Hi friends,

There’s a lot happening in sustainable fashion right now. So much, actually, that it’s easy to feel like you’re barely keeping up even if you are constantly reading, scrolling, asking ChatGPT, and getting summaries of summaries.

But, I believe that the truest form of clarity comes from talking to people, asking questions, and hearing how others are actually thinking through things in real time.

The good news is there are a lot of places to do that right now. Small events, webinars, panels, conversations… some structured, some more casual, but all of them trying to make sense of where the industry is going.

Here is the masterlist for the rest of April and May.

Stay bold,

Donatela

Supply Chain & Traceability

April 20, 2026 | In-Person | Berlin, Germany

Partnership for Sustainable Textiles Kick-Off: Day 1

Festive public launch of the new “Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles” network, open to management level and press. Read more

April 21, 2026 | In-Person | Berlin, Germany

Partnership for Sustainable Textiles Kick-Off: Day 2

Working-level sessions for current and potential network participants. Read more

April 22, 2026 | In-Person | London, UK

Drapers Supply Chain Summit

Forward-thinking fashion leaders reimagine how fashion is made and moved. Free for brands and retailers. Read more

April 23, 2026 | Online

The DPP Moment: What's Changed and What It Means for Your Business

45-minute briefing on where the EU Digital Product Passport stands today, how converging regulations (PPWR, Forced Labour, Textile Labelling) connect to the same product data, and what brands need to do now. Read more

April 29, 2026 | Online

AAFA: Affirming Supply Chain Traceability

Traceability tools and strategies for apparel and footwear supply chains. Open to industry professionals; non-member fee may apply. Read more

Nature

May 20, 2026 | Online

Innovation Forum: Soil as a Tool for Building Climate-Resilient Supply Chains

Webinar exploring how soil health can be integrated into sustainable sourcing and supply chain strategy. Read more

Subscribe now

Circularity & Materials

April 20, 2026 | In-Person | Raleigh, NC

Threads of Impact: From Breakthrough Materials to Global Brands

Keynote and fireside chat exploring how founders are turning climate intent into scalable solutions, from mission-driven brand building (Cotopaxi) to next-generation materials (Keel Labs) and supply chain decarbonization. Read more

April 22-23, 2026 | Hybrid | Brussels, Belgium

ECESP Annual Conference 2026

“A Competitive and Fair Circular Europe” - European Commission and EESC sessions on the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Read more

April 23, 2026 | In-Person | San Francisco, CA

Lessons from the Front Lines of Circular Fashion

Candid panel with sustainability leaders from Cotopaxi, Rothy's, Gravel & Gold, Treet and Alu on what actually works in resale, repair, and rental, the operational realities of running circular programs, and how consumer behavior is shaping the next phase. Read more

April 29, 2026 | In-Person | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Operational Circularity Workshop

Interactive workshop led by Hans Leijen of the Circular Supply Chain Network on how to design scalable circular supply chains, sharing real challenges and opportunities from circular projects in practice. Hosted at AMS Institute for circular startups. Read more

April 29-30, 2026 | In-Person | Charlotte, NC

Textiles Recycling Expo USA

North America’s first dedicated textile recycling expo with 95+ exhibitors and 50+ speakers from across the global textile value chain. Read more

May 1, 2026 | Online

The Global Journey of Secondhand Clothes: Insights from Ghana

Research presentation and Q&A with Yale post-doctoral researcher Meital Peleg Mizrachi on the environmental and economic dynamics of the global secondhand clothing trade, common misconceptions, and what it means for brands exploring circularity and resale. Read more

May 5, 2026 | Online

Ecosystex: Scaling Textile Repair and Reuse in European Urban Centres

EU-funded webinar on systemic levers for textile repair and reuse at a city level. Read more

Compliance & Policy

April 21, 2026 | In-Person | Washington, DC

Fashion and the Climate Crisis: Policy and Innovation for a Cleaner Industry

Panel on the legislative landscape shaping fashion, including sustainability standards and supply chain transparency, followed by a sustainable fashion showcase and networking. Read more

