Jeansland Podcast
This is why I do this. Jeansland is a podcast about the ecosystem in which jeans live. There are an estimated 26 million cotton farmers around the world, and about 25% of their production goes into jeans, which could mean 6.2 million farmers depend on denim. I read estimates that at least 1 million people work in retail selling jeans, and another 1.5 to 2 million sew them. And then there are all the label producers, pattern makers, laundries, chemical companies, machinery producers, and those that work in denim mills. I mean, the jeans industry, which is bigger than the global movie and music business combined, employs a lot of human beings. And many of them, like me, love jeans. The French philosopher and existentialist Simone de Beauvoir, when visiting New York, said, "Everyone in the New York subway is a novel." I never met her, but I guess she made the observation because of the incredible diversity of people who ride the subway system. I'm convinced the people in our jeans industry are like those in the subway. They are unique, with rich and complex stories to tell, and I want to hear them. And deep inside me, I think you might feel the same way.
https://jeansland.co/
Jeansland Podcast
Ep 48: Rethinking Growth in Fashion with Shamin Vogel
This week, Andrew sits down with Shamin Vogel, editorial director and co-publisher of of WeAr Media Group—the people behind WeAr Global Magazine, one of the most widely read fashion trade publications in the world, and WeAr Denim, the biannual deep dive for the denim supply chain, backed by a monthly newsletter that actually gets read—to talk about where fashion really is right now, and why so much of it feels off.
They dig into the tension between growth and meaning, why sustainability still has no shared definition, and how fashion lost its ability to lead culture instead of chase it. Shamin brings a rare, long-term perspective shaped by decades of industry observation, global publishing, and a deep belief that fashion is a lifestyle business first, not a financial spreadsheet.
The conversation moves easily from denim and luxury to retail, media trust, trade shows, and the uncomfortable truth about why doing nothing feels safer than taking risks. It’s not a hype-driven episode. It’s a clear-eyed one about perception, responsibility, and what actually lasts.
If you care about fashion beyond trends, and want to understand the forces shaping what survives next, this one’s worth your time.
Thank you to our sponsor Inside Denim.
Shamin Vogel
Editorial Director & Co-Publisher, WeAr Media Group & WeAr Denim
WeAr Media Group, WeAr Book Store, WeAr LinkedIn, Instagram
WeAr Denim Newsletter
Shamin's Personal Linked-In