♪♪ COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE LATEST ON THE WAR IN IRAN AND NEGOTIATIONS TO SHORE UP THE CURRENT CEASE-FIRE.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE INCREASING CHALLENGES FACING CAREGIVERS IN ARIZONA AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT ECO FASHION WEEK AND ITS EMPHASIS AND ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, THOSE STORIES NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON, I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY TOLD FOX NEWS THAT THE WAR IN IRAN IS QUOTE, VERY CLOSE TO OVER AND THE PRESIDENT SUGGESTED A NEW ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND IRAN ARE A POSSIBILITY AFTER FACE-TO-FACE TALKS THIS WEEKEND FELL THROUGH, FOR THE LATEST ON ALL THIS.

WE WELCOME FORMER AMBASSADOR TO N.A.T.O., KURT VOLKER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT THESE DAYS SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.

>> Ted: LET'S GET INTO IT HERE, TALK ABOUT, WHERE DO WE STAND IN ALL OF THIS?

IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOAL POSTS NEVER STOP MOVING.

>> WELL, THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM, ACTUALLY IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RIGHT WHEN HE SAYS THE IRANIAN REGIME HAS BEEN AWFUL.

IT'S BEEN AWFUL TO ITS OWN PEOPLE.

IT'S PURSUED A NUCLEAR WEAPON, ATTACKED ISRAEL AND THESE PROXIES.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THAT, BUT WHEN WE LAUNCH THE WAR, THE GOALS HAVE SHIFTED OVER TIME.

THE FIRST IS TO GET RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THEN BALLISTIC MISSILES AND THEN THEY CLOSED THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, AND THEN IT'S TO OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILEWAY TALK ABOUT THE REGIME NEEDING TO GO, BUT THE REGIME IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, THIS IS WHY I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY UNCERTAIN FOR OUR ALLIES, AND VERY UNCERTAIN FOR THE GULF STATES, WHERE ARE WE HEADED WITH THIS AND WHY I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO SEE THE U.S.

BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE UNCLEAR WHERE WE'RE GOING.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS BLOCKING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING A BLOCKADE, IS IT WORKING?

I KEEP HEARING THAT SHIPS ARE PASSING THROUGH AND IS IT EVEN CAPABLE IN THIS TIME OF DRONES AND SHOULDER LAUNCHED ROCKETS, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, MINES, THIS SORT OF THING, IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THAT KIND OF A BLOCKADE?

>> YES, SO THE BLOCKADE IS EASIER THAN OPENING THE STRAITS BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THE U.S.

NAVY IS DOING IS TALKING TO VESSELS THAT ARE APPROACHING THE STRAIT FROM EITHER SIDE, AND SAYING, IF YOU ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH IRAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO AN IRANIAN PORT, IF YOU'RE CARRYING IRANIAN GOODS, THEN YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH AND IF YOU DO, WE'LL ATTACK YOU.

WE'LL BOARD YOU, WE'LL CHECK YOUR PAPERS, WE MAY TURN YOU AROUND OR WORSE CASE, WE'LL ATTACK YOU.

THE IRANIANS HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT TO EVERYBODY EXCEPT IS THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS AND THEIR OWN SHIPS.

SO, THEY WERE LETTING THEIR OWN STUFF GO THROUGH, BUT NOTHING GOING TO THE UAE, QATAR, BAHRAIN AND SO FORTH SO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BLOCKADE IS NOW DOING, SAYING OKAY, IRAN, IF YOU'RE DOING THAT TO EVERYBODY ELSE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT TO YOU SO YOU CAN'T GET YOUR STUFF OUT EITHER.

NOW, THE IRANIANS ARE, I THINK, PREPARED TO RIDE THIS OUT.

THEY'RE SAYING, OKAY, WE CAN LIVE WITH THIS FOR LONGER THAN YOU CAN BECAUSE IF WE CLOSE THE STRAIT COMPLETELY, THAT'S NO OIL, NO GAS, THAT'S RISING PRICES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THAT SO WE'RE HAPPY TO PLAY THIS OUT AND THEN THE FINAL PIECE ON THIS, TED, IS JUST THAT NEITHER SIDE REALLY WANTS TO RESUME ARMED CONFLICT.

NOW, WE BOTH ENJOY HAVING THIS CEASE-FIRE.

