Sweater season has arrived for many of us, so let's revisit a favorite episode from last 2023!

Dani of Picnicwear [https://www.instagram.com/picnicwear/]joins Amanda to explain why (most) new sweaters are low quality, (near) future garbage (instead of future vintage).  It's a complicated tale of synthetic blends, increasing margin targets, and lower prices.  

 * We'll explain how the fast fashion industry has kept prices low and profits high by swapping out yarns, cutting out details, and making copies of copies, while walking through the design process of most big retailers/brands. 
 * We will unpack why it's really difficult to find sweaters made of natural fibers.
 * Amanda will explain how natural fibers aren't the "cure" for the impact of overconsumption.
 * We will give you advice about how to choose the right sweater (hint: read those content labels).
 * Dani will give you advice about how to care for your sweaters properly.

 
We were inspired by Amanda Mull's piece for The Atlantic, Your Sweaters Are Garbage. [https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/10/sweater-clothing-quality-natural-fibers-fast-fashion/675600/] Go read it!

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]

And preorder your copy of the MEGA-zine, The Clotheshorse Guide to Synthetic Fibers & Fabrics. [https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/product/clotheshorse-guide-to-synthetic-fibers-and-fabrics/]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy [http://www.slowfashion.academy/].


The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble [https://www.instagram.com/thepewterthimble/]). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at

REWIND: Why new sweaters are kinda garbage, with Dani of Picnicwear

This episode is part six in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism. In this episode, we'll unpack how social media has been harnessed as a tool to drive trends, spread misinformation, and create influence. Also, Corinna, Cat, Bonnie, Kevin, and Miriam share their own thoughts about brands, loyalty, and consumerism. In this episode: 

 * What is an algorithm anyway?
 * Why do Amanda and Dustin have very different social media feeds, despite sharing many common interests?
 * How does social media distort our perception of reality?
 * What do Cracker Barrel, the 2024 election, and Amber Heard have in common?
 * Some upcoming election shoutouts from Amanda

Additional reading:
Link between excessive social media use and psychiatric disorders [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10129173/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20social%20networks,attention%20to%20mental%20health%20care] (study)
"Cracker Barrel had good reasons to rebrand. But after its new logo misfired, here’s what’s next," [https://apnews.com/article/cracker-barrel-new-logo-why-ceo-stock-c64a8ae259cc1bcaa27aae89df56c961] Dee-Ann Durbin, AP.
"Cracker Barrel Is Making A Major Change & Customers Are NOT Happy: 'It's Giving Soulless'," [https://www.delish.com/food-news/a65266385/cracker-barrel-is-making-a-major-change-new-look/] Amanda Mactas, Delish.
Why fast food restaurants look the same [https://worldstar.com/videos/wshhfSu7O2Z4EA17of62/smart-guy-breaks-down-why-all-fast-food-buildings-look-the-same-says-its-about-wall-street-not-wokeness] (video)
"Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say," [https://gizmodo.com/cracker-barrel-outrage-was-almost-certainly-driven-by-bots-researchers-say-2000664221]AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.
"Amber Heard vs the Internet: An Organised Smear Campaign?," [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3VnNDMYzttcGgBNQB0BswtH/amber-heard-vs-the-internet-an-organised-smear-campaign] BBC.
"Hot Topic Is Still Hot," [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/06/style/hot-topic-stores.html#] Paula Mejia, The New York Times.

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patte

Episode 245: I'm With The Brand (bots in the algorithm), part six

This week, we are taking a break from the I'm With The Brand series to talk about mending! Jeanna and Mary are here to talk about their new book, Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It: Simple Hand-sewn Repairs to Help You Love Your Clothes For Longer [https://bookshop.org/p/books/stitch-it-don-t-ditch-it-simple-hand-sewn-repairs-to-help-you-love-your-clothes-for-longer-jeanna-wigger/d43a64d14dbc875c?ean=9781837833382&next=t]. 



In this episode, we will talk about the following:

 * How and why Jeanna and Mary ended up writing a book about mending together
 * Why it has become unusual to repair your clothing (and how we can change that)
 * Why we should make the time to mend our clothes (and p.s. It’s more than just the environmental impact of it all)
 * Why fast fashion clothes deserve repair, too
 * How to get started on your mending journey

Also in this episode: attendees from the Crafternoon in Philadelphia tell us what's keeping them optimistic right now.

