Garmology - A podcast about clothes, and stuff.

Nick Johannessen
  • 5.0 (19)
  • FASHION & BEAUTY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Garmology is a podcast about our clothes, old and new, how they are made, and the impact they have, from a perspective of making, buying, wearing, collecting, evaluating and appreciating. With interesting guests, the aim is to provide a non-fashion view of the world of our clothes. Expect plenty of opinions! Garmology is made by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast at buymeacoffee.com/garmology Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

  1. Garmology: What’s Really in Your Clothes? With Lydia Wendt of California Cloth Foundry (#168)

    2D AGO

    Garmology: What’s Really in Your Clothes? With Lydia Wendt of California Cloth Foundry (#168)

    In this episode of Garmology, Nick is joined by Lydia Wendt, founder of California Cloth Foundry and a leading voice in clean, non‑toxic textiles. Fresh from the Netflix documentary Plastic Detox, Lydia explains how clothing—especially performance and “sustainable” fashion—can be far more chemically complex (and harmful) than most people realise.  Together, they unpack greenwashing, organic cotton myths, plastic fibres, petrochemical dyes, and why “performance” often comes at a hidden cost to human health and the environment. From natural indigo and plant dyes to compostable garments, compost‑tested cutting waste, and healthier alternatives to elastane, this wide‑ranging conversation challenges how—and why—we make, buy, and wear clothes today. It’s nerdy, eye‑opening, and surprisingly hopeful—and will almost certainly change how you look at the label inside your clothes.  You can find California Cloth Foundry at clothfoundry.com This episode is also available on YouTube, search for Garmology or the direct link here.   Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 50m
  2. Can Modern Technology Save Heritage Craft? - With Genevieve Sweeney (#167)

    APR 17

    Can Modern Technology Save Heritage Craft? - With Genevieve Sweeney (#167)

    Genevieve returns to Garmology four years after her last appearance—and a lot has changed. Since we last spoke (just weeks before she gave birth), Genevieve has been quietly building something remarkable: a knitwear micro‑factory in rural Hertfordshire, training apprentices, preserving endangered skills, and bringing more of her luxury British knitwear production in‑house. In this episode, we talk heritage crafts and modern knitting machines, the reality of factories closing and skills disappearing, the joy (and complexity) of running your own machines, and why making fewer, better garments still makes sense in 2026. From naturally dyed yarns and hand intarsia to washing, mending, moth anxiety, and the odd globe‑maker next door, this is a warm, honest, deeply nerdy conversation about how clothes are actually made—and why it still matters. You can find Genevieve Sweeney on the web at genevievesweeney.com and on Instagram as @genevievesweeney.    Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 24m
  3. A Love Letter to Craft - With Dylan Lynch of Kluane Mountaineering (#166)

    MAR 27

    A Love Letter to Craft - With Dylan Lynch of Kluane Mountaineering (#166)

    In this episode of Garmology, Nick heads to Edmonton, Canada, to meet Dylan Lynch — the new custodian of Kluane Mountaineering, a tiny but legendary workshop that’s been making expedition‑grade down jackets and sleeping bags for over 50 years. Dylan shares the brand’s unlikely origins, the almost mythical figure of seamstress Lucy, his own journey from winter camper to clothing‑and‑textile graduate to owner, and the uncompromising philosophy behind “making things properly or not at all.”  It’s a story filled with romance, mentorship, small‑batch craftsmanship, Japanese connections, Paris adventures, devotion to Canadian sourcing, extreme cold, and the joy of doing one thing extremely well—and never selling out. You can find Kluane Mountaineering on the web at kluanemountaineering.com and on Instagram as @kluanemountaineering This episode is also available on the Garmology YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/UWmu3gSlNLU     Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 28m
  4. Curtains First, Clothes Later: Fashion Fictions Explained - With Amy Twigger-Holroyd (#165)

    MAR 13

    Curtains First, Clothes Later: Fashion Fictions Explained - With Amy Twigger-Holroyd (#165)

