Slow Fashion: Doug Lynch of Filium Corp On Why They Are Embracing Slow Fashion and Renewable Consumption

An Interview With Dina Aletras

Fun: You must find humor and joy along the way, even when it’s difficult. Never lose sight of the fact that we’re all people, and every now and then, you need to lighten the mood and have fun.

As ‘slow fashion’ grows in popularity, more fashion companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Renewable consumption has been gaining popularity for a while, as people recognize its importance, and many fashion companies want to be a part of this change. In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders in the fashion industry to discuss why they are embracing slow fashion and renewable consumption. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Doug Lynch.

With over 15 years of experience in the sports and material science industries, Doug Lynch is a passionate and dedicated entrepreneur who strives to create positive social and environmental impact through innovation and collaboration. As the President and Board Member of Filium Corp., Doug leads a team of talented scientists engineers, marketing, and sales professionals who work with Filium’s clients and partners in the textile space to create high performance, breathable, sustainable clothing using its proprietary, patent-pending technology — Filium®.

Thank you for joining us! To start, can you share a bit about your early background and how it influenced your journey into slow fashion?

I am an 11-year ex-professional athlete. After retiring, I began researching and educating myself about the food industry, becoming more diligent with my diet and cleansing my body of toxins from food. This led me down the path of fasting and experimenting with different eating styles (plant-based, paleo, etc.). I ultimately settled on a pescatarian lifestyle, which I have maintained for 8 years. During this period of research, I became increasingly aware of the overlap between the effects of the meat industry on our planet and the dangers of microplastics, pollution, and textiles. While living in Portland, OR, I was fortunate to meet many people who worked at Nike, which coincided with my learning more about the textile industry and its adverse effects on the environment. This marked the beginning of my journey into slow fashion.

What inspired you to pursue a career in slow fashion, and can you share the story behind your decision?

I have always been a passionate participant and advocate for the outdoors. Growing up in Vancouver, BC, I spent every summer in the forest, by the ocean, hiking, camping, and enjoying nature. My parents instilled in me the importance of recycling and doing my part for the environment, something I took great pride in. As I learned more about the dangers posed by the apparel industry — particularly synthetic apparel made from oil and fossil fuels, along with the micro-shedding and microfibers that harm the Earth — I became increasingly passionate about wanting to make a difference in this field.

Who is your fashion hero or heroine, and why do they inspire you?

I am not the most fashionable person, and some of my friends might say I have a fairly boring style. I guess the best way to answer this is that I look up to brands and designers who understand that change is a constant in the apparel industry (and in every walk of life) and who are committed to being pioneers, steering us toward a more sustainable future. Iconic apparel legends like Ralph Lauren (Polo) and Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia) come to mind. However, with all the research and information now so readily available, the next generation is asking important questions about the health and well-being of the planet and its people, which is having a profound impact on the industry and where it needs to head to gain their trust. I guess those young people are who inspire me now.

What’s the most intriguing or memorable experience you’ve had since starting your career in slow fashion?

For me, it’s all about the people. In my short 7 years in this industry, I’ve met such amazing individuals and have had the pleasure of working with my partner, Raj Shah, Founder and CEO of Filium, and advisors like Larry Miller, Chairman of the Jordan Brand. When I started on this journey, I learned so much and was shocked by the big picture of the environmental damage caused by the textile industry. I discovered that 75 million U.S. citizens suffer from skin irritations due to synthetic materials. The skin is the largest organ in our body, and the studies now documenting how many microfibers are released into our bodies, through our skin and the environment, are staggering. Since we launched Filium technology with our in-house brands, people have had such positive experiences wearing our products. They are providing enormous relief, allowing people to wear, for the first time, natural materials that are Filium® activated for any type of performance or activity. These positive comments have inspired us to bring our solution to a market that is seeking safe and sustainable apparel.

Certainly, there have been challenges on this journey — e.g., the pandemic, supply chain issues, and related disruptions; however, everyone on our team is so committed to our mission of being at the forefront of making this planet and its people healthier by bringing more natural textiles back into a highly synthetic apparel world. That passion has never wavered. My most memorable experience has been working with our team every day and learning how to be successful as a group.

As a successful leader in the industry, which three character traits have been key to your success? Can you provide a story or example for each?

