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Rethinking everyday products and how they’re made can open the door to transforming entire systems. In this conversation, Brianna Kilcullen, founder of Anact, a sustainable towel brand, joins host Erin Axelrod to explore how natural materials and supply chain innovation can move the textile industry toward a more regenerative future. Drawing on her experience in global apparel supply chains, Brianna shares what led her to build a brand rooted in circular design, transparency, and activism.

The conversation traces her journey from working across international factories to identifying gaps in sustainable products and launching a hemp-based towel company. She explains why hemp stands out as a low-impact, high-performance fiber, and how Anact is working to reduce reliance on synthetic materials. Brianna also unpacks the complexity of global supply chains, the lack of accountability in the apparel industry, and the role of policy, innovation, and consumer awareness in driving change.

Along the way, she shares how Anact is building community through education and events, why progress matters more than perfection, and how individuals can take meaningful action within their own contexts. Listen to the full episode to learn how small, intentional choices can contribute to building a more regenerative economy!

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What You’ll Learn:

Learn about the Anact’s mission and why they use hemp in their products. [0:01:24]
Explore the complexity of global textile supply chains and the need for transparency and accountability. [0:05:38]
Find out how Anact is affecting cultural change through their brand community. [0:09:53]
Hear what is giving Brianna hope, from global sustainability efforts to more intentional ways of living. [0:13:56]
Discover how individuals can take practical, values-aligned action toward a regenerative future together. [0:16:28]
Hear Brianna’s entrepreneurial guidance for startups and how to support Anact. [0:18:56]

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Memorable Quotations:

“I felt that Patagonia should be the norm, not the exception, and so I wanted to see the systemic issues in the supply chain for textiles be fixed. ” — Brianna Kilcullen [0:01:49]

“The social, environmental ramifications of this industry have just been too ginormous for too long, and I think that's something that we have to change.” — Brianna Kilcullen [0:08:57]

“I would say that activism looks different based off of where each person lives and what their own goals are and their own experiences.” — Brianna Kilcullen [0:16:46]

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brianna Kilcullen – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-kilcullen/

Anact – Website: https://anactglobal.com/

Anact – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anactglobal/

Anact – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anactglobal/

Anact – Pinterest: https://com.pinterest.com/anactglobal/

Anact – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anactglobal/

Fibershed – Website: https://fibershed.org/

Fibershed – Book Link: https://fibershed.org/community/fibershed-the-book/

Erin Axelrod on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaxelrod/

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