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“The amount of clothing going to landfill every year is astronomical. The stat that always hits hardest is 6 in 10 items of clothing made end up in landfill within a year. When you start to process that, it’s pretty wild, it’s eye-opening.” Sam Matanle, Co-founder, BatchLDN.
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ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
How Batch London Rewrites Fashion with Sustainability and Retail Innovation
James ran a panel with today’s guest, Sam Matanle, at a Voyage in November 2025. He was impressed by the business story and positive mission to raise the standard of sustainability in the fashion industry, by reducing waste and overproduction, and knew Sam’s story would resonate with our podcast audience.
For this episode, you’ll hear how two Uni friends quit their corporate roles to launch something they’re passionate about, and how they turned a vision into a successful business.
Sam is the co-founder of Batch London, and shares his perspective on how the brand is transforming the fashion industry through made-to-order apparel, innovative retail strategies and a strong focus on sustainability.
Discover how their approach is influencing consumer habits, retail environments and brand loyalty.
Key topics:
- The origin story behind BatchLDN and its mission to redefine fashion consumption.
- The benefits of made-to-order manufacturing in reducing waste and increasing quality.
- Strategies for creating versatile, multi-use clothing for smart casual wear.
- The evolving landscape of consumer consciousness, legislation and environmental responsibility.
- Opening a flagship store in Covent Garden and the impact on brand awareness and sales.
- The challenges and opportunities of retail expansion for smaller brands.
- Building a loyal community through memberships, events and innovative loyalty programs
- The importance of in-store experience and staff training for physical retail success
- Leveraging digital tools, agencies and website audits to optimise online presence.
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FAQ: Loyalty and Community in Fashion
Q: How does a loyalty program foster community? A: By incorporating social features such as forums, in-store events, point sharing and local groups, members feel recognised, connected, and part of an exclusive community.
Q: What are the most effective features for increasing engagement? A: Missions, exclusive products, personalised experiences and recognition through physical assets like membership cards or event access drive high engagement.
Q: Can loyalty programs be integrated between online and offline channels? A: Yes. Technologies like NFC, QR check-ins and geotargeted activities create connected omnichannel experiences that reinforce loyalty everywhere.
Q: How important is direct customer feedback in redesigning a loyalty scheme? A: Extremely important. Listening to member insights guides valuable feature development and ensures the program aligns with customer desires.
Q: What’s the ultimate goal of a community-focused loyalty program? A: To build emotional connections, foster brand advocacy, and create a lifestyle around your brand, resulting in loyal, engaged customers.
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Want to suggest a topic or guest for a future episode? Contact us via the website or on LinkedIn.