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. 40: The Fight Worth Fighting—with James McKinnon
James McKinnon runs a 72-year-old family textile business in South Carolina. He's third generation. He sits on the Cotton Board, advises the USDA on cotton standards, and he'll tell you straight up that U.S. textiles are fighting some incredibly strong headwinds.
But he also thinks it's a fight worth fighting.
In this conversation, Andrew and James dig into what it takes to keep American textile manufacturing alive. They talk about supply chain innovation, why sitting on your hands expecting last year's playbook to work won't cut it, and the story of making a yarn-dyed flannel shirt entirely in the U.S. with American Giant. Most people said it was impossible. Turns out, it just took the sheer force of will to do it.
They also get into sustainability, the role of U.S. cotton in a global market, certifications that actually matter versus ones that feel like rubber stamps, and why the next generation should still consider textiles as a career. James doesn't sugarcoat the challenges, but he's clear about the rewards. The people you meet, the places you go, the connections that come with this industry don't show up on a balance sheet, but they matter.
There's also straight talk about Xinjiang cotton, the disconnect between a booming stock market and a tough sourcing climate, and how AI might actually help the old school guys rather than replace them.
This is worth a listen because it's the kind of conversation that reminds you why this work still matters.
James McKinnon
CEO, Cotswold Industries
Cotswold Industries, LinkedIn
For more stories that shape the future of denim, head to jeansland.co.