Wedding Fashion and Building Community for Change with Anoli Mehta and Sol Escobar (x Fashion District)
No Ordinary Cloth: Intersection of textiles, emerging technology, craft and sustainability
1 hour 12 minutes
3 weeks ago
Ep 26. Clothing Poverty, Pre-loved South Asian Wedding Fashion and Building Community for Change with Anoli Mehta and Sol Escobar (x Fashion District)
Special episode by No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District [https://www.fashion-district.co.uk/]
In this episode, Mili speaks with Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best, and Anoli Mehta, founder of Circular Threads, two inspiring women tackling fashion's social and environmental challenges from different angles. Sol's award-winning social enterprise helps bridge the gap between clothing waste and clothing poverty by allowing people in need—such as refugees and survivors of domestic violence—to shop donated fashion online for free, preserving choice and dignity while promoting circularity. Meanwhile, Anoli's platform gives South Asian wedding and occasion wear a meaningful second life by creating a space for people to buy, sell, and rediscover preloved garments, extending their lifespan and reducing waste.
Both founders are proving that community-driven circularity—whether through redistribution or resale—can reshape the fashion system, reducing waste while building inclusivity and meaningful connection in how we consume and value clothes
Key Topics Discussed:
* How Sol and Anoli's businesses address fashion waste and offer alternatives to buying new
* The problem of clothing poverty in the UK and how Give Your Best gives agency and dignity to vulnerable individuals through free shopping for donated clothes
* The challenge of overconsumption and the cultural significance of South Asian fashion, and how Circular Threads is building a dedicated marketplace for preloved occasion wear
* The power of community: building genuine connections with buyers, sellers, donors and volunteers
* Stories of personal identity, belonging, and the emotional meaning tied to clothing
* Behind-the-scenes experiences in entrepreneurship, including overcoming failure, learning resilience, and finding inspiration from lived experiences
* What success looks like—impact, culture shift and empowering others
Calls to Action:
* Listeners are invited to support both projects by donating clothing, becoming a volunteer, attending events, or simply spreading the word to raise awareness
* Anyone with South Asian outfits or formalwear they no longer use is encouraged to visit Circular Threads' store or online marketplace
* For Give Your Best, all are welcome to donate clothes, connect with local volunteers ("Besties"), and help extend the platform's mission
* Join these communities to help fashion last longer than an evening out
Follow and connect with Sol Escobar and Anoli Mehta:
* Give Your Best: Website [https://giveyourbest.uk/] I Insta [https://www.instagram.com/giveyourbest.uk]
* Circular Threads: Website [https://www.circular-threads.com/] I Insta [https://www.instagram.com/circular.threads/]
Connect with me
Mili Tharakan: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjtharakan/] I Insta [https://www.instagram.com/noordinarycloth/] I Website [https://www.noordinarycloth.com/] I Buy me a coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarycloth]
If you enjoyed this, please share the episode with a friend or colleague. Subscribe and leave a review, I love to hear your feedback.
Recommended listening:
Ep 22. Beyond the Bin: fighting against Fashion Waste
Ep 21. Circular Fashion in Action: Insights From Luxury and Highstreet Brands
Cover art: Photo by Siora, Photography on Unsplash
Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman
No Ordinary Cloth: Intersection of textiles, emerging technology, craft and sustainability
Textiles matter! It is the most ubiquitous and powerful material we live with - it has the power to fulfil both our senses and our soul.
Join Mili Tharakan, a Smart Textiles designer and researcher with 20+ years experience, as she speaks to textile makers, engineers, bio-chemists, material scientists, artists, innovators and others who are pushing the boundaries of the Textile and Fashion industry by creating textiles that challenge the very meaning, role and function of fabrics as we know it today.
Through her conversations and insights with global experts, she brings alive the myriad facets of the world of Textiles - a world where there are no ordinary cloths and fabrics have the power to change us and our world.
So listen in and be inspired, learn, find connections and create extraordinary textiles...
Connect with Mili Tharakan:
Email: mili@militharakan.com
www.noordinarycloth.com [https://www.noordinarycloth.com/]
Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/noordinarycloth/] I Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjtharakan/]
Your support means the world to me, if you enjoyed this podcast why not consider buying me a coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/noordinarycloth]
Credits
Cover art: Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
Music: Inspired Ambient, Orchestraman