April 22, 2026 | In-Person | Berkeley, CA

Design for Compliance: Textile EPR in California

Deep-dive workshop into SB 707, California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act, co-developed by Fashion Is Outrageous and the California Product Stewardship Council. Includes co-creation exercises, policy discussion, and mapping sessions. Read more

April 27, 2026 | Online

AAFA: Sustainability Claims and Biobased Verification

How to make and substantiate credible sustainability and biobased product claims. Read more

May 7, 2026 | London

Digital Product Passport Workshop

In-person workshop focused on the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and its impact on real world trade. Read more

May 20, 2026 | Online

AAFA: ESG Compliance, 2026 and Beyond

Navigating ESG regulations and compliance obligations in fashion and footwear for the year ahead. Read more

General

April 22, 2026 | Online

Global Fashion Agenda: Fashion Impact Toolkit, Turning Complexity into Clarity

GFA x Deloitte webinar presenting their open-source toolkit to help fashion companies map and navigate sustainability priorities. Read more

April 24, 2026 | In-Person | San Francisco, CA

Dinner With Fashion Friends during SF Climate Week

Small dinner for professionals working on traceability, materials, circularity, and transparency inside fashion brands. Read more

May 15, 2026 | In-Person | London, UK

Dinner With Sustainable Fashion Friends: London Edition

Intimate dinner (10 seats) for professionals working on traceability, materials, circularity, and transparency inside fashion brands. Read more

June 17, 2026 | In-Person | New York, NY

Dinner With Sustainable Fashion Friends: New York Edition

Intimate dinner (10 seats) for professionals working on traceability, materials, circularity, and transparency inside fashion brands. Read more

PS: I keep this free so every sustainability professional can access it. If you’re getting value from it, consider upgrading. You’ll get quarterly 1:1s with me and support for your trickiest dilemmas. Think of it as taking me out for a coffee. ☕️

Let's set up a coffee chat

After working on traceability of “deforestation free” leather, Coach is now under scrutiny for, you guessed it:

Deforestation linked leather in its supply chain.

A 2025 Earthsight investigation connected part of its leather sourcing to cattle ranching on illegally deforested Amazon land. Researchers combined satellite imagery, shipping records, and court documents to trace hides from those ranches into tanneries supplying Coach.

Here is the truth:

More can always be done.

But perfection is not the goal. Continuous risk reduction, improvements, and better decisions are.

Brands can identify, assess, and mitigate risks with better tools and better data. And they can build stronger relationships with suppliers.

The second one is harder.

So here are some free tools to help you understand potential risks in your supply chain:

Water Risk

WWF Water Risk Filter. NGO tool assessing water scarcity, pollution, flooding, and ecosystem threats at basin level. Best for understanding local water impacts. Link.

WRI Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. NGO tool combining satellite data and hydrological models to map current and future water stress. Best for comparing risks across countries and regions under climate scenarios. Link.

Water, Peace and Security Tool. Partnership-led tool using satellite data and machine learning to identify regions where water scarcity may drive instability. Link.

Subscribe now

Biodiversity & Forests

WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter. NGO tool combining global datasets on species, ecosystems, and protected areas to flag biodiversity risks at facility or sourcing locations. Link.

FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment. UN/FAO resource with official national data on forest conditions, biomass, land use, and long-term deforestation trends. Link.

Global Forest Watch. Satellite-based platform providing near real-time alerts on tree cover loss, fires, and land clearing linked to agriculture and cattle ranching. Link.

Physical Climate Risks Exposure

ImpactLab Climate Impact Map. Research consortium tool showing localized future heat stress, mortality, agriculture, and energy impacts. Link.

World Bank Climate Screening Tools. International tool for assessing national climate and disaster risk relevant to development projects. Link.

Land Rights

LandMark Indigenous Lands Map. NGO consortium map showing Indigenous and community land rights worldwide. Link.

Human Rights & Labor Risks

Responsible Sourcing Tool. US State Department and Verité collaboration mapping forced labor and trafficking risks across commodities and regions. Link.

