Five Fungi-to-Fashion Blueprints: Women Stitching Profit and Planet Together

Hi, this is Alex Cantrowitz. I'm the host of Big Technology podcast, a long time reporter

and an on-air contributor to CNBC. And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how

artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology,

I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it,

asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and

plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices, and meetings with

your colleagues and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology podcast wherever you get your

podcasts. I'm caught up in the game. My attention is on every play and every whistle,

but what I'm missing is a signal coming from my kidneys. That signal isn't like a ref's whistle.

It's more of a silent SOS which could be warning me of an increased risk for events like heart attack

or stroke. And a way I can catch that signal? A simple urine test called UACR. If you have type 2

diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about the UACR test. Detect the SOS.

Visit DetectTheSOS.com to learn more. Welcome back to female entrepreneurs, the podcast

empowering women to build bold, impactful businesses. I'm your host and today we're diving into the

thriving world of sustainable fashion where visionary women are turning passion into profit

while saving the planet. Inspired by trailblazers like Stella McCartney, who pioneered leather-free

luxury with mushroom-based Milo since 2001, and non-gone chiquin and Gary of Weirkin,

who's made to order models slashes waste using dead stock fabrics. I've brainstormed five

innovative ideas tailored for you, the female entrepreneur ready to lead. First,

launch a made to order lingerie line like Naja, founded by Catalina Gerald and Jingar Rodriguez.

Picture this, eco-friendly intimates crafted from organic cotton and recycled materials,

produced only after customer orders to eliminate overproduction. Partner with women-led

cooperatives and global communities for body-positive designs that empower wares and makers alike.

With the rental market booming, as seen in Ishita Cabr's bi-rotation platform launched in 2019,

add a subscription twist. Listeners could rent heirloom quality pieces,

extending their life and building recurring revenue while cutting textile waste by up to 80%.

Second, create a less-second, create a lab-grown accessory brand, using bio-leather

drying from modern Meadows Zoa technology, which blends cultured collagen with plant fibers

for animal-free luxury, and Meadows Grow. As Asa Elva back and Lisa Nitormeyer do with natural

nuances circular bags, design customizable clutches and belts from upcycled prototypes.

Base it in a hub like Los Angeles, like Saloni Shrestha's AGA TI,

sourcing from ethical artisans for vegan, durable pieces that resale seamlessly,

tapping into the $30 million circle recycling tech trend for endless loops.

Third, pioneer upcycled activewear from local fibers,

echoing Rebecca Burgess's Fibershed, which reconnects farms to fashion.

Curate collections from regional wool and hemp,

hand-died naturally, for versatile afflager that women like Charlotte Sui Robinson

at Kalem Green vet, for impact. Sell fruit pop-ups in New York, like Swati Argate's Boonke,

with storytelling tags highlighting artisan women, fostering loyalty and aligning with 2026

predictions for quality over quantity from Project CC. Fourth, build a peer-to-peer vintage

remix service, inspired by Sophie Herson's Vestier Collective, the B-Corp certified resale giant.

Use AI scanning, like unspunned bespoke genes, to customize pre-loved designer finds into

sustainable staples. Focus on size-inclusive edits for women of color, channeling Dominique

Drakeford's Melanon AS mission, and partner with influencers for authentic UGC, reducing fast

fashion's landfill burden while generating commissions. Fifth, develop fungi-based footwear,

building on M.O.G.U's Mycelium Materials and Elitialize bourgeois bohem vegan shoes from Peru.

Craft biodegradable sneakers with natural dyes, offering repair kits for longevity,

like Eileen Fisher's Renew Program, which recycles tons of textiles. Market via women's networks,

raising charity, like Joe Touchin or Sharp's Scamp in Dude, which donated over 1.7 million pounds,

turning eco-innovation into social good. Ladies, these ideas aren't just businesses,

they're movements. Like Jen Decroene of Zizazi Vintage, partnering with Afghan cooperatives,

you can blend profitability with purpose, proving female ingenuity is reshaping fashion.

Start small, collaborate boldly, and watch your empire grow.

Thank you for tuning in listeners, subscribe now for more empowerment.

This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease.ai.

So each week on big technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech

and outsiders trying to influence it. Asking where this is all going, they come from places like

Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet,

your career choices, and meetings with your colleagues, and at dinner parties,

listen to big technology podcasts or ever you get your podcasts.