Material Is Your Business MouthMedia Network

The thinking behind, logistics and journey of Project Jacquard…

Dr. Ivan Poupyrev, Director of Engineering at Google, and Paul Dillinger Head of Design Innovation for Levi Strauss, join Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortes on location at FIT for WEAR Conference. MouthMedia Network studios are powered by Sennheiser.In this episode:
Building technology into a jacket
The move to put tech into both hard and soft goods
Power factory
How tech can be integrated into textiles that are flexible, stretchable, and can withstand the burning of denim during manufacturing process
Brands learning from each other
Trust between companies is critical
Corporate egos, understanding, admitting what you’re good and bad at, supplement deficiencies, finding right partner to fill deficiencies
Co-creation was a key word defining the Google/Levi Strauss relationship

The jacket was designed for use by urban cyclists, designed to improve your life when cycling
Explored opportunity for tactile interface without having to put screen in face
Now with product out there, how one uses the jacket is discovered and you can have more capabilities embedded, and amplify such as an interface with ride share
Actual product you can buy and try, buy from Levi’s store online (exciting because it is not in an electronics store, but instead in an apparel store)
Jacket takes the burden off of one device, consumer can avoid being orphaned by loss of one device, every object being able to have some function
Pricing reflects tremendous R& D that’s gone into it, but Levi’s has other jackets at a higher price point
Production supply chain, new considerations, but utilizing many standing resources and avoided disruption, ease of integration
IP protection, trusting suppliers

Socially responsible premium yak down…

Carol Chyau, Co-Founder and CEO of SHOKAY (committed to benefitting the communities that produce yak down, conscientiously selecting the right partners, creating timeless products, and using the best business principles), joins Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortes on location at the 2018 WEAR Conference at FIT.In this episode:
SHOKAY sustainably sources hand-combed yak down from the remote Himalayan Highlands to bring incredibly light and beautiful textiles with a soft texture.
Working with unconventional materials
The yak car comes only from locations in Himalayan regions
How it is like cashmere, warmer than wool, more breathable than cashmere
What can be created from these materials
Yak and ecomarine (recycle plastic bottles blended with oyster shell composites, offering anti bacterial and anti odor qualities)
Coordinating with brands to innovate
Working with a garment manufacturer with wearable tech, utilizing the materials into a piece that can be worn in a lot of circumstances including monitoring of EKG and heart rate
Much coordination required for innovation between everyone in ecosystem of manufacturers, innovation is incremental
China and a focus on sustainability, a lot of production delays because so many shops are shutting down because they don’t meet regulations
Taking things from conversations into real tangible action

A wearable heating platform…

Rickard Rosendahl, CEO of Inuheat Group AB (a developer and manufacturer of the Inuheat Wearable Heating Platform – an entire eco system with all components and materials needed for a clothing manufacturer (the apparel brand) to design and manufacture apparels with active battery powered heating built in), joins Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortes on location at the 2018 WEAR Conference at FIT.In this episode:
How Inuheat has developed platform components to build in heat to apparel
Gloves, socks, base layers
Applications in medical, performance, military
Users can stay out longer, focused
Bringing heat onto skin safely and comfortably
Creating a system that is cost effective in production, material sourcing, knitting
Printing a flexible, smooth heating panel directly on garment
Plus, a data platform!
Testing certification, a need to develop their own tests and standards, considering setting up an accreditation process
Durability, washability
Sending data to the user
Heptic feedback
Inuheat’s partnership with DuPont for volumes with high quality printing, embroidery
Medical applications
Monetizing to make cost effective, working with 15-20 brands, volume allows them to put more money into development and quality
Inuheat’s expertise combined with Inuheat results in added value – meeting a versatile group of end-user requirements on comfort and performance

