Empowering Artisan Communities Through Fair Fashion: Katie Schmidt of Passion Lilie

Empowering Artisan Communities Through Fair Fashion: Katie Schmidt of Passion Lilie

Author: Sustainable Jungle June 24, 2025 Duration: 35:42
In this episode, we’re joined by Katie Schmidt, founder of Passion Lilie—a New Orleans-based fashion brand that blends timeless design with deep fair trade values. Katie and her team work hand-in-hand with artisan partners in India, helping preserve traditional techniques and uplift local communities through meaningful employment and long-term collaboration. Passion Lilie is also one of our Top Rated brands, recognized for their ethical sourcing, customer-loved products, and sustainability commitments. In this conversation, Katie shares how she built a business that prioritizes people, purpose, and craftsmanship. You’ll hear about: Katie’s personal journey and founding story How Passion Lilie supports and uplifts artisan communities in India Why slow fashion and timeless style are core to the brand’s mission Highlights from our brand rating and what makes Passion Lilie a Top Rated brand Reflections on ethical fashion and industry change Important Links 👇 Shop Passion Lilie: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/passion-lilie-brand-rating-review/ 🔍 See the brand rating: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-ratings/passion-lilie/ 🌱 Register your interest to become a member: https://forms.gle/cJEE2Q1vAxW6yYpdA 💌 Sign up to our newsletter: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/newsletter/ 📝 Show notes: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/podcast/episode-77/ 💚 Find other rated brands: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-directory/  How to Support the Podcast Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please: Follow or subscribe wherever you listen Leave us a review on your favorite platform Share it with someone who cares about conscious consumption Your support helps us keep the conversations going 💚

Tune into The Sustainable Jungle Podcast for conversations that cut through the noise around sustainability. Host Joy McConnochie sits down with founders and leaders from a fascinating array of consumer brands, the ones quietly and not-so-quietly reshaping their industries from the ground up. This isn't about doom and gloom; it's a deep, practical look at the solutions being built right now. Each episode explores the intersection of thoughtful business, scientific innovation, and cultural change, revealing how commerce can be a genuine force for good. You'll hear the real stories behind the products and companies aiming to do better, focusing on tangible ideas and actionable paths forward. The discussions naturally span topics from ethical supply chains and material science to the entrepreneurial spirit driving this shift, all grounded in a genuine mission. For anyone curious about the people building a more responsible future, this podcast offers an essential and hopeful perspective. Sustainable Jungle brings these voices together, creating a space where complex challenges are met with compelling, human-centered dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Sustainable Jungle Podcast
Podcast Episodes
70 · KATE FLYNN · MAKING PLASTIC-FREE, HEALTHY FOOD MORE ACCESSIBLE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:58
Kate Flynn is an entrepreneur passionate about creating a more sustainable future. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell, a Certified Women-Owned, B-Corp based in Santa Barbara, CA with a mission to eliminate sing…
69 · DAPHNA NISSENBAUM · PIONEERING COMPOSTABLE FLEXIBLE PACKAGING [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:35
Daphna is the co-founder and CEO of TIPA, a global compostable packaging company providing innovative solutions for the fashion and food industries. Daphna established TIPA in 2010 and was ahead of the curve when she rec…
68 · CARL GISH · TECH DRIVEN, CARBON NEGATIVE HOUSING [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:22
Before co-founding Aro Homes, Carl Gish was a "product and brand executive with a track record of driving growth, creating shareholder value and building successful teams and brands from Unilever, Amazon, Dyson, eBay and…
67 · JENNY HU · FEMALE FOUNDED TECH FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
Jenny Hu is the CPO and co-founder of SHADE by SHADY.CLUB, an online tool for finding sustainable fashion. With a background in building technology with an emphasis on human experiences and behavior, Jenny has spent the…
66 · STEPHANIE DEVINE · BOTANIC CIRCULARITY & THE VERY GOOD BRA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:39
Stephanie Devine is the CEO and founder of The Very Good Bra, the world-first, zero-waste lingerie line that is so pure it can be buried in the garden and or home composted at the end of its life. Stephanie is a serial e…
65 · ERIN MEEZAN · LEADING BEYOND MISSION ZERO @ INTERFACE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:30
Erin Meezan is the VP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Interface Inc, a publicly listed company in the USA that manufactures carpet tiles and has earned a reputation as a leader in sustainability. Erin led the company…
64 · SAMUEL LEROUX · CHANGING TIME(S) @SOLIOS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:29
Sam Le Roux is the Canadian co-founder of SOLIOS Watches. “SOLIOS Watches is a Canadian company based in Montreal. [Their] main purpose is to disrupt the Watch and Fashion industry by offering high quality, elegant and e…