There are many character traits that contribute to being an effective and successful entrepreneur, but here are three that immediately come to mind:

1. Grit/Determination — There are daily obstacles and roadblocks, and you must constantly re-evaluate, power through, not lose hope or passion, and view challenges as opportunities. This is hard to do when you wake up some mornings. It really helps to have a strong support system that can help you through the tough days. My first apparel company, Zenkai Sports, launched 6 months before the pandemic, and there were dark days when I thought I had lost all our investors’ money and questioned if everything was worth it. I’m happy to report that Zenkai came out of the pandemic better, stronger, and more confident that we could be successful in the long run.
2. Honesty — You are going to make mistakes, upset people, and make wrong decisions. If you are upfront and honest with investors, colleagues, partners, vendors, clients, etc., people can forgive you, and there’s a chance to move on and potentially win them back! In the early days, we ran into a quality control issue with a small batch of our products. We took responsibility, listened to the customers, learned what went wrong, and some of these customers have become repeat buyers and loyal to our brand.
3. Passion — If you are not passionate about what you are building, it won’t be successful. That goes without saying. But, perhaps more importantly, you have to believe in the people you surround yourself with and live, eat, and breathe your values. This is only possible if you truly love what you do and everyone around you. After the world shut down during the pandemic and we thought our business was going to fail, we only lost one member of our core team. Everyone else stayed because our shared collective passion was too intense to let the pandemic beat us! I’m a firm believer in what our CEO Raj often says: when you match passion with purpose, it becomes so much more meaningful. Every day, our team at Filium® is excited to wake up and get to work solving a problem that affects not only our health but also brings positive change to the planet.

How does your company embody and implement the principles of slow fashion, and what motivated you to adopt this approach?

Our Filium® Technology was developed specifically for natural textiles. While recent testing has shown that we can activate almost any material with Filium, including synthetics, our core competency remains with natural materials like cotton, wool, modal, linen, and silk. We are proving that natural materials activated with Filium last longer, improve durability, require less washing, and are biodegradable when discarded. This helps eliminate waste in landfills, lowers carbon emissions by reducing the need for frequent laundering and drying, and conserves freshwater resources. Additionally, by reducing the release of microfibers from toxic synthetic apparel, we are addressing the alarming rate at which these harmful particles are being absorbed into our bodies.

What measures does your company take to ensure the sustainability and ethical integrity of your supply chain and production processes?

We work exclusively with Tier 1 supply chain operators that are Bluesign®, Oeko-Tex Standard, and ZDHC MRSL 3.1 compliant. These partners share our commitment to continuous improvement and never resting on past achievements. We conduct factory audits of all new partners to ensure they maintain the highest standards in their respective countries.

Can you tell us about the materials you use in your products and how you ensure they are sourced sustainably?

Since Filium is a material science company, we work with a wide range of materials. Our concept brands — Ably Apparel, Zenkai Sports, and ParX Golf — primarily use cotton, modal, and linen. With my partner’s 50 years of experience in the textile industry, we have built incredible relationships worldwide. We only collaborate with mills, plants, and producers that hold the highest levels of certifications to ensure sustainable sourcing.

Could you share some examples of how your company’s practices have benefited local communities or the environment?

Our main factory in India uses a combination of wind and solar power, and we have produced more energy than we needed, giving back the excess to the power grid. Our factory also supports the HER project, contributing to employee health and wellness, and we have donated funds to build classrooms at government primary schools for underprivileged children. Filium Corp. collaborates with Eco Athletes and 1% for the Planet, and we are in discussions with multiple local governments and municipalities to educate politicians on the dangers of microplastics and the significant impact the textile industry has on global warming and the environment.

What initiatives are you undertaking to educate consumers about the significance of slow fashion and sustainable consumption?

As a relatively new player in the industry, Filium Corp. is making significant strides across multiple sectors. We’ve partnered with an amazing PR agency to help educate the industry about our Filium® technology. We are actively participating in conferences and events, such as the recent Bloomberg Green Festival and the New York Microplastics Summit, to listen, learn, and explore how our technology can contribute to the fight against climate change. We are proud to announce that we have been invited to present at future conferences to raise awareness and bring our solution to partners seeking to drive meaningful change. Additionally, we launched our first internship program with the University of Oregon, where six students provided fresh perspectives on their concerns about microfibers and toxic synthetic apparel, helping us develop a roadmap to raise awareness at other universities.

