🎙️ Episode 7 – Couture with a Conscience: Moon Chang’s Planet-First Aesthetic

This week, The Ethical Stitch spotlights a truly provocative voice in sustainable luxury fashion: designer Moon Chang, the mind behind the fashion label Moon Chang NY.

From developing designs for NASA (yes, that NASA) to crafting genderless faux-fur couture that challenges everything we know about fashion, Moon is shaking up the industry with bold storytelling and a conscience-first mindset. Her work is raw, sculptural, emotional—and always rooted in sustainability.

Moon opens up about the deeper layers of her creative process, including the unexpected muse who’s been at her side for it all: her male black bulldog, a symbol of resilience, softness, and style in her evolving narrative.

In this episode, we explore:
♻️ What sustainability looks like when you don’t play it safe
🐾 How her bulldog sparked an entire luxury petwear movement
🪐 Collaborating with NASA on forward-thinking fashion innovation
🧵 The role of grief, empathy, and ethics in design
❌ Why Moon refuses to compromise between fantasy and function

Moon Chang isn’t just dressing the future—she’s designing it with radical transparency, next-gen textiles, and a commitment to pushing couture out of its comfort zone.

🌿 The Ethical Stitch
Hosted by Michelle Alleyne

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📱 Instagram: @theethicalstitch | @michellealleyneofficial
🌍 Website: michellealleyne.com

🎙️ New episodes drop weekly.
Stay smart. Stay stylish. Stay stitched in.

In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, host Michelle Alleyne shares her excitement about attending the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen. She discusses the importance of sustainability in fashion, the themes of the summit, and her intention to bring back actionable insights for her listeners. The conversation emphasizes the need for collective action, innovation, and the urgency of addressing climate change and labor equity in the fashion industry.

Takeaways

• Fashion meets integrity and style gets a conscience.
• The theme of the Global Fashion Summit is Barriers and Bridges.
• The tension between regulation and innovation is huge.
• We want to design a new world where fashion makes a difference.
• The summit is about creating roadmaps and frameworks for change.
• Sustainability doesn't live in theory; it lives in our choices.
• The time for transformation in fashion is now.
• Collective action is essential for the future of fashion.
• Barriers can become bridges in the fashion industry.
• The revolution in fashion starts with awareness.

Titles

Navigating Ethical Fashion

Sound Bites

• "I want action items. I want solutions."
• "The time is now for transformation."

🌿 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.

In this conversation of The Ethical Stitch with Michelle Alleyne, Casey Dworkin discusses the complexities of creating sustainable fashion, emphasizing the importance of material choices, transparency in design, and the need for a paradigm shift in how sustainability is perceived in the industry. Dworkin shares insights on navigating the challenges of sustainable product design, the significance of next-gen materials, and the role of transparency in building consumer trust. The discussion highlights the importance of intention in fashion and celebrates change agents who are making a difference in the industry.

Takeaways

• Creating sustainable fashion involves balancing aesthetics and environmental impact.
• Material choices significantly affect a product's sustainability and marketability.
• Biodegradability is not the sole metric for evaluating materials in fashion.
• Designing for disassembly can simplify recycling and reduce waste.
• Transparency in the design process builds consumer trust and accountability.
• Sustainability should be integrated into the core of a brand, not just a marketing tactic.
• The fashion industry needs to shift perceptions about the value of products.
• Collaboration and curiosity are essential for innovation in material science.
• Next-gen materials are crucial for reducing the environmental impact of fashion.
• Intention behind design choices is becoming the new luxury in fashion.

Sound Bites

• "It's a stressful game."
• "We need perceptions to shift."
• "Intention is the new luxury."

🌿 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.

In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, Michelle Alleyne sits down with fashion archivist, creative force, and vintage vanguard Keni Valenti—a man who doesn’t just wear history, he preserves it.

From thrift-store treasure hunts in his youth to becoming an unexpected fashion designer, Keni takes us on a journey through the vibrant lanes of vintage fashion, sustainability, and cultural storytelling. With raw honesty and sharp insight, he breaks down how fast fashion disconnected us from our roots—and why vintage is more than just a trend, it’s a form of resistance.

They unpack it all:
🎙️ Why your grandma’s closet might hold more wisdom than a runway
♻️ The role of storytelling in making fashion sustainable
🧵 How fashion became therapy—and why it still can be
📱 The double-edged sword of technology in fashion's future
🔥 The real talk on quality, originality, and what it means to be a designer in today’s chaotic climate

Keni doesn’t just drop names—he drops wisdom, weaving in the lessons of fashion’s greats while urging new designers to go beyond the algorithm. If you’ve ever felt like clothes were more than fabric—or that the past holds the key to the future—this one's for you.

🌿 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.

🌿 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.

In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, host Michelle Alleyne steps into The Green Room with Andrea Kennedy—a powerhouse educator, curriculum builder, and longtime champion of sustainable fashion.

