The Ethical Stitch with Michelle Alleyne

Michelle Alleyne
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Updated Weekly

The Ethical Stitch with Michelle Alleyne 🎙 Where fashion meets its conscience—and gets a glow-up. Welcome to The Ethical Stitch, the unapologetically bold podcast unraveling the truth behind what we wear—and how it's made. Hosted by fashion sustainability expert and industry insider Michelle Alleyne, this weekly series exposes the hidden cost of fast fashion while spotlighting the changemakers, designers, and disruptors who are reshaping style with purpose. From her front-row seat as a professor at Parsons and FIT to the factory floors of global production hubs, Michelle brings two decades of unfiltered insight, real talk, and solution-focused conversations. Whether you're a curious consumer or a fashion industry insider, this podcast is your go-to for smarter style choices, ethical design thinking, and jaw-dropping truths the labels won't tell you. 🔥 Expect hot takes like: — “No more polyester.”— “Stop calling it vegan leather.”— “Why aren’t your fave designers doing better?” Plus: actionable tips, behind-the-scenes stories, and interviews with the innovators making sustainability sexy. If you care about the planet and your closet, pull up a chair.New episodes drop every week. Follow @michellealleyneofficial and visit michellealleyne.com to learn more. Because in the future of fashion, ethics aren’t optional—they’re iconic.

  1. Climate, AI, and the Fight to Stay Human with Mikaela Ringquist,

    3d ago

    Climate, AI, and the Fight to Stay Human with Mikaela Ringquist,

    What if the biggest question about artificial intelligence is not whether it will replace us, but whether it can help us become more responsible humans? In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, Michelle Alleyne sits down with Mikaela Ringquist, Director of Partnerships at Climate Change AI and New York Chapter Chair for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, for a timely conversation about climate, technology, ethics, accountability, and the future we are building. Mikaela brings a rare perspective shaped by diplomacy, corporate sustainability, grassroots organizing, sustainable fashion, and climate-focused artificial intelligence. Together, Michelle and Mikaela explore how AI is already being used in climate solutions, from monitoring rainforests and detecting illegal logging to improving energy grids and supporting renewable energy systems. But this conversation does not treat technology as a magic fix. At the center of the episode is a deeper question: if technology helped accelerate some of the systems that created our climate crisis, can technology also help us repair them? Michelle and Mikaela unpack the environmental footprint of AI, including data centers, energy use, water demand, and the difference between large language models and smaller, more purpose-built systems. Mikaela also breaks down why the “move fast and break things” mindset may be especially dangerous in this new era of artificial intelligence. This episode also explores convenience culture, climate anxiety, corporate accountability, greenwashing, circular systems, community, and why physical spaces still matter in an increasingly digital world. This is not just a conversation about AI. It is a conversation about power, responsibility, imagination, and whether progress still has a conscience. In this episode, we explore: ✨ How AI is being used in climate solutions  ✨ The environmental impact of data centers and large AI models  ✨ Why small, purpose-built AI systems may be more sustainable  ✨ The connection between technology, power, and accountability  ✨ Why convenience culture makes sustainability harder  ✨ How companies are evolving beyond performative sustainability  ✨ Why climate anxiety is real, especially for younger generations  ✨ The importance of community in a digital-first world  ✨ Why the future needs world-building, not just innovation  ✨ How we can stay human while the world accelerates around us Stitch Mob MVP of the Week:  ✨ Climate Change AI, with a special shoutout to Mikaela’s colleagues Maria, Joao Souza, and Priya Donti for their work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, climate solutions, research, and public education. Connect with Mikaela Ringquist & Climate Change AI:  🌍 Website: climatechange.ai 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth:  📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial  🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly.  Stay curious. Stay conscious. Stay human. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    49 min
  2. How Kate Sanner & Beni Are Rewiring Fashion Discovery