THE WAR IS KNOW THE POPULAR HERE, THE WAR IS NOT POPULAR IN IRAN, SO, HE THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE TALKS AGAIN THIS WEEK, AND AGREE TO MORE TALKS AND AGREE TO MORE TIME, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE ANY OF THIS.

>> Ted: KURT, DID NO ONE THINK ABOUT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WHEN THE BOMBING STARTED?

WAS THIS SOMETHING, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM AND A CONCERN IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

WHY WAS THIS, SHOULDN'T WE HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO PREPARE FOR THIS?

>> WE CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE.

AND WE SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED.

WE SHOULD HAVE SAID, OKAY, IF WE HIT THE IRANIANS, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?

WELL, THIS IS THE EASIEST REACH FOR THEM.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH, JUST TAKE OUT ONE SHIP, HIT ONE HOTEL IN DUBAI AND EVERYTHING STARTS TO SHUT DOWN, TOURISTS LEAVE, SHIPMENTS SHUT DOWN AND SHIPS WON'T MOVE.

WE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED HERE, WE GOT EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF DECAPITATING THE REGIME.

THEY'RE ALL MEETING TOGETHER ONE SATURDAY AND PRESIDENT NETANYAHU OR PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU OF ISRAEL SAYS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEY'RE ALL GATHERING TOGETHER, WE CAN DECAPITATE THE REGIME AND IT WILL BE INSTANT AND QUICK, AND WE DID THAT AND REALLY DID NOT CALCULATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT IF THE REGIME DOESN'T FALL?

WHAT IF THEY REGROUP, BRING UPPER THE NEXT GENERATION OF EXTREMISTS, HIT BACK AGAINST THE GULF STATES, CLOSE THE STRAITS, AND THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENED AND NOW WE'RE IN A WORSE SITUATION THAN WHEN WE STARTED.

>> Ted: IS ALL OF THIS THOUGH, WORTH IT, IF IT MEANS KNOCKING OUT OR KNOCKING DOWN FOR CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM, GETTING NEW LEADERSHIP IN THERE, STALLING WHATEVER THE EXISTING LEADERSHIP WANTED TO DO?

THE WEAPONS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SET BACK YEARS.

IS ALL OF THIS WORTH IT?

BECAUSE YOU WILL HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PRO THIS WAR SAYING, YES, IT IS WORTH IT.

>> YEAH, YEAH, AND, TED, YOU'VE FRAMED THAT QUESTION JUST RIGHT BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO GET RID OF THE REGIME ENTIRELY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF IRAN REPRESENTS THE PROFESSIONALS, THE NORMAL GOOD PEOPLE OF IRAN, THE KURDS AND OTHERS THAT LIVE THERE, THAT WOULD BE PHENOMENAL, WE WILL WOULD BE SO HAPPY WITH THAT KIND OF IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE THIS IS HEADED.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS THE SAME REGIME WITH NEW FACES, THE SON OF THE AYATOLLAH RATHER THAN THE AYATOLLAH, THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD, MAYBE EVEN MORE MILITANT AND ZEALOUS THAN THE OLDER GENERATION, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT WE HAVE KNOCKED BACK IRAN'S POWER PROJECTION CAPABILITIES, NAVY, AIR FORCE, PROXIES, MISSILES, WHATEVER, CONSIDERABLY.

YOU'RE TALKING A DECADE OR TWO FOR SURE.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AND THAT'S NOT WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THIS STARTED.

HOWEVER, NOW THEY'LL BE SHIPPING WITH MINIMAL EFFORT AND ONE THING TO SHUT THINGS DOWN AND THAT'S A PROBLEM WE HAVE TO FACE.

>> Ted: WHERE ARE OUR ALLIES IN THIS.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS BASICALLY N.A.T.O., OUR ALLIES, THEY'RE GOOD FOR NOTHING BECAUSE THEY DID NOTHING THROUGHOUT THIS WAR WITH ISRAEL AND THE U.S., STARTED HERE AGAINST IRAN.

THEY'RE GOOD -- I MEAN, HAS HE GOT A POINT?

I MEAN, WHERE ARE OUR ALLIES?

>> RIGHT.

SO, FIRST OFF, LET'S START WITH WHAT N.A.T.O.

IS, OUR ALLIES ARE N.A.T.O.

ALLIES.

N.A.T.O.

IS A COLLECTIVE DEFENSE ALLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY ATTACKS THE NORTH ATLANTIC AREA, EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA, AND IT'S WORKED.

SO N.A.T.O.

WORKS.

