While the World Bank's latest report projects a challenging economic outlook over the next two years, Hamilton Perkins represents a new generation of innovators charting a different course — fusing fashion, science and technology to create jobs and unlock capital connections. Hamilton is the winner of the 2023 Black Ambition Prize, presented by Pharrell Williams, and an alum of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. He's currently working to commercialize intellectual property that converts waste streams into reusable materials, all while keeping law and policy top of mind — including the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, California's new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law.

In this episode, Hamilton shares his journey on launching the Hamilton Perkins Collection and how he’s working with California stakeholders as the state implements the nation’s first EPR law for textiles. Hamilton has built his sustainable fashion business with partners in fashion, tech, private capital, academia and government. Whether you're a fashion entrepreneur, startup founder, or anyone interested in circular business models, this conversation provides actionable strategies for launching ventures that generate both revenue and positive impact.

Connect with Hamilton Perkins

Hamilton Perkins Website

Instagram: @hamiltonperkins

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamiltonperkins/

Facebook: @hamiltonperkins

X (Formerly Twitter): @hamiltonperkins

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In this episode, we sit down with Sarika Bajaj, Co-Founder and CEO of Refiberd, whose groundbreaking technology combines AI and hyperspectral imaging to identify the material composition in textiles for recycling and resale. As the winner of eBay’s 2025 global Circular Fashion Fund, Sarika and her Co-Founder Tushita Gupta are pioneering a new frontier —offering crucial solutions as fashion brands navigate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.

Refiberd is tackling one of the fashion industry's greatest sustainability challenges. Industry reports show a staggering 92 million tons of textile waste generated annually, with most ending up in landfills or incinerators. Now, with their recent investment from eBay Ventures, Sarika and Tushita are expanding their technology to new partners and markets in recycling, resale and manufacturing.

Our conversation explores their remarkable journey of launching in 2020 during the pandemic, raising capital in a difficult market, and moving forward as government policies continue to change — from unpredictable tariffs to EPR laws in jurisdictions around the world. We also discuss how Refiberd's AI and imaging technology has powerful applications for counterfeit detection.

Sarika shares invaluable insights for fashion tech entrepreneurs. How do you know when to pivot your business model or if you should just stay the course and continue building on your original vision? Listen to the end for Sarika’s startup tips.

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Join us for an insightful conversation with Victoria Watkins. As an OG fashion law attorney and blogger, Victoria established one of the first platforms dedicated to fashion law, business, and entertainment over a decade ago. Now, as Founder and Managing Partner of Inrichmint, Victoria sources and manages curated deal flow — connecting investors with creative entrepreneurs looking to scale and build their brands. In this episode, Victoria shares why intellectual property is a great value booster and essential to a company’s valuation, and why social media metrics do not always translate to revenue. We also discussed the impact of tariffs on dealmaking, and as Victoria noted, “Everybody should be paying attention to tariffs now because we are all being affected in some way or another.”

We also reflect on fashion law's evolution and explore what success in this field requires today. Recorded just days before the Met Gala and the “Superfine” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, our conversation naturally turns to Black dandyism and athletes as today’s stars on fashion’s red carpet.

Connect with Victoria Watkins

LinkedIn

Instagram

Inrichmint

Website

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