Repair What You Wear [https://repairwhatyouwear.com/]
Sashiko Story [https://www.instagram.com/sashikostory/]

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy [http://www.slowfashion.academy/].


The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble [https://www.instagram.com/thepewterthimble/]). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.com [http://thepewterthimble.com/] 


Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Deni

Episode 244: Mending is a radical act, with Jeanna and Mary

This episode is part five in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism. In this episode, we will unpack how brands use customer information to create that emotional connection:

 * A nostalgic trip back to the 00s:  the rise and fall of Urban Outfitters’ “coolness", and what it revealed about aspirational vs. actual customers.
 * Why brands claim to be “obsessed with the customer,” yet often misunderstand who’s really shopping with them.
 * The shift from emotional branding to data-driven surveillance marketing and how companies now know us better than we know ourselves.
 * Very special guest Kim Christenson [https://www.whomp.world/] (aka Amanda's cohost of The Department)  joins us to explain how digital marketing, social media, and algorithms shape what we buy.
 * A deep dive into “surveillance pricing” and how brands adjust prices just for you (and no, that's not a good thing).

And so much more!!

Additional reading:

"Hotel booking sites show higher prices to travelers from Bay Area," [https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/hotel-booking-sites-overcharge-bay-area-travelers-20025145.php]Keith A. Spencer, SFGate.
FTC Surveillance Pricing Study Indicates Wide Range of Personal Data Used to Set Individualized Consumer Prices [https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-surveillance-pricing-study-indicates-wide-range-personal-data-used-set-individualized-consumer]
"On Orbitz, Mac Users Steered to Pricier Hotels," [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304458604577488822667325882]Dana Mattioli, Wall Street Journal.
"Businesses can use your online data to overcharge you. What can customers do?" [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/10/nx-s1-5494712/businesses-can-use-your-online-data-to-overcharge-you-what-can-customers-do] Adrian Ma, NPR.

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy [http://www.slowfashion.academy/].


The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage

Episode 243: I'm With The Brand (we, the customers), part five

This episode is part four in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism. In this episode, we will explore three more "emotional branding" trends of this century: convenience, nostalgia, and hope. This episode includes the following topics:

 * An explanation of trend forecasting and why most large brands are selling essentially the same stuff
 * WGSN and how "big trend forecasting" might be bad for fashion, workers, and customers
 * The Ouroboros of hustle culture and convenience marketing, along with all of the products and industries that have thrived in a time when people are working more than ever
 * Why we can't have something that is fast, cheap, and good
 * How and why nostalgia gets us to open our wallets
 * Why hope was a good marketing tool through the 2010s
 * Identifying the upcoming emotional branding trends.

Additional reading:
"The Future of Fashion Forecasting," [https://industry.notjustalabel.com/editorial/future-fashion-forecasting]Kate Hart, Not Just A Label.
"Uber fares are cheap, thanks to venture capital. But is that free riding ending?" [https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-uber-ipo-lyft-fare-increase-20190511-story.html#:~:text=Uber%20fares%20are%20cheap%2C%20thanks,Lyft%20to%20stop%20the%20bleeding.] Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times.
"Polly Pockets Are Making a Comeback and They Are Just as Good as You Remember," [https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/polly-pockets-are-making-a-comeback] Kate Reggev, Architectural Digest.
Future Consumer 2027: Emotions [https://mlp.wgsn.com/future-consumer-2027-emotions.html]

JOIN AMANDA FOR THE CLOTHESHORSE BIRTHDAY CRAFTERNOON ON SEPTEMBER 21 [https://thethirdplace.is/event/clotheshorse-bday-crafternoon]!!!

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy [http://www.slowfashion.academy/].


The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style —

Episode 242: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part four

This episode is part three in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism.
In this episode we will be unpacking and exploring various examples of "cause marketing:"

 * The flaws in the "buy one, give one" model,
 * How brands engineer fundraiser collections to be profitable,
 * The effectiveness of "round up" at checkout campaigns,
 * Why B Corp certification doesn't mean as much as it once did,
 * The real reason companies do fundraisers for charity and causes,
 * And we will do the math to get to what a 1% giveback really means.