NOW, WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS LOOKING FOR IS SUPPORT FROM THE SAME EUROPEAN ALLIES FOR HIS WAR AGAINST IRAN, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF EUROPE, OUTSIDE THE NORTH ATLANTIC AREA, AND WHAT HE DID IS HE WENT AHEAD WITH THIS WAR WITH ISRAEL WITHOUT TALKING TO ANYBODY.

SO, ALL OF OUR ALLIES WERE CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED, THEY HAD NO IDEA THIS WAR WAS COMING AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SAYING, YOU WEREN'T THERE WITH US.

AND THEN HE SAYS, WELL HE NEED YOU, BUT THEN YOU WEREN'T THERE.

A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ON THE EUROPEAN SIDE.

EVEN AS THIS PAST WEEKEND, TRUMP SAYS WE NEED OUR ALLIES TO OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND ON SATURDAY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

OUR ALLIES SAY LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT AND PUT TOGETHER AN OPERATION AND THEN WE CAN DO IT.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED THOUGH.

I THINK SECRETARY RUBIO'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON LAST WEEK AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER, I THINK THE RELIES ARE NOT REACTING IN THE SHORT-TERM, BUT PUTTING TOGETHER A LONGER TERM PLAN FOR MILITARY SUPPORT, NAVAL OPERATIONS, TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE STRAIT REOPENS, IT'S DONE SAFELY AND VESSELS PASS AND THEY HAVE SOME PROTECTION.

>> Ted: WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT HERE SO I'VE GOT TO KEEP IT BRIEF.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'S QUOTE, ABSOLUTELY CONSIDERING LEAVING N.A.T.O.

YES, N.A.T.O.

IS A DEFENSIVE ORGANIZATION, BUT HE SEES IT OTHERWISE AND HE HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT LEAVING.

IS THAT A REAL THREAT?

>> IT IS A REAL THREAT AND IT WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE BECAUSE THE U.S.

GETS A LOT FROM HAVING A SECURE PROSPEROUS STABLE EUROPES, OUR BIGGEST INVESTORS AND JOB CREATORS FROM ABROAD.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A STRONG EUROPE.

>> Ted: AND AMBASSADOR KURT VOLKER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, TED, A PLEASURE.

♪♪ ARIZONA PBS WANTS TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR KIDS MEMBERS WHO ARE HAVING A BIRTHDAY, THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THE KIDS CLUB, IF YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME HERE, GET A GROWNUP TO LEARN ABOUT OUR ARIZONA PBS FAMILY MEMBERSHIP.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

>> ARIZONA'S AGING POPULATION IS INCREASING DEMAND FOR IN-HOME CARE, BUT PROVIDERS SAY AT THAT STAFFING AND FUNDING HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE RISING NEEDS AND COSTS.

AND JOINING ME IS A HOME CARE ASSISTANCE PROVIDER.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> IT PROVIDES PEOPLE LIVING WITH COMPLICATIONS OF AGING AND PHYSICAL AGE DISABILITIES AND IT PROVIDES ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, ALLOWING FOLKS TO STAY IN PLACE WHERE THEY CHOOSE FOR AS LONG AS THEY CHOOSE AND INTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT IS THE STATE OF CARE GIVING IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY STRESSED.

WE'RE DEALING WITH A SEVERE CRISIS IN WORK FORCE SUPPLY.

BY 2030, WE'RE EXPECTED TO NEED MORE THAN 190,000 ADDITIONAL CAREGIVERS TO MEET THE GROWING NEED IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: BECAUSE THE GROWING NEED IS, A, A GROWING POPULATION, BUT LOTS OF OLDER FOLKS, YES?

>> WE HAVE A RAPID GROWTH IN AGING ADULTS AND WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE ON THE YOUNGER SIDE, BUT THEY'RE LIVING WITH COMPLICATIONS OF CHRONIC DISEASE AND NEW PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, SO THAT DOES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> Ted: HOW DOES FUNDING FOR THESE SERVICES WORK?

>> SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO ACCESS FUNDING, PREDOMINANTLY FUNDED THROUGH A MEDICAID BENEFIT CALLED LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND WE LOOK AT HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES.

THE SERVICES COME INTO YOUR HOME, YOU GET A PROFESSIONAL AND CARE WORKER, GOING ALONGSIDE YOU ALL DAY LONG, MEAL PREP, HEALTH CARE, ERRANDS, TO STAY HOME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: AND THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, IS IT WHERE IT'S ALL BEEN.