Interactive fashion wearable technology brand…

Francesca Rosella (bio), Co-Founder and Chief Creative Director of CuteCircuit (a global leader in interactive fashion integrating new beauty and functionality through the use of smart textiles and micro-electronics), joins Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortes on locations at the 2018 WEAR Conference at FIT.In this episode:
How Rosella started working in the field in 2001
How people can use technology to connect with one another, express themselves
Creating the first fashion wearable technology brand in world
One of the first thing worked on was hug shirt, a t-shirt lets you hug someone over a distance, transferred in a hug message sent over mobile app
Why start with a hug?
Overcoming a disconnect between design and technology
How CuteCircuit did not want wires in garments
Pieces of fabric coated with nano-particals to be transparent and conductive
Exciting project with Mercedes, designing a pilot suit, sensors for emotions of pilot, lights up in response to sounds and other stimulus, played in theaters
What is the definition of “wearable”, must be a garment
The ability to have the same electronics in a bracelet as in your shirt
Must have fashion meet function
Washability issues
Sustainability considerations, recycling, use certified textiles, all electronics have restrictions of hazardous substances, and are all gold plated
Have recycling program, send back garment, and recycle components, and discount on new garment
Creating la ot of costumes for performers
The sound shirt that allows deaf people to feel vibration of instruments in a concert

MouthMedia Network studios are powered by Sennheiser.

3D printing, partnerships, and from science fiction to science fact…

Ben Christensen, Startup Mentor, Maker Evangelist, Keynote Speaker, Global Lead for SAP Next-Gen Science Fiction Community, joins Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortez in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.In this episode:
Christensen on what he’s caring about and identity, always starting things, helping companies explore what’s possible to make partnerships
If you can imagine it you can build it
SAP –  his focus on the global sci fi community
Sci fi shows what’s possible
From science fiction to science fact, designing today
The liquid – PLA – polylactic acid
The possibilities of creating almost anything via 3D printing, an accelerating industry
4D printing and what it can be, do, and inspire
A lot of trash results from 3D printing, how can you reuse the discarded materials
How 3D printers can become stations in the community where things can be synthesized
SAP Next Gen
SAP started a campaign with UN Women, the “#SheInnovates Initiative”
Partnering with The Startup Guide, for the first one for NYC
Christensen on joining the circus, then working for a software company
How 800M jobs could be eliminated through automation, but it is a crucial awakening for humanity
Implications and opportunities for automation

As the market leader in enterprise application software, SAP is at the center of today’s business and technology revolution. SAP helps you streamline your processes, giving you the ability to use real-time data to predict customer trends across your entire business. SAP is committed to helping every customer become a best-run business.

 

The impact of social responsibility, sustainability, and proper governance on the growth and expansion of companies…

Rob Sanchez, CEO of Mouth Media Network, moderates an impressive expert panel on material development, governance, and sustainability as part of an event at Spring Place sponsored by Financial Executives  International, including:
Karina Givargisoff, Founder and Editor in Chief of MISSION Magazine
Beth Colleton, Founder of Purpose Strategies
Danielle Joseph, Investment Officer at Closed Loop Partners
William Reinisch, Venture Partner at Paladin Capital GroupIn this episode:
The importance of consideration of social responsibility at early stages of planning a company, ESG and sustaibablity, in idea generation stage, how this has dramatically changed and become complete sector and way of thinking about it
How for the next generation this wont be an add on, will be a fundamental part of building an industry
Doesn’t work well when it is down the hall
Using for growth, generating more opportunity, turning it into value, the more growth the more material a company is saving, correlated to growth, the more you can do — the more money you make
Structuring business models around turning a waystream into a revenue stream
Evolving, next generation space
EVRNU, Bolt Thread as great examples of innovation
Growing and scaling
Gen Z and Millennials have the most stake in it, and trying to take into account their buying habits and influence, listening to a younger audience helps us keep on track to grow in the right direction
Scalability in creating efficiencies in supply chain and recycling defective garments
When fabric technologies create rcyclaaed textiles indistinguishable from originals
Repurposing textiles
Driving revenue generation by allowing people to purchase items that support the changing habits
The planning side of raw materials, how we must be thinking about resilience
A lot of unanswered question about how to integrate sustainable raw materials into the manufacturing process
Making sure to avoid seeming tone deaf to the public, and the important of governance
Investors looking at long-term value in companies, and the importance of sustainability
The critical nature of transparency, and to lead from the top and follow through that it is a driving force and part of the DNA of a company
The up and coming work force wants purpose in their employer, is a valuable part of retention strategy
Critical: an actionable purpose strategy that is authentic

Photo credits: Jason Drago, ARENAISSANCE FILMS