What if waste wasn't waste?
In this episode of On The Fly!, Sherwood MacVeigh, Vice President of Marketing at Ohio Valley Goodwill, takes us inside CIRCLE, a collaboration bringing together Goodwill, UC DAAP, Standard Textile, Sew Valley and Flywheel to rethink what happens to textiles after they're no longer wanted.
What started with a big idea and a bale of clothing has grown into a broader exploration of circular fashion, sustainable design, manufacturing, workforce development and social enterprise.
Sherwood talks about why she didn't want to simply do another fashion show, and how a group of partners began asking a bigger question: how can we use creativity, education and collaboration to actually solve the problems created by textile waste?
• The surprising scale of textile waste
• Why designers can help solve sustainability problems, not just create products
• Turning reclaimed materials into new designs and scalable products
• The CIRCLE initiative and its growing network of partners
• Circular fashion and the future of textile recycling
• The connection between environmental sustainability and workforce development
• How Goodwill has evolved for more than a century by listening to community needs
• Why sustainable communities aren't just about sustainable materials, but about building people and opportunity
Sherwood's philosophy is simple: think big, start small, bring the right people together, and keep moving.
Connect with Ohio Valley Goodwill: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/
Learn more about CIRCLE: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/humanity-in-fashion/
At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved.
On The Fly! explores the people, ideas and organizations working to create positive social impact through entrepreneurship, innovation and community.
On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