Additional reading:
"Melania Trump says 'don't care' jacket was a message," [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45853364] BBC.
"T-shirt makers riff on Melania Trump’s jacket with their own message and donate proceeds to refugee services," [https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/22/us/i-do-care-shirt-reaction-melania-trump-jacket-trnd] Lindsay Ellefson, CNN.
"The Broken 'Buy-One, Give-On" Model: 3 ways to save TOMS Shoes," [https://www.fastcompany.com/1679628/the-broken-buy-one-give-one-model-three-ways-to-save-toms-shoes] Cheryl Davenport, Fast Company.
"The Impact of TOMS Shoes," [https://www.acrosstwoworlds.net/the-impact-of-TOMS-shoes-on-kids/?ref=coryames.com] Bruce Wydick.
"Shoeing the Children: The Impact of the TOMS Shoe Donation Program in Rural El Salvador." [https://academic.oup.com/wber/article-abstract/32/3/727/2669760?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false]
Dr. Bronner’s Statement on Dropping B Corp Certification [https://info.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/2025/02/dr-bronners-statement-on-dropping-b-corp-certification/]
"The B Corp Standard is at Risk," [https://fairworldproject.org/the-b-corp-standard-is-at-risk/] Fair World Project.
"Nespresso: Known for Human Rights Violations, Now B Corp Certified," [https://fairworldproject.org/b-corp-nespresso-human-rights/] Fair World Project.
"How Nespresso's coffee revolution got ground down," [https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jul/14/nespresso-coffee-capsule-pods-branding-clooney-nestle-recycling-environment] Ed Cumming, The Guardian.
Rio Tinto Corporate Rap Sheet [https://www.corp-research.org/rio-tinto]

JOIN AMANDA FOR THE CLOTHESHORSE BIRTHDAY CRAFTERNOON ON SEPTEMBER 21 [https://thethirdplace.is/event/clotheshorse-bday-crafternoon]!!!

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerg

Episode 241: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part three

This episode is part two in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism.
In this episode:

 * We are going to hopefully answer the question “why might someone get so caught up in a brand that they start fighting with strangers about it on social media?”
 * Amanda explains where "off price" stores like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack really get their inventory
 * We examine why it's more important than ever to support small businesses (and how we can do that)
 * We will explore the background and influence of Marc Gobés 2000s book Emotional Branding, [https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/emotional-branding-the-new-paradigm-for-connecting-brands-to-people_sergio-zyman_marc-gobxe9/278640/item/2581369/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_shopping_zombies_hvbl_22798464369&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=764383471566&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=22798464369&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45iXix2ZdNiRkbNFdzRmyuYSp&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkILEBhDeARIsAL--pjz_5keK6nGdYb7q1RRkPshEkmqyrSKlosYx-ABxlQyS538mkNiIYkwaAg-KEALw_wcB#idiq=2581369&edition=2478197] considered “the bible” of contemporary marketing and branding
 * Why is Lululemon kind of like a cult?
 * We will walk through the “10 commandments of emotional branding” and examples of how they have been applied
 * We will realize that Supreme isn't as cool as it seems
 * We explore why people join brand fan groups on Facebook
 * How Nooworks made a major fan out of Amanda after seeing how the brand handled a crisis
 * Amanda explains why taste is a classist construct

And so much more!

Additional reading:
"Getting Emotional With Marc Gobé, [https://www.design-emotion.com/en/interviews/interview_marc_gobe.html?AdminoSessieId=14bb9002ab47a7957d07cb1dff18be34]" Design Emotion.
"Why Do People Join Cults? Linguist and 'Cultish' Author Amanda Montell on the 'Invisible Power of Language,'" [https://parade.com/1222232/dillondodson/amanda-montell-cultish-the-language-of-fanaticism-interview/#:~:text=I%20want%20to%20implicate%20us,and%20see%20themselves%20in%20it] Dillon Dodson, Parade.
Cultish by Amanda Montell
"The Cult-Like Following Of Lululemon Is Stronger Than Ever — Despite Controversies," [https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/10/210728/lululemon-culture-cult-like-seawheeze-2018#:~:text=But%20long%20before%20Potdevin%20made,emblematic%20of%20the%20Lululemon%20ethoshttps://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/10/210728/lululemon-culture-cult-like-seawheeze-2018#:~:text=But%20long%20before%20Potdevin%20made,emblematic%20of%20the%20Lululemon%20ethos]Cory Stieg, Refinery29.
Business Insider piece about working for Lululemon [https://www.businessinsider.com/lululemon-retail-employees-describe-toxic-culture-2021-3]

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Episode 240: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part two

This episode is part one in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism.