What are three essential things everyone should understand about slow fashion?

1. How long it takes to create fabric and then dye, cut and sew and how many people are involved in the t-shirt you are currently wearing! Be appreciative.
2. People are generally drawn to natural materials, so notice which apparel you gravitate to, which feels best on your body, and see what the fabric is. I guarantee it will be a natural material!
3. If done correctly and with the right legislation, there is a path for slow fashion to eventually be done in a regenerative manner.

What are the “5 Key Elements to Leading a Successful Slow Fashion Brand”?

1. Patience: Business never moves as fast as you want it to. Our first few clients took almost a year to place their initial orders. In the textile world, 12–15 months is a normal timeframe before your product is ready to hit the market. For instance, our first brand, Zenkai Sports, was created in September 2017, but its first product wasn’t sold until a year later. It took three years to develop our best-selling t-shirt.
2. Passion: People can sense energy and are naturally drawn to positivity. We had one client decide to work with us because they loved how energized they felt after every call with our team. Passionate people like these are essential for any business to thrive.
3. Teammates: There are long days and nights, missed deadlines, and frustrations, but also laughter, joy, and accomplishment. You need the best teammates to ride the wave with you. The best teams consist of people with complementary skill sets, so it’s crucial to seek out those who bring a different perspective. I remember struggling to close a deal in the early days, and a colleague brought a fresh perspective that I hadn’t considered. The client responded positively, and we are now building a successful partnership.
4. Vendors: It’s vital to vet everyone in your supply chain and ask for recommendations from trusted sources. Experience and professionalism are important, but respecting and liking them as people is even better. We once needed to do a small fabric run for an important client, and normally, the factory wouldn’t accommodate such a small order. However, the owner, knowing what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, unselfishly agreed. That small client now does major numbers with us and our factory.
5. Fun: You must find humor and joy along the way, even when it’s difficult. Never lose sight of the fact that we’re all people, and every now and then, you need to lighten the mood and have fun. Filium Corp’s operations and personnel are distributed around the globe, so whenever we’re in the same place at the same time, we make an effort to take a break from work, get to know each other better, and sometimes, share a couple of beers!

Do you have a favorite quote that has influenced your life? Can you share a story that illustrates its relevance to you?

“If you are going to be wrong, be wrong quick.” I was told this early on by a mentor, and it stuck with me. You will make bad decisions, and that’s okay, but as soon as you recognize your mistake, make amends and don’t let it drag on. In the early days, we hired a website designer who built us the Cadillac of websites (with a Cadillac price!), when all we really needed at that point was a Toyota Corolla. Once we realized this, we canceled the contract and found someone who could build exactly what we needed at the time. Thankfully, that person is now a member of our team, and the early mistake has paid off in multiple ways! Don’t dwell on the mistake — once you recognize it, make swift decisions to correct it and move on.

With your considerable influence, if you could start a movement to make a significant positive impact, what would it be?

We have already started! It’s called Filium! We are solving a problem for people, brands, and companies that care about the environment, health, and wellness. We want to work with Mother Nature, not against her, and continue to educate ourselves. We cannot wait for government bills or legislation to mandate helping the Earth. There is a way for people and businesses to be successful while also protecting our bodies, oceans, forests, and animals.

How can our readers stay updated with your work online?

Please follow our journey at Filium Corp., Instagram, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn or my personal Instagram or LinkedIn. For any partnership inquires please fill out our questionnaire here: Filium

Thank you for sharing these fantastic insights. We appreciate your time and wish you continued success.

About the Interviewer: Dina Aletras boasts over 20 years of expertise in the corporate media industry. She possesses an in-depth understanding of growth, strategy, and leadership, having held significant roles at some of the UK’s largest media organizations. At Reach PLC, the UK’s largest tabloid publisher, she served in various director capacities. Additionally, she held leadership roles at The Independent Magazine Group and DMGT. Her extensive knowledge spans editorial, digital, revenue, sales, and advertising.

Upon relocating to Switzerland, Dina took on the responsibility of managing and promoting the international section of Corriere del Ticino — CdT.ch pioneering the English page “onthespot.” She also was the Co-Editor of Southern Switzerland’s first official Italian and English bilingual magazine.