UFLPA Entity List. United States Government list of entities linked to forced labor in Xinjiang. Link.

UN Global Compact Living Wage Tool. UN-affiliated self-assessment tool to help companies benchmark actions toward paying a living wage. Link.

Fair-Price. Online costing tool that helps apparel brands and suppliers calculate transparent, fact-based garment prices. Link.

SDG Index Dashboards. SDSN tool ranking countries on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Link.

Subscribe now

Other

Resource Watch. WRI-led open-data platform aggregating environmental, climate, and social indicators across hundreds of datasets. Link.

Open Supply Hub. Open, collaborative supplier database where brands and NGOs upload facility information. Lets you look up a factory and see which other companies have claimed the same supplier, revealing overlaps and shared risks. Link.

WWF SIGHT. Satellite-based geospatial tool mapping environmental risks around facility coordinates, including water stress, habitat loss, and deforestation. Link.

One final thought.

These tools are not fool proof, but they are a starting point to understand potential risks and have more informed conversations with your suppliers. Use them to guide your questions, not to replace relationships. Visibility comes from both.

Like these tips? Apply to our community of sustainability professionals at fashion brands to share resources and learnings, La Positive Society.

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"Would you be open to chatting about your experience working in sustainability?"

I hear this constantly. And I take some of the calls because I know what it's like to feel in your bones that you have to do something and can no longer be complicit in the machine that is actively destroying our future. Woah, that got deep and dark fast. You get what I am saying.

When I take those calls, it breaks my heart when they tell me they've applied to 100+ jobs with barely a response. Or maybe they got to the final round. Or, maybe even worse, they got completely ghosted.

Because here's a truth: there are wayyyy more people looking for sustainability roles than roles available. Especially these days. Especially in fashion.

How it got started

Back when I was at McKinsey, I built a team called ESG Insights, McKinsey's home for ESG data, tools, and experts. Part of my role was finding great talent and hiring them. Probably this was my favorite part. It felt like collecting baseball cards, each team member bringing something unique and awesome.

We'd get hundreds of applications with exceptional resumes, and I was part of every hiring decision. Not one person we hired had a mediocre resume. Not because we only cared about that, but because your resume signals much more than your experience: whether you've read the job description, your attention to detail, and your professionalism.

This brings me to today. I’m no longer at McKinsey. As some of you know, I’m building Alu, an AI-powered platform that helps small and medium-sized brands stay compliant, trace their supply chains, and collect the data they need from suppliers.

But I still get the requests.

Daily chat requests + an industry that needs help + my experience reading hundreds of resume = I decided to offer help.

This opened the flood gates.

Because when I offered free 15-minute resume reviews a few months back, I was inundated with 80+ applications from passionate and eager people trying to break into sustainable fashion.

The patterns were painfully clear. Almost every single person made the same mistakes.

Before we get started: Different countries and industries have different norms. What I'm sharing here is based on my experience and should be considered guidance, but always tailor to the jobs you are applying for.

To start, a quick reality check

7.4 seconds.

That is how much time your resume gets. Before that crucial moment, it has to survive the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) robots that most companies use to filter applications.

So, my tips are tailored to both humans and robots. If you have any questions, please leave a comment or Ask Resi (more on this below).

Here are the 10 most critical fixes that will transform your resume from invisible to interview-worthy.

1. Say goodbye to the vague experience descriptions

This is the number one killer I see. Instead of showing what you actually did or accomplished, you're listing job duties that could apply to anyone. Ask yourself: What did I actually do? If I was someone else, would I be able to envision what I actually did?

Also, hiring managers want to see results, not just responsibilities. Numbers tell a story that generic statements can't.

Don’t write like this:

• "Responsible for sustainability initiatives" - which ones? what was the impact?

• “Lead integration of sustainable materials” - which? how?

• "Managed vendor relationships" - how many? what do you mean?

