Garmology - A podcast about clothes, and stuff.

• Reviving dead sneakers - With Vinnie Tao at Sneakerpharm (#159)

  What happens when a lifelong sneaker lover refuses to throw away his favourite shoes — and ends up building a full sneaker restoration business instead?In this episode, we meet SneakerPharm’s founder, the craftsman bringing dead, battered, sun-bleached trainers back to life using skill, chemistry, and a whole lot of patience. From reverse-engineering damaged materials to perfecting the art of whitening, reglueing, repainting, and rebuilding — this is a deep dive into the world of sneaker rescue and the culture around it.We talk about:🧪 How he learned restoration through trial, error, and obsession👟 Why certain sneakers are worth saving — even if they look beyond repair🔥 The business of sneaker cleaning, detailing, and reviving rare pairs✨ The surprising emotional stories behind the shoes people send in📦 What it’s really like turning your passion into a full-time craftIf you love sneakers, craftsmanship, or just great stories from people who really care about what they make, you’ll enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at a fascinating and fast-growing world.You can find SneakerPharm on the web at sneakerpharm.com and on Instagram as @sneakerpharm  Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmologyNick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

  --------  

  1:29:20

  --------

  1:29:20
• From Donegal with Love: The Molloy & Sons Story - With Kieran Molloy (#158)

  This week on Garmology, we’re off to the wild west coast of Ireland — to the home of Donegal tweed.Sixth-generation weaver Kieran Molloy joins us from Ardara, County Donegal, to talk about family legacy, the craft of weaving, and what it takes to keep a centuries-old tradition alive in the modern world. From looms beside the family home to a 1920s showroom on Fifth Avenue, the Molloy story is one of resilience, artistry, and an enduring love for colour and texture.We talk about the history and future of Donegal tweed, the fight to protect its name (like Champagne or Parma ham!), the challenges of staying natural in a synthetic world, and what it’s really like to run a small mill on the edge of the Atlantic — exporting to Japan, New York, and beyond.It’s a warm, funny, and deeply fascinating conversation about craft, identity, and why some fabrics carry the soul of a place.You can find Molloy and Sons on the web at molloyandsons.comand on Instagram as @molloyandsonsThis episode is also available on YouTube.🎧 Garmology – a podcast about clothes, and the deeper stories behind them. Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmologyNick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

  --------  

  1:26:22

  --------

  1:26:22
• The Shoe That Fits the Foot — Not the Market - With Andrew Turriff (#157)

  This week on Garmology, we’re rethinking everything we thought we knew about shoes.From Nike internships and bespoke sneakers in L.A. to orthopedic labs in Canada, shoemaker Andrew Turriff has walked a long, winding path to creating Turiff Functional Footwear — a brand built on one radical idea: that shoes should actually work for your feet.We talk about his journey from art school to Fluevog to founding his own label, his discovery that most footwear ignores how the human foot actually moves, and how he set out to make rugged, repairable shoes that let you live, move, and feel better.This episode covers everything from the craft of shoemaking to barefoot philosophy, sustainability, and why “growth for growth’s sake” might be fashion’s biggest flaw.It’s a thoughtful, inspiring conversation about slowing down, making things well, and walking your own path — one pair of truly functional shoes at a time.You can find Andrew and Turriff Functional Footwear on the web at turriffshoes.com and on Instagram as @turriff_functional_footwearThis episode is also available on YouTube.🎧 Garmology — a podcast about clothes, and the deeper stories behind them. Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmologyNick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

  --------  

  1:25:38

  --------

  1:25:38
• Smelling of Wax and Wilderness - Outerwear with Ben Fogle (#156)

  This week on Garmology, we’re going on an adventure — without leaving the wardrobe.TV adventurer, explorer, and all-round outdoorsman Ben Fogle joins Nick for a deep dive into his love of outerwear, heritage design, and the gear that’s travelled with him from Antarctica to Everest. From waxed Barbours and wool Guernseys to modern technical kit, Ben shares what really works when the temperature drops (and why some of the best expedition gear still smells like it’s been somewhere wild).We talk about his “accidental” journey into adventure, how he ended up buying the legendary Buffalo Systems, the future of British-made outdoor wear, and why timeless design still beats fast fashion — even at -40°C.A funny, warm, and surprisingly geeky two-hour chat about jackets, journeys, and joy in the details.You can follow Ben Fogle on Instagram as @benfogleThis episode is also available on YouTube. Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmologyNick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

  --------  

  1:09:59

  --------

  1:09:59
• Whole-Cut Wonders: The Future of Heritage Shoemaking - Chris Woodford of Crown Northampton (#155)

  This week, we step inside the heart of British shoemaking. Our journey takes us to Northamptonshire, where craftsmanship and tradition run deep. Chris Woodford—6th-generation shoemaker and the man behind Crown Northampton and E. Woodford—opens the doors of his family’s factory to share stories of heritage, innovation, and the enduring art of making shoes.We chat about what it means to carry on a legacy while steering a modern business, the surprising freedom that comes when every worker has their own key, and the obsessive pursuit of making products as good as they can possibly be—using the finest leathers sourced from around the world.And yes, we dive into the wonderfully mad idea of crafting whole-cut welted sneakers that take 50 hours to make… and why people can’t get enough of them.This is a rich, two-hour conversation about passion, precision, and the quiet joy of making things that last.You can find Crown Northampton on the web at crownnorthampton.com and on Instagram as @crownnorthamptonThis episode is also available on YouTube.  Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmologyNick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.

  --------  

  2:11:42

  --------

  2:11:42

More Arts podcasts

Trending Arts podcasts

About Garmology - A podcast about clothes, and stuff.