In this episode:

 * We’re going to break down what brand and branding mean, using fizzy water and boxed macaroni and cheese as examples
 * We will walk through the history of “brands” and “branding” leading up to this century, where it evolves from a little brand on a jug to full-on marketing teams and brand theory
 * Why it's so wild that food brands got obsessed with masked taste tests in the 70s and 80s
 * How Amanda teaches brand and branding to her small business clients and students (and why that matters for them)
 * And Amanda will shares some brands that aren’t really who you think they are any more (or maybe never were)



Additional reading:

"Meet the Man Who Made a Fortune Bringing Brands Back to Life, [https://www.wsj.com/style/authentic-brands-group-jamie-salter-c75d07e1?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAh8-gk-B6g4t2Q-RX6BPlIa2pDO3Hpx6aPXAs_zrkKejdeE-Dkvc1eenK9f9Kg%3D&gaa_ts=687441ab&gaa_sig=GONJDcW6AapH9DKhU2dHj3_hbh8vK2ui14xN83BrHTG-XHV5YLL6B-q_3-5F81WD7CsRmgMN-leIBRhjznB0ag%3D%3D]" Suzanne Kapner, The Wall Street Journal.
Authentic Brands Group brand portfolio [https://corporate.authentic.com/brand-portfolio]
Levi Strauss & Co. Enters into Definitive Agreement to Sell Dockers to Authentic Brands Group [https://investors.levistrauss.com/news/financial-news/news-details/2025/Levi-Strauss--Co--Enters-into-Definitive-Agreement-to-Sell-Dockers-to-Authentic-Brands-Group/default.aspx]
"JCPenney Joins SPARC to Form Catalyst Brands," [https://wwd.com/business-news/retail/jcpenney-integrates-into-sparc-to-form-catalyst-brands-123679] David Moin, WWD.
Catalyst Brands [https://www.catalystbrands.com/]
"Shein signs deal with Forever 21 owner as fast-fashion majors look to boost reach," [https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/shein-inks-deal-with-forever-21-owner-fast-fashion-majors-look-boost-reach-2023-08-24/] Arriana McLymore, Reuters.

Learn more about the San Pedro Apparel Mart in episode 231 of Clotheshorse! [https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/shein-inks-deal-with-forever-21-owner-fast-fashion-majors-look-boost-reach-2023-08-24/]

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original desi

Episode 239: I'm With The Brand (unpacking how brands influence our brains), part one

In honor of five years of Clotheshorse, Amanda brings back the very first episode of the show (mandatory listening for any one interested in slow fashion), "Romper Drama and Useless Safety Pins, or It's a Cents Game."

Before jumping into that episode, Amanda talks about what has changed over the last five years.  She explains why and how Clotheshorse has given her hope and joy in dark times.  And she also gives a little minisode on tariffs (and why they won't "fix" fast fashion).

If you've loved listening to Clotheshorse, give the podcast the ultimate gift by leaving a rating and a review on your favorite streaming platform! And recommend it to a friend.  Maybe share a post on social media!

ALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!

10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/clotheshorse-podcast-w-amanda-lee-here-after-tickets/13805024?pl=crocodile]
10/26  Portland, OR @ Holocene [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/90107639/the-clotheshorse-podcast-21-portland-holocene]


Get your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/

If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.world

Did you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorse [https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse]

Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:

Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy [http://www.slowfashion.academy/].


The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble [https://www.instagram.com/thepewterthimble/]). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.com [http://thepewterthimble.com/]


St. Evens is an NYC-based vintage shop that is dedicated to bringing you those special pieces you’ll reach for again and again. More than just a store, St. Evens is dedicated to sharing the stories and history behind the garments. 10% of all sales are donated to a different charitable organization each month.  New vintage is released every Thursday at wearStEvens.com, [https://wearstevens.com/] with previews of new pieces and more brought to you on Instagram at @wear_st.evens. [https://www.instagram.com/wear_st.evens/]


Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories

Episode 238: Five Years of Clotheshorse

Would you be surprised to hear that your favorite shoe brand is neither family-owned nor as punk as it portrays itself to be?
Did you know that wealth inequality and shoes are directly connected? 