    May 14

    How Kate Sanner & Beni Are Rewiring Fashion Discovery

    What if the future of fashion wasn’t about buying more, but buying smarter? In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, Michelle Alleyne sits down with Kate Sanner, co-founder and CEO of Beni, the platform transforming how consumers discover secondhand fashion online in real time. At the center of the conversation is a question quietly reshaping the entire industry: If technology helped accelerate overconsumption, can technology also help us consume more consciously? Kate breaks down how Beni is using AI and real-time fashion discovery to bring secondhand options directly into the online shopping experience, helping consumers find resale alternatives while they browse brand-new products. But this conversation goes far beyond resale. Together, Michelle and Kate unpack the psychology of shopping, the emotional pull of convenience culture, the rise of circular fashion, and the invisible systems shaping modern consumer behavior. They explore how algorithms, advertising, and digital culture have fueled fast fashion habits, while also asking what it would look like to build technology that supports intention instead of impulse. But this conversation goes deeper. This episode dives into the growing tension between sustainability and consumerism, and whether the fashion industry is truly ready to rethink its dependence on endless production and rapid consumption. Kate shares why she believes the future of fashion is not about owning more things, but about helping people develop stronger personal style, deeper intentionality, and more meaningful relationships with what they wear. This isn’t just a conversation about resale. It’s a conversation about behavior, identity, technology, and the future of fashion culture itself. In this episode, we explore: ✨ How Beni is reshaping secondhand fashion discovery using AI ✨ Why convenience often overrides sustainable intentions ✨ The psychology behind overconsumption and impulse shopping ✨ How resale culture became a form of personal style and cultural currency ✨ Why AI could either worsen or improve fashion waste ✨ The tension between fast fashion, resale, and overproduction ✨ Why the future of fashion may shift from ownership to access ✨ How younger generations are redefining shopping, rental, and identity ✨ What brands still avoid discussing about sustainability and waste ✨ Why personal style may become the next frontier of conscious fashion Stitch Mob MVP of the Week: ✨ Pickle — the fashion rental platform redefining community-based closets and shared style culture in New York and beyond. Connect with Kate Sanner & Beni: Follow Beni on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack at @join_beni 🌍 Website: shopbeni.com 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay curious. Stay conscious. Stay stitched in. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    39 min
  3. Inside the U.S. Climate Action Summit: The Execution Gap

    May 5

    Inside the U.S. Climate Action Summit: The Execution Gap

    This episode is a little different. Instead of a traditional interview, Michelle Alleyne takes you inside the room at the U.S. Leaders Forum in Washington, D.C., part of the U.S. Climate Action Summit hosted by the Climate Group. This is where policymakers, industry leaders, and decision-makers are not just discussing sustainability, but actively shaping what happens next. What unfolds is a clear and urgent shift in perspective. We are no longer facing a technology problem. The tools exist. Renewable energy is advancing. Infrastructure is evolving. The real challenge is execution. Why are critical clean energy projects taking years, even decades, to move forward  What happens when energy demand is accelerating faster than our systems can respond  And how are industries like fashion and design connected to decisions being made far beyond their immediate scope Through firsthand observations and conversations both on and off stage, Michelle breaks down what this moment actually feels like and what it reveals about where we are right now. This episode also introduces a new segment, One Stitch at a Time, where complex systems are unpacked step by step to better understand how they shape the world we create and live in. Because sustainability is no longer about innovation. It is about alignment. It is about action. And it is about closing the gap between what we know and what we do. Listen in for a grounded, real-time perspective on climate, infrastructure, and the systems that connect us all. Stay inquisitive. Stay bold. Stay stitched in. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    13 min
  4. Earth Day Edition: The First Year of The Ethical Stitch

    Apr 22

    Earth Day Edition: The First Year of The Ethical Stitch

    On this special Earth Day anniversary episode, host Michelle Alleyne celebrates one year of The Ethical Stitch and the global movement it has become. Over the past year, the podcast has featured 36 conversations with disruptors, farmers, designers, innovators, and changemakers from around the world, expanding the conversation far beyond fashion into design, agriculture, energy, materials, and sustainability at large. This episode is a reflection on growth, a heartfelt thank you to the guests and supporters who made this first year possible, and an exciting look ahead at what is still to come, including new formats, deeper engagement, and the launch of a Global Sustainability Summit. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    11 min
  5. From Garments to Gateways: The Future of Fashion with Donatela Bellone

    Apr 7

    From Garments to Gateways: The Future of Fashion with Donatela Bellone

    What if your clothes could talk? In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, Michelle Alleyne sits down with Donatela Bellone, founder and CEO of Alu, to explore how fashion is evolving from something we simply wear into something we experience. At the center of the conversation is the rise of digital product passports, a technology that has the potential to transform every garment into a living, breathing story. Not just where it was made, but who made it, how it impacts the planet, and what happens next after you wear it. Donatela breaks down how these passports go beyond compliance and into connection. Think styling guidance, resale pathways, exclusive experiences, and personalized interactions that extend far beyond the moment of purchase.  But this conversation goes deeper. Together, they unpack the uncomfortable truth about fashion’s current model of overproduction and waste, and why the industry is still stuck there. Then they shift into what’s actually changing. A new consumer mindset. A growing appetite for circularity. A cultural move away from owning more, toward experiencing more. This isn’t just about sustainability. It’s about behavior. It’s about how technology, especially AI, is reshaping how we shop, style, resell, and relate to what’s in our closet. And more importantly, how brands have an opportunity to build real relationships with their customers long after the sale is made. If fashion has always been about desire, this episode asks a bigger question.  What happens when fashion starts building connection instead? In this episode, we explore:  What digital product passports actually are and why they matter  How fashion contributes to global emissions and waste at scale  Why most sustainability efforts fail to engage consumers  The future of circular fashion, resale, and rental economies  How AI is transforming styling, shopping, and secondhand discovery  What brands are getting wrong about transparency and engagement  Why the next era of fashion is about experience, not ownership Stitch Mob MVP of the Week: Kate, founder of Benny — an app helping consumers find secondhand versions of the styles they love. Connect with Donatela Bellone: Follow her on LinkedIn and explore her Substack, Lab Positive Society, for insights on sustainability, consumer behavior, and the future of fashion. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    44 min
  6. The Business of Soul: Can Fashion Scale Without Losing Its Meaning?

