Interview: Sewing Factory Owner & Pattern Maker Kathleen Fasanella Part 2 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Kathleen discusses how leather can be sustainable and her approach to sourcing animal hides.

Key Insights

• ❓ Kathleen believes that leather can be sustainable if the animals are not killed specifically for their hides.
• 😋 She avoids using fur hides and focuses on using hides from food animals.
• 👨‍🔬 Kathleen emphasizes the importance of research and sourcing when it comes to ethical leather production.
• 🏙️ She shares her personal experience of choosing to move to Albuquerque to escape a dangerous situation, highlighting the city's support for refugees.
• 🏕️ Kathleen explains her manufacturing boot camp program, which aims to provide learning opportunities and a positive production experience for participants.
• 💦 She mentions the need for designers to understand the role of math and project management in their work.
• ☄️ Kathleen discusses the challenges and accountability that come with being a designer, as well as the difference between artistic and technical roles in the fashion industry.
• 😃 She shares her biggest mistake in the industry, which was buying faulty CAD software.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Can leather be sustainable?

Yes, leather can be sustainable if the animals are not killed specifically for their hides. Kathleen only uses hides from animals that were killed for other purposes, such as food.

Q: How does Kathleen determine if the animal was killed for its hide?

Kathleen avoids buying fur hides, and she researches the sources of the hides she uses. She mentioned that some hides, like astrian and fetal lamb, are obvious indicators that the animal was killed specifically for its hide.

Q: Is it okay to work with hides from animals like cows and pigs?

According to Kathleen, animals like cows and pigs are food animals, and using their hides does not contribute to the killing of animals solely for their hides. She emphasizes that she wouldn't use hides from animals that were killed specifically for their hides.

Q: How does Kathleen ensure that the hides she uses are ethical?

Kathleen mentions that she doesn't expect the tanners to disclose if an animal was killed specifically for its hide. However, she believes that animals like cows and pigs are primarily killed for food, and using their hides prevents the hides from going to waste.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kathleen explains that she only uses animal hides if the animal was not killed specifically for its hide.

• She discusses the concept of sustainability when it comes to leather and mentions using hides from animals like cows, pigs, elk, and deer.

• Kathleen also talks about the ethical implications of using certain hides, such as astrian and fetal lamb.