    In this episode of Garmology, Nick speaks with Professor Amy Twigger‑Holroyd, a designer, researcher, and academic specialising in Alternative Fashion Systems at Nottingham School of Art and Design. Amy shares her path from knitwear design and running a slow‑fashion label to becoming a leading researcher on sustainability, remaking, participatory textile practices, and what she calls fashion fictions. She explains how mainstream fashion systems limit imagination and reinforce unsustainable consumption—and how speculative, playful “fictional worlds” can help people imagine alternatives. The conversation explores remaking and mending, the cultural significance of handmade clothing, the psychology of fashion, participatory workshops, the blurring of fictional and real-world practices, and the ways collective imagination can inspire actual change. Nick and Amy also discuss sustainability fatigue, hope, ritual, meaning in clothing, and how fashion might evolve into something more connected, joyful, and human. Amy is on Instagram as @amytwiggerh More information about Fashion Fictions fashionfictions.org The open-access version of the book can be found here.   Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 47m
  5. The Late-Blooming Tailor with Duane MacLeod of Holdfast Bespoke(#164)

    FEB 20

    The Late-Blooming Tailor with Duane MacLeod of Holdfast Bespoke(#164)

    This episode of Garmology features host Nick in conversation with bespoke tailor Duane MacLeod, who lives and works on the coast of Maine.  Duane shares his unconventional journey into sewing and tailoring, beginning with a childhood in a DIY, self-sufficient family and escalating into a lifelong fascination with making things. After years of building houses, reupholstering furniture, and sewing casually, he began making garments seriously when his daughter — then studying fashion — challenged him to make his own coat.  Following early experiments with Japanese pattern books and the online sewing community (especially the influential blog Male Pattern Boldness), Duane slowly developed his skills and eventually became deeply interested in tailoring.  This led him to the Tailoring Academy in Macclesfield, UK, where he completed an intensive 10.5‑month professional training program later in life, after retiring from a nursing career. He describes the pace, rigour, camaraderie, and transformative experience of studying tailoring full-time, learning precise techniques, working with high-end fabrics, and building garments from the inside out.  Returning to Maine, Duane started Holdfast Bespoke, where he now makes custom jackets, waistcoats, trousers, and outerwear — often using fine woollens from mills like Moon, McGee, and Holland & Sherry. He discusses the challenges of sourcing fabric as a new artisan, the realities of working slowly and deliberately by hand, the joys of satisfied clients, and the emotional meaning people find in handmade garments.  Duane also shares his current project: preparing six looks for an upcoming runway show with the Maine Crafts Association. Throughout the conversation, it touches on craftsmanship, creativity, timeless design, the tailoring industry, and the personal satisfaction of continuing to learn and make meaningful things.  You can find Holdfast Bespoke at: www.holdfastbespoke.com.  Duane's Instagram account is  @mainelymenswear, and the vest that didn't quite turn out right can be found on Duane's blog. Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 57m
  6. Small Batch, Big Heart - With Neale McDonald (#163)

    FEB 6

    Small Batch, Big Heart - With Neale McDonald (#163)

    In this episode, Nick sits down with Neale McDonald, founder of the small‑batch menswear label Adamant Clothing, to talk about the journey from skate‑scene style obsession to designing handmade garments in Scotland.  They dive into craftsmanship, what “made in” really means, the frustrations of modern social media, menswear trends, and the challenges of running a tiny self‑funded brand in a big‑brand world.  A thoughtful conversation about passion, quality, and why the humble overshirt might be the perfect garment.    You can find Adamant on the web at adamantclothing.com and on Instagram as @adamant_clothing   Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 50m
  7. Finding Meaning in the Clothes We Already Own - With Wendy Ward(#162)

    JAN 23

    Finding Meaning in the Clothes We Already Own - With Wendy Ward(#162)

