By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is returning to the private sector, taking over as CEO of Seattle-based textile technology company Filium just months after concluding his term as the city’s 57th mayor. Harrell will succeed co-founder Raj Shah, who will move into the role of chairman of the board as the company enters its next phase of growth.
Harrell’s appointment places one of Seattle’s best-known political figures at the center of one of the region’s emerging sustainability and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The move marks a new chapter for Harrell, whose career has spanned telecommunications, private law practice and nearly two decades in civic leadership.
While Harrell is best known for his political leadership, his professional roots extend into corporate telecommunications and civil law. Before entering politics, he worked at US West, now Lumen Technologies, rising from staff attorney to chief counsel, where he also met his wife, Joanne, before co-founding a Seattle law practice and later entering elected office. His political career began with election to the Seattle City Council in 2007, where he served 12 years before becoming mayor in 2021.
Reflecting on his years in office, Harrell described the experience as an opportunity to advance issues centered on equity, public safety and opportunity.
“I think that I raised issues in a very authentic way centered around race, public safety, prosperity for all, and education,” said Harrell in an exclusive interview with The Seattle Medium. “The fact is that to lead authentically, you will get criticized and misunderstood. And that’s the price, the cost of leading. Our country right now is so polarizing that it makes a leader like me seem like you’re trying to swim upstream. But the polarization has never stopped me from believing in my own values, which again center around making sure all boats rise.”
Founded in Seattle, Filium’s proprietary technology engineers natural fabrics, particularly fibers such as cotton and wool, to resist liquids, stains and odors without relying on PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” or harmful synthetic coatings, while maintaining natural breathability. The company also uses artificial intelligence to analyze testing data and support research, development and manufacturing processes.
Harrell said the opportunity aligned with both environmental and public health priorities.
“I had many job opportunities and many opportunities presented to me,” noted Harrell. “And I thought very methodically about what industry I wanted to get into and what I thought would do both, where I can increase both personal health and environmental health. This whole industry in the next 5 to 10 years is going to merge toward an anti-PFAS free environment. If you look at the laws in Europe, for example, they are prohibiting PFAS in the industries. I wanted to get into an industry that needs to be disrupted.”
Filium’s origins are closely tied to apparel entrepreneur Raj Shah, founder of Mecca, one of the country’s prominent Black-owned urban apparel brands. Shah later shifted his focus toward environmental sustainability after studying the effects of microplastics and PFAS materials on human and environmental health.
Harrell’s leadership experience and regional relationships could play a key role as Filium expands its commercial footprint and scales its technology.
Joanne Harrell, a former Microsoft executive and former REI board member, said many of the leadership skills that Harrell developed in government translate directly into corporate leadership.
“Bruce will be not just successful, but phenomenal in the role,” said Joanne Harrell. “When you look at the skill sets that are required to be a mayor or a city council president, a lot of those skill sets revolve around the ability to work well with and through others to identify clear goals and objectives and align resources to achieve them. And that’s not very different than what is required in a corporate setting.”
Filium’s products have already been adopted by brands including The North Face, Bass Pro Shops, O’Neill and Cabela’s, while the company also operates its consumer apparel brand, Ably. The company has expanded into commercial applications as well, including partnerships with agencies such as Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue for PFAS-free workwear.
Filium’s board and advisory structure includes executives with backgrounds at Nike, Nordstrom Rack and Puma North America as the company continues expanding its footprint.
For Harrell, the transition is also about broadening access and representation within sustainability and outdoor industries.
“My vision is twofold,” explained Harrell. “To lead the textile industry in the PFAS-free world… and in terms of performance brands, athletic leisure, or performance clothing, to make sure that all communities are represented as well. Right now, when you think of hikers or skiers or some forms of outdoor activities, you may not think of an urban market. I want all communities to be able to excel in a PFAS-free environment and see their faces reflected in material science.”
“I want Seattle to be a leader in the PFAS-free world in textile science because we are known for innovation, environmental sustainability, and personal health,” concluded Harrell. “I have an opportunity, based on how I lead organizations, to be a big factor in this industry change. And at the same time, employing people and saving the planet.”