Instead write like this:

• "Led supply chain ESRA audits across 25 suppliers in Bangladesh and Vietnam, implementing corrective action plans that reduced water usage by 23%, emissions by 9%, and increased the average audit scores by 35%"

• "Performed supply chain mapping using TrusTrace, increasing traceability by 40p.p. and achieving 34% traceability at Tier 4.”

• “Conducted human rights due diligence of 120+ Tier 1 and 2 suppliers in accordance with CSDDD draft guidelines using Worldfavor tool.”

• “Collaborated with Design, R&D and MycoWorks to pilot next-gen materials (e.g., mycelium leather) across 7 SKUs.”

The difference? Specificity, scope, and measurable impact.

Now, someone who reads your resume can not only imagine what you did, but get excited about what you can bring to their team.

Beware: this does not mean writing full paragraphs, you still have to be concise.

Generic descriptions are forgettable or, worse, make it hard to understand what you actually did and whether your experience matches what the brand is looking for. Specific achievements with numbers tell a more compelling story.

2. Fix your formatting for ATS systems and human Eyes

I can't tell you how many beautifully designed resumes I've seen that would be completely mangled by an ATS system. But, even if it somehow survives ATS systems, cluttered formatting kills your chances.

Avoid this:

• Multiple columns (confuses both ATS and human readers)

• Text boxes and tables

• Fancy graphics or icons (this might vary by role)

• Decorative lines

• Creative fonts

• Photos or headshots (this might vary by region)

• Long sentences with little white space

What works for both ATS and humans:

• Single-column layout throughout

• Standard fonts (Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman)

• 11-12 pt font size

• Clear, bold section headers that catch the eye

• PDF format

• Short, bulleted accomplishments instead of paragraph descriptions

• Plenty of white space

So, overall, boring formatting wins. You can play around with legible fonts and light colored backgrounds, but that is about it.

In conclusion, don’t submit this.

3. Include industry-specific keywords, but don’t overdo it

If you're applying to sustainability roles but your resume doesn't mention industry-specific terms, you're invisible to the ATS, and, to some humans.

Include important keywords at the intersection of your experience and what the job role is looking for.

Here are some of the keywords that I have seen matter (but, tailor to the role):

• Frameworks: GRI, SASB, CDP, ISSB, TCFD, SBTi, GHG Protocol, ISO, UN SDGs, EcoVadis

• Certifications: GOTS, RCS, GRS, OCS, bluesign®, OEKO-TEX, FSC, Fair Trade, SA8000, B Corp

• Key Concepts: Circularity, life-cycle assessment (LCA), scope 3 emissions, traceability, digital product passports, Supply-chain due-diligence, corrective action plans (CAPs), audits

• Include specifics like regulations, standards, tools, next-gen materials, etc.

Keywords are great for ATS systems and also for human looking for specific experience.

Pro tip: Review 10+ job descriptions for your target roles and identify recurring terms. Include them naturally where you have genuine experience. You might be able to feed these descriptions to ChatGPT, Claude, etc. to help you figure out the most relevant keywords.

But, do NOT overdo it. What I mean is don’t do this:

“Supported collection of transaction certificates including GOTS, SFA, RWS, GRS, OCS, FSC, Fair Trade, OEKO-TEX, SA8000, bluesign®, BCI, RCS, RDS, RSL, MRSL, REACH, AGEC Law, and ZDHC across multiple suppliers.”

4. Write a great and compelling professional summary

Your professional summary is prime real estate, it's often the only section that gets read in those critical 7.4 seconds. Most people waste it with career objectives or vague personality descriptors.

Make it objectives, include some of those juicy keywords, and stand out.

What to include:

• 5-7 lines, written in third person

• Objective

• Total years in the space (if 5+ years)

• Functional focus areas (traceability, audits, ESG, circularity)

• Specific tools or frameworks you've used

• Key achievements with quantifiable results

Skip these:

• First-person language ("I am passionate about...")

• Vague adjectives ("results-driven," "detail-oriented", “entrepeneurial”) - this would be considered subjective

• Career objectives ("seeking a role where I can...")

5. Structure your experience section properly

The order and format of your experience section matters for both ATS parsing and human readability.