    In this wide‑ranging and deeply reflective conversation, Nick welcomes back fashion researcher and maker Wendy Ward to unpack what really happens to clothes after we’re done with them — and why the fashion industry’s language around “recycling” and “sustainability” increasingly rings hollow. They explore the murky realities of textile waste, charity shop overload, and so‑called recycling systems that often amount to exporting waste elsewhere or incinerating it. Wendy reflects on her stalled attempt to return waste garments to manufacturers, digging into the complexities of end‑of‑life clothing systems and the uncomfortable truth that only around 1% of post‑consumer textiles are truly recycled. Amid the bleak realities, the conversation shifts toward more hopeful ground: Wendy’s wearing tally practice, cost‑per‑wear labels, personal garment narratives, and examples of brands and makers celebrating care, repair, and long‑term use. Together, they question whether fashion can rediscover joy, meaning, and creativity without driving relentless over‑consumption — and whether positivity, not guilt, might be the key to real change. This episode is a candid exploration of value, honesty, infrastructure, and imagination — and what it might take to build a healthier relationship with the clothes we already own.  You can find all Wendy's links on her Linktree here. Links:  Nature: "Secondhand fashion consumers exhibit fast fashion behaviors despite sustainability narratives" https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-19089-1  The Guardian: "‘Hospices are in retreat’: funding crisis squeezing UK palliative care providers" https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/24/hospices-in-retreat-funding-crisis-squeezing-uk-palliative-care-providers  NRK: "Må kaste 500 tonn mer tekstiler enn i fjor: – Nå sliter vi veldig mye" https://www.nrk.no/vestfoldogtelemark/frykter-at-gjenbruksbransjen-kan-kollapse-_-kaster-500-tonn-mer-tekstiler-enn-i-fjor-1.17656476 (Suggest using the translate function in Google Chrome) Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    1h 37m
  8. Everything Is Vintage If You Wait Long Enough - With Shaun, Jon & Nick (#161)

    12/19/2025

    Everything Is Vintage If You Wait Long Enough - With Shaun, Jon & Nick (#161)

    In this festive roundtable episode, Nick, Jon, and Shaun gather to complain — politely — about modern shopping, resale platforms, and the strange reality of buying your own clothes back years later from a charity shop. They talk eBay deliveries that arrive whenever they feel like it, Vinted’s takeover of second-hand culture, AI-written listings that say nothing, and heritage brands that now come with a geography quiz. Along the way, there’s boiled wool, duffle coats, social media fatigue, and the realisation that the internet has slowly turned into a badly lit shopping centre. It’s a warm, funny, slightly grumpy end-of-year chat about clothes, trust, and why keeping one good thing for 20 years might still be the most radical idea of all. Festive, thoughtful, and lightly exasperated — just as intended. Featuring Shaun Brown and Jon Fowler, aka @these_rough_notes and @HeavyJon on Instagram. Early reviews of this episode are mixed, so your listening pleasure is uncertain: Tortoise Trends commented, «We appreciate the slow pace of the proceedings». VintageWear Weekly gushingly praised «At least they don’t mention whiffy vintage garms this time!» Giffnock Advertiser noted, «Local celeb Shaun gets properly stuck into the proceedings and we love it.» Stationary Engine Magazine said, «These guys sound like our kind of people.“ Teddy Bear Times said, «Gets a bit boring in the middle then better at the end.“ The Country Smallhold said, “They dress for the occasion but are they up to it?” Business of Fashion stated, «Clearly our days of shilling for the man are over, all hail the three kings.» Gentleman’s Quarterly: «A laidback and comfortably paced chat perfect for accompanying the preparation of sprouts». Amateur Carp Fishing Monthly said, “ It’s not really our thing.“ Carnoustie Guide & Gazette said, “It’s a podcast with men talking.“ From Twitter @JeansAndSheux «The scene appreciates the respect shown and offers a Peroni in return.» Motorway Lovers Weekly “Once again there’s no mention of the M45 “ Pitti Peacocks Annual whinges «We fail to appreciate the loathing of our beloved monk-strap shoes. This is dismal.» The Guardian pontificated «We’d be sure to recommend Garmology if we’d heard of it.» The Brighton Bugle blethered «Jon is clearly one of our finest local citizens and we really should shower him with appreciation.» Tønsberg Blad skriver «Jasså, så han holder ennå på? Kanskje på tide å rydde forsiden igjen...» Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can  buymeacoffee.com/garmology Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com. Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

    3h 4m
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Garmology is a podcast about our clothes, old and new, how they are made, and the impact they have, from a perspective of making, buying, wearing, collecting, evaluating and appreciating. With interesting guests, the aim is to provide a non-fashion view of the world of our clothes. Expect plenty of opinions! Garmology is made by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast at buymeacoffee.com/garmology Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

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