Stitching the Future of Sustainability with Sew Valley

In this energetic episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup sits down with Shailah Maynard, co-founder and CEO of Sew Valley, alongside Madeleine “Maddie” Tepe Misleh and Aubrey Krekeler, co-directors of operations. Together, these three women are reshaping what apparel manufacturing can look like, based in Cincinnati.From providing living-wage jobs in a historically exploitative industry to innovating zero-waste solutions and creating custom stage jackets for the Cincinnati Pops, Sew Valley proves that clothing can be designed, produced, and celebrated in ways that honor both people and planet.Listen to hear more about:Why Sew Valley launched as a nonprofit and how it sustains its mission in a tough industry.The power of collaboration and co-leadership in running a small but mighty team.Tackling sustainability challenges with creative solutions, from fabric scrap recycling to thoughtful design practices.How Sew Valley supports students, entrepreneurs, and brands through education, incubation, and cut-and-sew services.What it takes to rebuild an industry that barely exists in the U.S.—and why they’re ringing a thrift-store bell to celebrate wins along the way.Explore Sew Valley’s workshops, services, and mission at sewvalley.org or follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @sewvalley.Since the podcast: Sew Valley’s craftsmanship reached an international stage at New York Fashion Week in September. Partnering with designer Gabe Gordon and his team, Sew Valley transformed recycled gray T-shirts into a striking dress that appeared in Gordon’s Autoerotic collection, garnering praise from Vogue and spotlighting Cincinnati’s role in pushing sustainable fashion forward.At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in the power of social entrepreneurs like Sew Valley to drive equity and impact in our neighborhoods. Learn how Flywheel supports founders, invests in big ideas, and helps social enterprises thrive: flywheelcincinnati.org