HAS IT BEEN CUT?

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE?

>> WE HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY FUNDED FOR YEARS.

A 2023 SURVEY WAS DONE BY MERCER AND THE MERCER STUDY FOUND THAT WE WERE UNDERFUNDED BY $30 MILLION.

THAT WAS IN 2023.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATURE SINCE THEN, SO CURRENTLY, WE ARE UNDERFUNDED BY $6 AND WE'RE STRUGGLING JUST TO MAKE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THE REAL WORLD AS FAR AS STAFFING CHALLENGES AND THESE THINGS?

>> WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND YOU MAY REALLY WANT TO DO A JOB LIKE THIS, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR BILLS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE FORCED TO CHOOSE A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN CARE GIVING.

PROVIDING CARE IN HOME IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE AND THE MOST AFFORDABLE OPTION.

>> Ted: ARE YOU LOSING CANDIDATES BECAUSE OF THIS?

>> YES, WE ARE, EVERY DAY.

>> Ted: AP AND WE WERE TALKING AGAIN, SOME FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES, THAT'S COVERED HERE AND YOU NEED FOLKS, YOU NEED TRAINED FOLKS FOR THIS?

>> YES, THE TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL.

WE TRAIN FOLKS NOW JUST HOT TO ASSIST IN EVERYDAY LEAVING, FALL PREVENTIONS, HOW TO AVOID AN UNNECESSARY HOSPITALIZATION THROUGH REMINDERS OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT NEEDS AND SKILLS, MEDICATION REMINDERS, APPOINTMENTS, ESSENTIAL THINGS AT THAT KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME AND AVOIDING UNNECESSARY HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> Ted: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME, UNNECESSARY HOSPITALIZATION.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE, ESPECIALLY OF FOLKS THAT ARE AGING, AND THAT WANT TO STAY HOME.

IF SOME FOLKS DON'T WANT TO STAY HOME, BUT THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY HOME, TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LET THEM STAY AT HOME.

>> IT'S AMAZING, NOT ONLY DOES CARE GIVING PROVIDE THE DAILY NEEDS AND HEALTH NEEDS, BUT IT BRINGS YOU COMPANIONSHIP, AND A SINCE OF SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR FAMILY IS LIVING FAR AWAY AND GIVES YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS A SENSE OF PEACE.

MAYBE A RELATIVE CAN GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SKILL TRAINED PROFESSIONALLY FOR A LOVED ONE.

>> Ted: AND IT CUTS COSTS AND IT'S CHEAP NOT GOING TO THE CARE FACILITIES.

>> CORRECT, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE.

SOME SAY IT'S ACTUALLY $40,000 CHEAPER PER INDIVIDUAL TO STAY HOME THAN GOING INTO A FACILITY.

>> Ted: WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AS FAR AS PUBLIC POLICY IS CONCERNED?

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BILL RIGHT NOW AT THE STATE WHERE WE'RE REQUESTING 2.5 MILLION FOR ONE-TIME FUNDING TO HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO OUR WORK FORCE.

THIS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE DIRECT CARE WORKERS SO WE'RE ASKING ANYBODY THAT SEES THIS, PLEASE, WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATE SENATOR AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO HELP SUPPORT THIS FUNDING.

>> Ted: AND OTHER CAREGIVERS AROUND THE STATE I'M SURE WOULD AGREE WITH YOUR POSITION.

>> YES, CERTAINLY.

>> Ted: ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> WE'RE SO FORTUNATE, WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR THIS FUNDING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PARTY, THE G.O.P.

AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS FUNDING ASK.

>> Ted: THAT IN MIND, THE FUNDING HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING AND YOU'RE STILL SHORT.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT TREND CONTINUES?

>> WE WILL NOT HAVE A DIRECT CARE WORK FORCE TO PROVIDE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, YOU'LL SEE MORE PEOPLE ENTERING FACILITY-BASED CARE OR YOU'LL SEE WORSENING OUTCOMES THAT WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO PLAN FOR.

>> Ted: THE GROWING -- THE LAST QUESTION HERE, TALKING ABOUT THE GROWING POPULATION AND AGING POPULATION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING HERE, THERE SHOULD BE MORE PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THESE POSITIONS, SHOULD THERE NOT?

