Workers’ Safety: Who’s Paying the Price for Cheap Clothing?
What makes cheap clothing so cheap — and who pays the hidden price?
In this episode, host Clare Press looks behind the glossy world of ultra-fast fashion to examine worker safety, chemical exposure and disaster risks that still shape millions of lives today.
From Rana Plaza to new climate-related dangers, we explore why safety is still not guaranteed — and what is being done to change that. With expert voices from the Clean Clothes Campaign, OEKO-TEX®, and the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity, we hear where progress has been made — and why living wages, legislation, and consumer awareness remain essential.
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27:19
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27:19
Will Data and Transparency Reshape What Clothes We Buy?
Can data and transparency reshape how we shop — or will emotions still win?
In this episode, host Clare Press explores what truly drives our fashion choices and how access to more information about our clothes — from fiber composition to factory conditions — could change that.
From the European Textile Regulation to the upcoming Digital Product Passport, we look at what’s changing for brands — and what this means for consumers caught between desire, identity, price, and conscience. What does transparency reveal about the emotional contradictions behind shopping sustainably? And could knowing more ever make us buy better?
With insights from Professor Renate Stauss (The American University of Paris) and Carolin Franitza (OEKO-TEX®), plus real voices from Berlin’s shopping streets, we ask: will more information make us more mindful — or just more overwhelmed?
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30:49
How Can We Make Our Clothes Last?
What makes a piece of clothing truly last — and how can we recognize real quality?
In this episode, host Clare Press explores the materials, craftsmanship, and mindset behind durable fashion. From nylon’s invention to today’s throwaway culture, we trace how quality has changed — and what we can do to bring it back.
With insights from Yayra Agbofah (The Revival), Annika Sauerhöfer (OEKO-TEX®), Carolin Franitza (OEKO-TEX®), and Monika Hauck (Repair Rebels), we look at textile waste in Kantamanto Market, the benefits and challenges of blended fibers, and how policy, repair, and emotional connection can make our clothes last longer.
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35:24
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35:24
In a World Full of PFAS
PFAS, azo dyes, flame retardants—most of our clothes are full of chemicals. But how dangerous are they really, which ones do we actually need, and how can we be sure that what we’re buying is safe?
In this episode, host Clare Press investigates the hidden chemistry of fashion: from “forever chemicals” in outdoor jackets to unnecessary coatings and treatments that leave our wardrobes chemically over-engineered. We ask what’s essential, what’s harmful, and what’s being done to protect both people and the planet.
With insights from Dr. Jörg Schlatterer (OEKO-TEX®, Hohenstein) and Dr. Katy Stevens (European Outdoor Group), we explore new regulations, safer alternatives, and how certifications help consumers shop with confidence.
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Fighting for Fair Fashion
In this very first episode of The Fashion Stitch, host Clare Press takes you behind the seams of the fashion industry to uncover the realities of garment work today. From sweatshops in Los Angeles to the streets of New York, from Bangladesh to Turkey, we hear from activists, labor organizers, and journalists fighting for better working conditions. Alongside hard truths, we highlight stories of resilience and wins—from historic strikes to groundbreaking agreements—that show change is possible.
Sobre The Fashion Stitch – On Fabrics, Facts and Feelings
The Fashion Stitch is a podcast about the hidden stories behind our clothes. Fashion is more than the fabric we wear—it's about people, chemicals, supply chains, culture, and change.
Hosted by author and journalist Clare Press, the podcast explores sustainability in fashion through real stories and deep conversations. From Ghana to Turkey, Los Angeles to Bangladesh, we hear from labor organizers, scientists, activists, and experts working to transform the industry from the inside out.
Across six episodes, The Fashion Stitch unpacks the complex realities woven into our clothes. We dive into how dangerous PFAS in clothing really are and which chemicals it takes to make our clothes. We travel back to 1945 to learn why people queued for nylon stockings for hours—and how that moment connects to the rise of synthetic fibers. We explore whether more manufacturing information can lead to more sustainable purchases, and how repairing and upcycling go beyond fixing clothes to become powerful acts of resistance.
The Fashion Stitch is a podcast for everyone who loves fashion and good stories. Available on October 1st, wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe now, so you don’t miss an episode.
A co-production by OEKO-TEX® and Fashion Changers.
More information at: https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/wear-what-feels-right/
Ouça The Fashion Stitch – On Fabrics, Facts and Feelings, Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud e muitos outros podcasts de todo o mundo com o aplicativo o radio.net
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