Responsibility as DNA: How Kathy Cheng Is Shaping the Future of Textile Manufacturing

In the latest episode of Branded Worlds, we take a deep dive into the world of Redwood Classics Apparel with its President and CEO, Kathy Cheng.

Our conversation makes one thing clear: sustainability is far more than a marketing message. It is a daily operational discipline.

For Kathy, everything starts with a clear North Star built around three principles: People. Planet. Profit.

As the daughter of immigrants who built a life in Canada, she sees Redwood Classics as much more than a manufacturing company. She sees it as a community—one that creates opportunities, develops people, and gives them a future. That human perspective defines every decision she makes, from valuing the skilled makers behind every garment to openly addressing the realities of today’s workplace, including the importance of emotional well-being.

One of the most powerful themes of our conversation challenges a common misconception: that responsibility and commercial success are somehow at odds.

Kathy demonstrates exactly the opposite.

By intentionally manufacturing locally in North America, Redwood Classics has built a supply chain that is agile, resilient, transparent, and built for the long term. In a world driven by ultra-fast production cycles and increasingly opaque global sourcing, she argues that supply chains should no longer be treated simply as a cost to manage, but as strategic investments and long-term partnerships.

Her vision for the future is equally compelling.

Rather than encouraging consumers to buy more, she believes the industry should inspire people to buy better so they can buy less.

She also rejects the fear surrounding artificial intelligence. AI, in her view, is a powerful tool that can improve efficiency and remove repetitive tasks—but it will never replace craftsmanship, human creativity, or the stories woven into every garment.

Perhaps her most memorable message is this:

It’s time to celebrate “Maker-to-Skin” with the same passion that we celebrate “Farm-to-Table.”

This episode is a reminder that meaningful transformation doesn’t begin with marketing campaigns. It begins with integrity, long-term thinking, and leaders who are willing to be authentic, transparent, and even vulnerable.

Because the future of our industry will not be defined by what we produce.

It will be defined by the responsibility we choose to take—for people, for our planet, and for the generations that follow.