FUTUREVVORLD: Progress Over Perfection

For the Season 2 Episode 2 of Progress Over Perfection, FUTUREVVORLD sits down with PANGAIA's Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Amanda Parkes. Dr. Parkes is the scientific and strategic driving force behind PANAGAIA, a brand that we've highlighted several times on FUTUREVVORLD. Its collection of colorful wardrobe basics are not as basic as they seem. Lift the lid and you'll find biodegradable sweat suits made from eucalyptus plants, accessories made from a mushroom leather alternative, and sunglasses made from carbon dioxide.With a background in computer and material science plus a wealth of art and design experience, Dr. Parkes operates in an interesting space. Her role as Chief Innovation Officer means she oversees how the company sources materials and which projects it invests in.In this interview, she discusses what she calls the “valley of death” between the research lab and the commercial fashion industry, and how PANAGAIA acts as a bridge over that gap. She also gives us her thoughts on regulations in the sustainability industry, coming into fashion through the back door, and what we're getting wrong about microplastics.Sustainability is not about finding one perfect solution. It's about progress. The only competition for brands should be the materials and processes that are harmful to our planet. “In the same way that nature functions best when you have biodiversity, we really see that in the same way for the material ecology and economy of our brand,” says Dr. Parkes.Sit back and enjoy our conversation with the wonderfully insight Dr. Amanda Parkes.If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our episodes, please subscribe, rate us and leave a comment. It would be greatly appreciated.Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at futurevvorld.com and follow us on Instagram @futurevvorld.

For the premiere episode of Season 2, FUTUREVVORLD sat down with artist, designer and footwear futurist Helen Kirkum. Kirkum is a footwear designer like no other. Her London-based studio produces handmade, bespoke sneakers made from secondhand and vintage kicks. Customers can send in treasured old pairs and have them transformed into a made-to-order one-off. She first caught our attention when she partnered with adidas to create a collection of recycled sneakers modeled on the Campus 80. Since then, she's been growing and growing.During the conversation Kirkum talked about the difficulties of working with recycled materials, her relationship with Virgil Abloh, her thoughts on what a sneaker utopia might look like, and much, much more.We of course got onto the hot and hypey topic of ‘sustainability' and the overwhelming nature of that loaded word. Her advice to brands? “Don't bullshit the situation” and be honest about your product and your process. We couldn't agree more.Kick your feet up and enjoy our conversation with the talented Helen Kirkum.If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our episodes, please subscribe, rate us and leave a comment. It would be greatly appreciated.Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at futurevvorld.com and follow us on Instagram @futurevvorld.

It's officially the New Year, but we at FUTUREVVORLD aren't quite done looking back at the sneakers 2021 brought us. We saw an array of plant-based, recycled, and vegan alternative materials used to reimagine classics and innovate performance footwear. Companies and creators came together to help push the boundaries of Earth-friendly design. Even, new circular processes were introduced to ensure the shoe you log miles in don't truly go to waste.Last year, there were a lot of great examples that showcased the progress the footwear industry has made in becoming more environmentally responsible. Of course, consuming and producing more product takes the industry away from being truly sustainable, but the efforts are there, and we're happy to see them. And excited for what's to come!So for those looking to buy better, or those that are just curious about the progression of footwear, listen in to this episode. We'll list out our favorite pairs from last year and explain our rationale behind each choice. Of course, you have to see it to believe it, so head over to our website to see the full list. Thanks for tuning in!

In this week's episode, FUTUREVVORLD's Co-founder Daniel Navetta sits down with Eric Liedtke, co-founder and CEO of UNLESS Collective, for a rare one-on-one with the industry veteran. Liedtke opens up about his time at adidas, where he helped bring to life high-profile partnerships with the likes of Kanye West and Beyoncé. Since departing the Three Stripes in 2019, Liedtke has set his sights on building a more sustainable streetwear industry, starting with his newly launched brand UNLESS Collective. UNLESS is a plant-based, zero waste clothing company striving to be a "regenerative force for good.""UNLESS is for everyone who feels strongly that what they wear says a lot about who they are and who doesn't want to compromise their style to do what's right for the planet.  We leave nothing and no one behind."Sit back and listen to Daniel and Eric chop it up about the future of streetwear, and how we're going to get there.  If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our episodes, please subscribe, rate us and leave a comment. It would be greatly appreciated.Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at futurevvorld.com and follow us on Instagram @futurevvorld.