Correct format:

• Company name on the left, then location

• Dates indented on the right

• Job title underneath the company name

• Start each role with a one-sentence context overview

• Use 2-4 bullet points per role, maximum 2 lines each

This structure helps ATS systems parse your information correctly while making it easy for humans to scan quickly.

The eye-tracking study found that recruiters spend more time on job titles than any other element, so make sure these are bolded and easy to scan.

6. Optimize your header information

Here is an easy one. Your header needs to be professional and ATS-friendly:

Include:

• Full name at the top

• Professional email address

• LinkedIn with hyperlink

• City/Country (state/region optional)

• Phone number is ok as well

Avoid:

• Unprofessional email addresses

• Full home addresses (city is sufficient)

• Multiple phone numbers

• Social media links unless professionally relevant

7. Keep education relevant and concise, unless…

For most sustainability fashion roles, your education section should be straightforward:

Include:

• University/college name

• Degree type and field

• Graduation year (if recent graduate or legally required)

For new graduates (<2 years experience):

• Relevant coursework

• Thesis projects related to sustainability, circularity, supply chains, etc.

• Grades if impressive (and contextualize e.g., 3.5/4.0 or 90th percentile)

For experienced professionals: Keep it simple. Your experience matters more than your coursework from years ago.

8. Merge or remove unnecessary sections

This one is a bit controversial.

Many resumes include sections that don’t add value, and can even hurt your chances by taking up space that could be used for more relevant content. Here’s what to remove and what to keep:

Consider Removing:

• Separate “Skills” sections. Instead, weave technical tools and competencies directly into your experience bullets, unless, you have way too many or you are applying for a very technical role that specifies a lot of skills

• Generic or unrelated certifications. Skip anything that doesn’t align with the role.

• Hobbies/interests. Unless they directly reinforce your sustainability mindset (e.g., thrift shopping, running a zero-waste blog), or you feel EXTREMELY passionate about, leave them out.

• References. Leave off the “references available upon request” line. If they want them, they’ll ask.

Keep Only If Relevant:

• Industry-specific certifications. GOTS, OEKO-TEX, RCS, SLCP, etc. If you have too many to include in your job experience, list them in a separate section.

• Volunteer work related to sustainability or fashion. Great way to show values-alignment or fill a gap in your timeline, specially if not enough experience otherwise.

• Awards that align with the job. Especially if they relate to leadership, innovation, sustainability, or impact.

9. Tailor to each application

This is the most important tip: one-size-fits-all resumes don't work.

For each application:

• Study the job description and identify 5-10 key requirements

• Adjust your professional summary to highlight relevant experience

• Reorder bullet points to emphasize most relevant achievements

• Include specific keywords from the job posting

• Match your experience descriptions to their needs

Pro tip: Create a master resume with all your experiences, then customize versions for different types of roles (sourcing vs. compliance vs. strategy).

10. Be creative on where you look for a job

I always tell people:

Choose 2 of the 3: location, company, role. But, you cannot choose all 3.

Assuming you are looking for sustainability roles: You can be picky about location and role, but not company. Or company and role, but not location. But you cannot be picky about location, company, AND role, unless you have a lot of time to find the right job. I'm not saying it's impossible. I'm just saying it takes a lot of luck and patience.

Regarding creativity,

Look for jobs with NGOs, boutique consulting firms, nonprofits, suppliers, and startups.

When I was at McKinsey, I did research on sustainability organizations, and what I learned is that most companies outsource the work to others (like consultants, software, etc.). So, consider working for a sustainability reporting startup, ESG consultancy, or other companies that work with brands on sustainability topics.

I think it takes a lot of courage to go into the field, and sometimes also a lot of patience and commitment. If you don't have the runway, I also suggest applying to other jobs that are not in sustainability but within a sustainability company. For instance, Director of Materials & Product Development at Pact.

Why I built an AI resume coach

I wanted to help everyone personally, but there's only one of me. The volume of requests was overwhelming, and I knew there were hundreds more people struggling with the same issues.