>> YES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF UPSCALING TO CAREER PATH WAYS INTO PURSUING OR FUTURE DOCTORS IF YOU START WORKING WITH BEDSIDE MANNER WITH THOSE IN THEIR HOMES.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪♪ >> ECO FASHION WEEK KICKS OFF THIS SATURDAY.

THE EVENT LOOKS AND SPOT LIGHTS SUSTAINABLE, AND FOR ENTREPRENEURS.

ANGELA JOHNSON, BEHIND ECO FASHION WEEK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: YOU WERE HERE HOW LONG AGO?

>> 10 YEARS AGO.

>> Ted: 10 YEARS AGO.

>> WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT ECO FASHION WEEK.

THIS IS SORT OF A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.

>> Ted: FOR ECO FASHION WEEK, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW OR WEREN'T HERE 10 YEARS AGO, WHAT IS ECO FASHION WEEK?

>> IT'S A WAY FOR US TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE FASHION AND SHED LIGHT ON WHO IS DOING SUSTAINABLE THINGS IN THE FASHION COMMUNITY AND TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON WHAT THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY IS WITH THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND HOW UNSUSTAINABLE IT IS AND WH WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT BETTER.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

>> FASHION IS ONE OF THE MOST SUSTAINABLE IN THE PLANET AND IT'S IN A DISRUPTIVE MOMENT READY FOR CHANGE.

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT BECAUSE OF CONSUMERS DEMANDING LOW PRICES IT FORCES BRANDS TO OVER PRODUCE AND YOU END UP WITH EXCESS INVENTORY, MADE OF A LOT OF PLASTIC, POLYESTER, THINGS LIKE THAT AND NOT GOING TO BIODEGRADE SOON AND IT'S FILLING UP THE LAND FILLS.

>> Ted: AND THIS IS HOW?

>> IF YOU CAN SUPPORT BRANDS THAT MAKE SMALL PATCHES RATHER THAN PRODUCING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WITH FOSSIL FUELS AND THAT SORT.

IF YOU CAN SUPPORT A LOCAL BRAND MANUFACTURING IN SMALL BATCHES OR JUST IN TIME, THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO GET AROUND ALL OF THE FOSSIL FUELS USED FOR THAT OVERPRODUCTION.

>> Ted: THUS RESPONSIBLE WARDROBE PRODUCTION, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT SUSTAINABLE FASHION MEANS WHAT FABRICS ARE YOU USING AND THAT'S ONE PART OF IT, BUT IT'S THE QUANTITY THAT YOU'RE MAKING THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.

>> Ted: AND WE TALKED EARLIER, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T LOOK VERY SUSTAINABLE TO ME OR -- BUT I'VE HAD IT FOR A LONG TIME.

ALL OF THE CLOTHES I HAD FOR A LONG TIME.

MAYBE TOO LONG.

>> THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S HOW MUCH A BRAND MAKES AND THE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR BEHIND IT.

IF YOU CAN HOLD ONTO YOUR CLOTHING LONGER AND NOT THINK OF IT AS DISPOSABLE, YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU TRANSFER THAT INFORMATION ON TO FASHION WEEK AND A FASHION SHOW?

>> WELL, WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WE WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY IN TO CELEBRATE AND TO LEARN ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

SO, EVERY YEAR, AND IT'S BEEN ABOUT EIGHT YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, WE HAVE THIS FULL WEEK OF FASHION EVENTS, FASHION SHOWS, POP-UPS, WORK SHOPS AND SEMINARS, CLOTHING SWAPS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS, IT STARTS WITH A COMMUNITY UP-CYCLE PROJECT WHERE THE COMMUNITY GETS INVOLVED AND BECOMES DESIGNERS, IT'S STUDENTS, ESTABLISHED BRANDS, IT'S EMERGING BRANDS AND THEY TAKE DENIM, ONE OF THE MOST UNSUSTAINABLE ITEMS, AND THEY HAVE THEM AT THE MARKETPLACE AND A CLOTHING SWAP, YOU CAN COME AND TAKE YOUR OLD CLOTHES AND TURN THEM IN AND WALK AWAY WITH NEW CLOTHES FOR FREE, WELL, IT'S $10, PRACTICALLY FREE.

>> Ted: CLOSE ENOUGH.

>> AND WE'RE LAUNCHING A CIRCULAR EXCHANGE PROGRAM DURING THAT SAME EVENT AND YOU CAN BRING IN TEXTILES IF YOU'RE SEWIST, AND YOU CAN WALK AWAY FREE WITH WHATEVER TEXTILES YOU WANT.