From reimagining fashion programs at Berkeley College to pounding the pavement for the New York Fashion Act, Andrea’s work sits at the intersection of advocacy, education, and industry reform. Together, Michelle and Andrea get into the deep threads of sustainability—what it really means beyond buzzwords, and how future fashion leaders can’t just learn trends; they need to understand systems.

They unpack why values like circularity, place-based design, and civic action aren’t just electives—they’re essentials. And yes, they talk policy. Because for change to happen, we need more than passion—we need legislation, informed consumers, and brands that are ready to be held accountable.

This isn’t just another chat about eco-fashion. It’s a masterclass in leadership, mindset, and movement-building. Tune in to hear how education is evolving, why systems thinking matters, and what it takes to raise a generation of creative disruptors ready to stitch a better industry together.

Takeaways

• Sustainability in fashion is crucial for the future.
• Future fashion leaders must embrace systems thinking.
• Understanding the long-term consequences of decisions is vital.
• Place-based strategies can reduce environmental impact.
• Empowering students leads to real change in the industry.
• Education for sustainability is an act of service.
• Students today are anxious about climate change and its impacts.
• Advocacy is essential for driving change in the fashion industry.
• Collaboration among all stakeholders is necessary for progress.
• Real-world exercises can enhance understanding of complex systems. Sustainable fashion is often perceived as expensive, but many brands are making strides in sustainability.
• The fashion industry is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Students are increasingly aware of the toxic nature of the fashion industry.
• Legislation like the New York Fashion Act is crucial for driving change in the industry.
• Supply chain traceability is essential for accountability in fashion brands.
• Collaboration among brands, consumers, and legislators is key to achieving sustainability.
• Consumers can influence brands by choosing to buy sustainable products.
• Repair services play a vital role in extending the life of clothing and reducing waste.
• Every purchase is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
• Education and communication are critical for fostering a sustainable fashion future.

Titles

• The Cost of Sustainable Fashion: Myths and Realities
• Environmental Impact: The Fashion Industry's Footprint
• Legislative Change: The New York Fashion Act Explained
• Empowering Consumers: The Role of the Individual in Fashion
• Collaboration is Key: Building a Sustainable Fashion Future
• 
  

Sound Bites

• "This is where we pull back the curtain."
• "We need an extra push."
• "It's a world viewing exercise."
• "I love that scenario."
• "You can be part of a change."
• "Fashion is toxic and it's wasteful."
• "We need supply chain traceability."
• "Change is driven by legislation."
• "Collaboration is key."
• "Every dolla

🌿 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.

In this episode of The Ethical Stitch, host Michelle Alleyne sits down with Andrea Reyes—a powerhouse advocate for sustainable fashion who’s been stitching real change from the classroom to the coalition floor as Executive Director of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition.

They pull no punches, diving deep into the hard truths behind fashion’s glossy surface: from the messy realities of overproduction and overconsumption to the real work happening beyond the buzzwords. Andrea shares her journey into the sustainability space, the community-led projects that keep her motivated, and why shifting consumer behavior—and corporate mindsets—isn’t optional anymore.

They also get into the tough stuff: why polyester still dominates the industry despite everything we know, and whether true sustainability can exist without rewriting the system from the ground up.

It’s a conversation about truth, trust, and the threads that tie us together—and a reminder that the future of fashion isn’t just about innovation; it’s about community, storytelling, and showing up differently.

🌿 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.

Summary

In the inaugural episode of 'The Ethical Stitch', host Michelle Alleyne introduces listeners to the world of ethical fashion, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and transparency in the industry. She shares her personal journey and insights gained from her experiences, particularly highlighting the impact of factory visits on her understanding of waste in fashion. The episode also addresses the pervasive issue of polyester in clothing and advocates for innovative solutions to reduce waste and promote responsible design practices.

Keywords

ethical fashion, sustainability, greenwashing, zero waste, polyester, fashion industry, transparency, eco-friendly, fashion trends, responsible design

Takeaways

The fashion industry is often plagued by greenwashing.
Factory visits reveal the shocking amount of waste produced.
Zero waste design can significantly reduce fabric waste.
Transparency in fashion is crucial for accountability.
Polyester is a major environmental concern and should be avoided.
Innovative materials can replace harmful fabrics like polyester.
Reusing fabric scraps can lead to creative solutions.
Education and awareness are key to changing consumer habits.
Sustainable fashion is a collective movement that requires participation from all.
The podcast aims to challenge conventional fashion narratives.

Titles

Revolutionizing Fashion: The Ethical Stitch Begins
Behind the Seams: A Journey into Ethical Fashion

Sound Bites

"No more polyester, please."
"It's time to upgrade our designs."
"Let's recycle what we have."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ethical Fashion
03:42 The Impact of Factory Visits
06:47 The Polyester Problem
09:41 Zero Waste Solutions
12:43 Innovative Alternatives to Polyester
16:52 Closing of Ethical Stitch.wav

🌿 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.