    Mar 31

    The Business of Soul: Can Fashion Scale Without Losing Its Meaning?

    In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, Michelle Alleyne sits down with Swati Argade, a creative entrepreneur, textile expert, and operational strategist whose work lives at the intersection of culture, craftsmanship, and conscious business. This conversation moves beyond surface-level sustainability and into something deeper. Michelle and Swati explore what it really means to grow a creative business without losing its soul. From global textile traditions and the stories embedded in fabric, to the systems and structures required to scale responsibly, this episode challenges the industry to rethink how fashion is built. They dive into the tension between craft and commerce.  Between storytelling and systems.  Between intention and execution.  Swati shares her journey from building a globally recognized boutique rooted in ethical sourcing, to stepping into a new chapter focused on operations, interiors, and reimagining how we use what already exists. This is a conversation about: • Why making more isn’t always the answer  • How fashion connects to history, identity, and social justice  • The rise of secondhand, reuse, and resource-driven design  • Community as a powerful counter to isolation and overconsumption  • And what it looks like to build responsibly in a world that rewards speed This episode asks a bigger question: Can we scale creativity without losing its meaning? 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    1h 13m
  7. The Fix Is In: Jo Ingham and Jo Ward on Fashion’s Next Era

    Mar 17

    The Fix Is In: Jo Ingham and Jo Ward on Fashion’s Next Era

    This week, we’re joined by the powerhouse duo behind Our Fashion Fix, Jo Ingham and Jo Ward, two industry veterans with the insight, candor, and credibility to say what others won’t. Together, they unpack the realities of fashion’s sustainability crisis, the limits of performative progress, and the kind of bold, responsible thinking required to move the industry forward. It’s an honest, intelligent conversation about circular fashion, transparency, and what real change actually looks like. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    1h 7m
  8. Sustainable Innovation in Italy: The Ohoskin Journey with Stefano Mazzetti

    Feb 18

    Sustainable Innovation in Italy: The Ohoskin Journey with Stefano Mazzetti

    In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, Michelle Alleyne sits down with Stefano Mazzetti, co founder of Ohoskin, to explore what happens when waste becomes material, not just for fashion, but for shoes, automotive interiors, furniture, and more. From Sicilian orange byproducts to resilient cactus fibers, Stefano breaks down how Oskin is building a bio based alternative to leather designed to perform in the real world, not just sound good in a pitch deck. Together, they get into the unglamorous but essential work behind next gen materials: development timelines, quality control, traceability, and the operational systems that separate true sustainability from marketing. This is a conversation about innovation with receipts, and what it really takes to bring a better material to market without losing the plot. 🌿 The Ethical Stitch Hosted by Michelle Alleyne Follow us for more threads of truth: 📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial 🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Ethical Stitch with Michelle Alleyne 🎙 Where fashion meets its conscience—and gets a glow-up. Welcome to The Ethical Stitch, the unapologetically bold podcast unraveling the truth behind what we wear—and how it's made. Hosted by fashion sustainability expert and industry insider Michelle Alleyne, this weekly series exposes the hidden cost of fast fashion while spotlighting the changemakers, designers, and disruptors who are reshaping style with purpose. From her front-row seat as a professor at Parsons and FIT to the factory floors of global production hubs, Michelle brings two decades of unfiltered insight, real talk, and solution-focused conversations. Whether you're a curious consumer or a fashion industry insider, this podcast is your go-to for smarter style choices, ethical design thinking, and jaw-dropping truths the labels won't tell you. 🔥 Expect hot takes like: — “No more polyester.”— “Stop calling it vegan leather.”— “Why aren’t your fave designers doing better?” Plus: actionable tips, behind-the-scenes stories, and interviews with the innovators making sustainability sexy. If you care about the planet and your closet, pull up a chair.New episodes drop every week. Follow @michellealleyneofficial and visit michellealleyne.com to learn more. Because in the future of fashion, ethics aren’t optional—they’re iconic.

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