In this week's episode, FUTUREVVORLD's Co-founder Daniel Navetta and Executive Editor Bob Marshall explore streetwear's love affair with the T-shirt and how brands are using this ubiquitous piece of clothing to build a more sustainable future.Guests include Alan Mak, Founder of Version Tomorrow and Managing Partner at Public School; Jacob Hanna, the Development and E-commerce Special Projects Lead at Goodwill Southern California; and Brice Partouche, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Satisfy Running. Thank you for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our episodes, please be sure to subscribe, rate and comment. It would be greatly appreciated.Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at futurevvorld.com and follow us on Instagram @futurevvorld.

In this week's episode, FUTUREVVORLD's Co-founder Daniel Navetta and Executive Editor Bob Marshall explore regenerative supply systems, including what they mean, how they work, and why they're a necessary component to sustainable design.The hosts are first joined by Sarah Archibald, a Senior Program Manager at PUR Projet, and then Luke Smith, the CEO at Terra Genesis International, each offering a unique perspective on regenerative agriculture. A special thank you to Timberland for helping us produce this episodeThank you for tuning in.

In this week's episode, FUTUREVVORLD's Co-founder Daniel Navetta and Executive Editor Bob Marshall explore the wide range of Earth-friendlier innovations and initiatives in the next-gen materials space.The hosts are joined by Nicole Rawling, the Co-Founder and CEO of the Material Innovation Initiative, to learn about the past, present and future of materials. Then, Daniel speaks with both David Breslauer, the Co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Bolt threads, and Libby Sommer, the Director of Corporate Responsibility, where we learned about the challenges these next-gen material companies are facing. Thank you for tuning in.To learn more about next-gen materials and the innovations that are currently happening in fashion, footwear and design, head over to futurevvorld.com, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram. 

In this week's episode, FUTUREVVORLD's Co-founder Daniel Navetta and Executive Editor Bob Marshall explore the longevity of the garments we own and wear, and how buying better can lead to a more sustainable lifestyle. The hosts are joined by: Transnomadica and Atelier & Repairs founder Maurizio Donadi; artist and Common Ace co-founder Sophia Chang; founder and lead designer of Space Available, Daniel Mitchell; and stylist-slash-creative consultant Rachael Wang. These guests talk about the benefits -- both for people and the planet -- of selecting and extending the life of well-made clothes. Listeners are also encouraged to think about the end-life of their clothes and the options that exist for recycling and repurposing.A special thank you to Timberland and its GreenStride collection for helping us get this series off the ground. 

Hosted by FVV's co-founder and editor-in-chief Daniel Navetta and executive editor Bob Marshall. Progress Over Perfection's stories amplify the need for greater responsibility in fashion, footwear, design, and hype culture. In this week's episode, Daniel and Bob discuss the founding of FUTUREVVORLD -- what it is, why it exists, and what to expect. Then, Daniel interviews Dune Ives about Lonely Whale's work encouraging people to take care of the world's oceans and how to maintain a positive attitude in the face of eco-anxiety. Daniel also interviews George McPherson about his work advising fashion brands; George reflects about changing attitudes in the business of fashion and the increasing number of companies making supply chain decisions with the environment in mind. A special thank you to Timberland and its GreenStride collection for helping us get this series off the ground. 

Hosted by FVV's co-founder and editor-in-chief Daniel Navetta and executive editor Bob Marshall. Progress Over Perfection's stories amplify the need for greater responsibility in fashion, footwear, design, and hype culture. In this week's episode, Daniel and Bob talk about their reasons for caring about environmental responsibility in design. Daniel interviews Dune Ives about Lonely Whale's work encouraging people to take care of the world's oceans and how to maintain a positive attitude in the face of eco-anxiety. Daniel also interviews George McPherson about his work advising fashion brands; George reflects about changing attitudes in the business of fashion and the increasing number of companies making supply chain decisions with the environment in mind.