AND BEHIND THE SCENES, A WORKSHOP.

MORE LIKE A SEMINAR, TO LEARN ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FASHION AND WE ARE HAVING OUR, I THINK I'M FORGETTING, OH, CLOTHING POP-UPS AT TEMPE MARKETPLACE AS WELL AND THEN A FINALE, SUSTAINABLE PAJAMA FASHION SHOW, OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY, A STORY TELLING EVENT AND I'M GOING TO TELL THE STORY OF FABRIC TO THE AUDIENCE AND EVERYBODY IS WEARING THEIR FASHIONABLE PAJAMAS.

IT'S LIKE A BEDTIME STORY AND WE'LL HAVE THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU MENTION FAN BRICK, IT'S AN ACRONYM DIRECT.

>> FASHION AND BUSINESS RESOURCE INNOVATION CENTER.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ASPECT.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> SIR CIRCULAR MEANS CRADLE TO GRAVE, A CIRCLE.

IF YOU'RE MAKING LOCAL TEXTILES AND USING THEM TO CREATE THINGS AND PERSON WHO IS BUYING IT IS LOCAL, INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE LANDFILL, IT GOES BACK TO BECOMING A TEXTILE AGAIN THAT'S REUSABLE, THAT'S KIND OF A CIRCULAR IDEA IN FASHION.

IF OUR PROGRAM THAT WE'RE OFFERING IT'S CALLED THE SOAKULAR EXCHANGE.

WE LOVE OUR PUNS.

>> Ted: I'M HERE.

>> WE'RE BASICALLY PROVIDING A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO DROP OFF TEXTILES AND PICK UP FREE ONES TO KEEP THEM IN THE LOOP.

>> Ted: THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL ECO CHIC, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> Ted: IS THAT CATCHING ON?

>> WE WANT IT TO.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR HASH TAGS.

>> Ted: I KNOW PLASTICS, PEOPLE ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH PLASTICS NOW AND MORE AWARE OF WHAT PLASTICS CAN DO.

WHEN IT COMES IT FASHION, ARE YOU SEEING MORE OF IT?

>> YES, WHEN WE FIRST OPENED FABRICS, AND BY THE WAY, WE HELPED ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE START FASHION BRANDS AND TRYING TO STOP IT.

IT'S TOUGH.

EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO US, JUST WANTED TO START A FASHION BRAND AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.

NOW THE MAJORITY, ALMOST ALL OF THEM CARE ABOUT IT AND THEY ASK US HOW TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WHERE TO FIND SUSTAINABLE FASHION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

ON THAT, I SEE A MAJOR CHANGE AND CONSUMERS ARE STARTING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE PRODUCTS COME FROM AND CARE ABOUT THAT.

I ALWAYS USE THE ANALOGY OF FOOD.

WE NOW WILL BE OKAY WITH BUYING A $20 HAMBURGER WHERE WE WOULDN'T BEFORE AND THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN SUPPORTING A LOCAL RESTAURANT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE RESTAURANTEUR AND WE CARE ABOUT THE COW THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, THE MEAT CAME FROM AND ALL OF THAT, SO, THAT'S ACTUALLY STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE.

>> Ted: AND I KNOW YOU'RE ATTENDANT TO GO MAKE THIS WHOLE EVENT CARBON NEUTRAL IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE PARTNERED WITH A COMPANY CALLED ECO STANCE.

ALLOWS THE ATTENDEES AND THE PARTICIPANTS TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO REMOVE THEIR CARBON EMISSIONS AND YOU CAN OFFSET YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS, THE GAS THAT IT TOOK TO GET YOU THERE.

THE HOTEL THAT YOU STAYED IN OR THE FOOD THAT YOU ATE.

YOU CAN OFFSET THAT.

WE WANT TO MAKE THIS THE FIRST ZERO CARBON EVENT, A CARBON NEUTRAL AS FAR AS THE FASHION.

>> Ted: IT'S ALL OVER THE VALLEY NOT JUST ONE SPOT.

>> AT THE TEMPE MARKETPLACE AND HACKET HOUSE.

>> Ted: OH, HACKET HOUSE.

>> YEAH, I'M EXCITED THEY SUPPORT A LOT OF TEMPE THINGS AND WE ARE BASED IN TEMPE AND WE'VE ALWAYS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY A LOT.

>> Ted: ANGELA, THANK YOU FOR ECO FASHION WEEK, HAVE FUN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.