So I built an AI coach trained specifically on what sustainability hiring managers are looking for in fashion resumes (although I think anyone would find it helpful). It knows the industry keywords, understands ATS requirements, and can review every section of your resume. It also offers more tips, and bonus LinkedIn advice.

My hope is that you can go from generic resume tips to tailored advice just for you.

Check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments!

Leave a comment

Mi last thoughts

These changes might not guarantee you land that role, but they will increase your chances.

And, remember: networking and warm introductions are still the best way to land interviews. Your optimized resume opens doors, but relationships get you hired.

Your dream sustainability job is out there.

Now, go get it.

Let’s become friends, you can find me on LinkedIn.

What keeps you up at night? Tell me by filling out the survey, and I will cover it next.

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First, here are great podcasts for sustainability people at SME brands.

When I need the big picture:

• A Matter of Degrees with Dr. Leah Strokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson makes climate systems and solutions clear.

• Green Dreamer with Kamea Chayne goes deep into the roots of sustainability and justice.

• Climate Rising by Harvard Business School connects business decisions with climate impact.

For the nitty-gritty operational stuff:

• Source of Good by Cascale features great sustainable supply chain stories

• Wardrobe Crisis with Clare Press is eye-opening on fashion industry impact

• Supply Chain Revolution with Sheri R. Hinish explores how supply chains can drive sustainability, equity, and innovation

Understanding what makes customers tick and how to tell your story:

• Green Behavior by Brittany Sierra looks at what drives consumer purchasing decisions when it comes to sustainability

• Sustain This? with Alyssa Beltempo, Signe Hansen, and Christina Mychas unpacks the messy realities of sustainability and storytelling

• Conscious Chatter with Krestel Jenkins highlights voices shaping fashion, ethics, and conscious consumerism

Circular economy made simple:

• The Untangling Circularity Podcast with Cynthia Power and Laura Novich makes circular economy concepts clear and accessible.

• The Circular Economy Show by Ellen MacArthur Foundation features real-world examples from brands and policymakers.

• Upstream Circularity by Global Fashion Agenda includes actionable insights on reducing waste in fashion.

Because we all need leadership, but, also, sustainability skills:

• Dare to Lead with Brené Brown dives into courageous leadership and values-based work.

• Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review shares real coaching sessions on influence and growth.

• Second Nature by Commons explores how we live sustainability through mindset and daily choices.

.

Circularity

Textile Waste Segregation and Traceability, March 2025

With all the circular economy buzz happening in fashion right now, this conversation between Marina Chahboune and Nin Castle couldn't be more timely. A great podcast if you want to understand how digital traceability could finally make textile-to-textile recycling work at scale.

Listen here

Circular Materials: Polycotton Recycling with Kathleen Rademan and Katina Boutis, May 2025

This episode totally changed how I think about textile waste. If you've ever wondered what happens to all those cotton-poly blend clothes we toss, this 42-minute deep dive will blow your mind. The technical innovation happening in circular textiles right now is super exciting!

Listen here

Closing the Loop by Recycling Apparel: Reju CEO Patrik Frisk, June 2025

This episode of Harvard Business School's Climate Rising features ReJu CEO Patrik Frisk (former Under Armour leader) on recycling textile waste into circular polyester supply chains. Drawing on 35 years industry experience, Frisk explains transforming discarded polyester blends into new fiber, tackling complex sorting and processing logistics at commercial scale. Covers policy trends like extended producer responsibility and circular economy career advice. Listen here.

Chemical Safety

Ben Mead of OEKO-TEX on What Brands Should Be Doing to Mitigate Toxic Chemicals, May 2025

With all the policy chaos happening around tariffs and supply chain regulations, this conversation with Ben Mead couldn't be more timely. He breaks down exactly what brands need to know about navigating toxic chemical regulations across global supply chains. Essential listening if you're trying to make sense of the shifting regulatory landscape.

