Ep 1: Light and Lace with Sara Robertson

Mili Tharakan believes the fabric of our lives is quite literal. In her No Ordinary Cloth: Intersection of textiles, emerging technology, craft and sustainability podcast, she explores the profound, often invisible role textiles play, arguing they are our most intimate and pervasive technology. With over two decades as a smart textiles designer and researcher, Mili guides conversations that feel like pulling a thread and watching an entire world unravel. You’ll hear from material scientists engineering fabrics from unexpected sources, artists weaving cultural narratives into their looms, and bio-chemists reimagining sustainability at a molecular level. This isn't just about fashion trends; it's about the frontier where ancient craft meets cutting-edge innovation. Each episode delves into the stories of makers and thinkers who are fundamentally redefining what cloth can be and do-from responsive textiles that interact with their environment to new paradigms for circularity and ethical production. The dialogue sits at a rich crossroads, equally appealing to the hands of a hobbyist weaver, the mind of a tech enthusiast, and the conscience of an eco-conscious citizen. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded exploration of the material that dresses us, shelters us, and increasingly, connects us to a more thoughtful future.