42. Alex Crane: Stylish and Sustainable Clothing

A well-cut linen shirt, an organic cotton chore coat, or an extra soft merino wool sweater and cap are perfect to wear on any Dogwatch, which makes it even more of a special opportunity that we are joined today by Alex Crane. Alex is the founder and designer of his own clothing brand, Alex Crane, that provides garments intended to help you feel breezy and look sharp at the same time. What’s more, Alex has committed to making his clothing from 100% natural materials, and by 2025 he plans to have them fully biodegradable as well. Alex sent me several items so that I could experience his work in-person, and I can say that the materials, design, and cuts of his clothing are something that anyone who loves to go from the indoors to the outdoors should consider experiencing. When he told me that their linen is grown on the coast in Normandy, France, and the fibers spent their young life looking over the English Channel, I was intrigued. Now feeling the substantial and soft fabric in my hand, the value of this super-fabric is clear–it is an incredibly low-impact fiber environmentally, only requires water and sun to grow, is antimicrobial, and is 3x as strong as cotton.In our conversation, Alex describes how he came to design clothes and the development of his brand, the features that typify Alex Crane clothing, as well as specific aspects of the materials he uses, details of design, and the fit of the offerings. This is not just a talk on clothes, though. Alex provides perspectives on books he has read, water, the roles and responsibilities of clothiers and consumers, and fittingly, even helps us think about the evolution of beauty.So sit back and join us as we think about all the joy and comfort that can come from natural things.