Could your latest shoe purchase be subsidizing lobbying efforts to fight a rise in the minimum wage or reduce taxes for the wealthiest people?

Amanda is joined by Ariel, the founder of Cobbled Goods [https://cobbledgoods.com/] to talk about how shoes, wealth inequality, and politics are entangled.  He will introduce us to his Billionaire Boycott List. [https://cobbledgoods.com/billionaire-boycott-list-for-footwear/]  In this episode, we will also cover the following topics:

 * The environmental and ethical impacts of shoe production
 * Common greenwashing tropes used by the shoe industry
 * Who really owns a lot of the shoe companies that we might think of "heritage" brands or "countercultural"
 * How you can make better decisions when shopping for a new pair of shoes
 * And how where, when, and how often you shop are political decisions!

And guess what? Ariel has a reading list for you:

Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s Crises [https://32aad473.streaklinks.com/CbUlamulpXPXLF0sQwAE8DEi/https%3A%2F%2Fmarjoriekelly.org%2Fwealthsupremacy%2F]

One of my favourite books, written by Marjorie Kelly. She really has her finger on the heart of the issue. I’d recommend listeners start by checking out her podcast interviews. I also have to add my first encounter with her work, which rocked my world — The Architecture of Enterprise: Redesigning Ownership for a Great Transition [https://32aad473.streaklinks.com/CbUlaHjg4AShIvuNhAhL8E9p/https%3A%2F%2Fgreattransition.org%2Farchives%2Fperspectives%2FPerspective_Architecture_of_Enterprise.pdf].



Foot Work: What Your Shoes Tell You About Globalisation [https://32aad473.streaklinks.com/CbUlaHTaWmPA0V4BFAQm841r/https%3A%2F%2Ftansyhoskins.org%2Fbooks%2F%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DFOOT%2520WORK%2520%252D%2520WHAT%2520YOUR%2520SHOES%2520TELL%2520YOU%2520ABOUT%2520GLOBALISATION]

An incredible first-person look into shoe production around the world. Tansy Hoskins also has a great newsletter [https://32aad473.streaklinks.com/CbUlaHTFxc6nenYreQIdiMCM/https%3A%2F%2Ftansyhoskins.org%2Fsubscribe%2F].



Imagining a Decentralised Footwear Industry at the Global Fashioning Assembly [https://32aad473.streaklinks.com/CbUlaHXwsFoFDAdnYwN06RfO/https%3A%2F%2Fglobalfashioningassembly.com%2F2024%2F10%2F04%2Fcobbled-goods-imagining-a-decentralised-footwear-industry-gfa24%2F]

I didn’t mention this but I hosted a speculative fiction workshop last fall with Tansy and few other footwear founders where everyone shared their ideas on what the industry would look like in a world with big businesses. It ties in nicely with our conversation and the boycott list.



Dispatches: The truth about Nike and Adidas [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-truth-about-nike-and-adidas-dispatches]

The Channel 4 investigation into recycled ocean plastic. I actually confused Nike and Adidas on the episode. Both brands are covered but the ocean plastic bit was about Adidas. The original broadcast is not available on demand: But there is an article with part of the video here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10821693/Channel-4s-Dispatches-reveals-greenwashing-trainer-brands.html 



License to Gree [https://32aad473.streaklinks.com/CbUlaHPSEhD-4RLi7Qi7aDeQ/https%3A%2F%2Fchangingmarkets.org%2Freport%2Ftake-back-trickery-an-investigation-into-clothing-take-back-schemes%2F]

Episode 237: Billionaire Boycott List, with Ariel of Cobbled Goods

Host Amanda (with the help of her friends) decodes and demystifies the fashion
and retail industries, and takes on topics like consumerism, workers rights,
personal style, and why fashion is a case study in capitalism gone awry. Your
money is as powerful as your vote! "If you wear clothes, you need to listen to
Clotheshorse." --Elise "If you are human and live in the world, you need to
listen to Clotheshorse." --Individually Wrapped

amanda mccarty

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