Listen here

Human Rights

Human Rights and the True Cost of Fashion - It's Time to Get Real, May 2025

Clare Press doesn't pull any punches in this one. The conversation about modern slavery in fashion supply chains is uncomfortable but absolutely necessary. This 51-minute episode recorded live in Sydney tackles the hard questions about what it would actually mean to build the true cost into fashion pricing.

Listen here

Consumer Behavior and Storytelling

How Can Marketers Turn Ideas into Impactful Action?, June 2025

This episode of The Circular Economy Show explores how marketers can shift from linear consumption to circular opportunities. Featuring Diageo's Deb Caldow and Accenture Song's Rachel O'Reilly, the discussion covers storytelling for circular products, aligning supply with demand, and building internal buy-in for experimentation. Actionable insights on turning sustainable concepts into scalable strategies that deliver economic and environmental wins. Listen here.

Sustainability Strategy

B-Corp Month: Gearing Up for Good with Cotopaxi, March 2025

With all the greenwashing skepticism in outdoor retail right now, this conversation with Annie Agle couldn't be more timely. She breaks down exactly what the B-Corp certification process actually requires and how Cotopaxi built sustainability into every department from day one. Essential listening if you're trying to separate authentic purpose-driven brands from the marketing noise. Listen here

How one brand is changing what it means to be sustainable (ft Izzie Kalaja & Frankie4 Shoes), June 2025

With all the sustainability marketing noise in fashion right now, this conversation with Izzie Kalaja from Frankie4 couldn't be more refreshing. Give it a listen if you're tired of green marketing fluff and want to hear what responsible business practices look like in reality. Listen here

Industry Collaboration

Stepping into Action: Meet the Footwear Collective, June 2025

The footwear industry explores collective action for sustainability in this episode covering materials innovation, supply chain transparency, and environmental impact. From circularity challenges to scaling sustainable materials, it tackles how an industry built on leather and rubber plans to meet climate commitments. Listen here.

Supply Chain

Old-School Sustainability: A Visit to Australia's Longest-Running Weaving Mill, June 2025

This episode of Clare Press's Wardrobe Crisis visits Waverley Mills in Tasmania, Australia's oldest operating weaving mill. From WWII army blankets to the world's first recycled denim blanket with Nudie Jeans, the show explores how heritage manufacturing evolves through local wool processing, ethical production, and fibre sovereignty. It highlights the multi-generational community preserving traditional textile skills against global supply chain dominance. Listen here.

When Fashion Lost Its Voice, June 2025

This episode of The Business of Fashion Podcast examines fashion's silence amid immigration raids targeting garment workers, contrasting with vocal Black Lives Matter support. Brian Baskin, Sheena Butler-Young, and Cat Chen explore brands' fear of political backlash, the shift from performative allyship to practical worker protection, and why values-driven consumers tire of empty corporate statements. Reveals how fashion lacks concrete resources to protect vulnerable workers when policies impact their workforce. Listen here.

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Have ideas on what should be featured? Whether it is podcasts, reports, case studies, or articles, I want to hear about it.

Feature this!

Bananas, pineapples, apples… and spiders.

No, this isn’t the start of a smoothie recipe, or a horror movie. These are just a few of the unlikely players in the next generation of fashion materials.

Why?

Because only 1% of clothing gets recycled into new textiles. The other 99%? It ends up in landfills or goes up in smoke, literally.

If we want a different outcome, we need better inputs. That’s where material innovation comes in. From fruit waste to fungi, a wave of startups is reimagining what fabric can be.

But there’s a catch.

According to Fashion for Good’s Scaling Next-Gen Materials report, we’re not moving fast enough. Most of these innovations are stuck in what’s known as the commercialization gap, a limbo where they’re proven but still too expensive to scale. Even though demand is projected to outpace supply by 2030, we’re dragging our feet.

So what’s a brand to do?

The report outlines four levers that can help turn this around:

• Increase demand

• Finance the transition

• Streamline supply chains

• Embed it into brand strategy

I’m sharing a curated database of startups and providers at the forefront of next-gen material innovation. Whether you’re a designer looking for sustainable options or a brand ready to make a switch, this is for you.

Here is the link to the database.