Jeansland Podcast
Jeansland Podcast
Podcast Description
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.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as the global cotton industry, sustainability, retail dynamics, and craftsmanship within denim, featuring episodes that include discussions on the lives of cotton farmers, insights from clothing designers, and the role of denim in fashion sustainability.
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/
What does the future of denim look like through the eyes of someone who spent a lifetime helping shape it?
In this revisited episode, Andrew sits down with Adriano Goldschmied, the legendary designer, entrepreneur and innovator known throughout the industry as the “Godfather of Denim.”
Their discussion moves quickly from the state of the denim business to a much bigger question: where does it go next? Adriano talks candidly about too many mills chasing too little demand, relentless pressure on prices, changing consumers, and why the industry may need to stop thinking about constant growth and start thinking about simply doing things better.
Then they start imagining. Luxury denim made from silk and merino wool. Cotton created through biotechnology. Indigo derived from sugar cane. Digitally printed denim that could dramatically reduce water, inventory and waste. And a future where denim becomes less of a product category and more fully integrated into fashion.
Following Adriano’s passing in April 2026, we wanted to revisit this episode and the ideas, curiosity and unmistakable passion for denim he shared with Andrew.
Because even after a lifetime in the industry, Adriano wasn’t particularly interested in looking backward.
He was still imagining what denim could become.
Originally released as Episode 12 on March 12, 2025.
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