11:30

Innovations and best practice in sustainable sourcing – practical advice for a fashion business to succeed without comprising on ethics?

Tamsin Lejeune, CEO, Common Objective plus panel members including Amanda Johnson, Curator The Sustainable Angle and others

Join Tamsin Lejeune, CEO of Common Objective + panellists to get on-the-ground insights from the innovative brands and businesses that are implementing new ways of sourcing that are better for the planet. Get unique insights into what it takes to build a sourcing eco-system that can scale, without comprising on ethics.

13:30

Capital Club Event – By invitation only
Darren Topp will be in conversation with TheIndustry.fashion

Loretta Roberts of TheIndustry.fashion will be ‘in conversation’ with Darren Topp, CEO of LK Bennett

With over 30 years retail experience, Topp has previously held senior roles at Marks & Spencer and BHS. Most recently Topp was initially LK Bennett chief executive from September 2016 until March last year. He was reappointed after working with Rebecca Feng to buy the fashion retailer out of administration. In 2018, Topp caused a considerable stir with forthright comments made to a House of Commons Select Committee looking at the demise of BHS and the actions of Dominic Chappell

Topp boss will be discussing his ambitious new plans for LK Bennett following the acquisition and how he views the challenges and opportunities presented by today’s market.

15:00

Orta are one of the biggest and oldest denim companies in the world and they are writing denim’s new story: How can we move the sustainability narrative from scarcity to abundance

Zennure Danışman , Marketing and Washing Manager, Orta

• The sustainability journey
• Orta’s sustainability model
• Handprint Mission
• Biodesign Challenge 2019

11:30

How can a brand achieve continued success in an ever evolving marketplace?

Shailina Benning, Product Director at Jigsaw

– Creating a unique premium brand offering
– Setting the highest standards in sustainability and ethical consciousness
– Staying one step ahead of the consumer

13:30

What is the future of sourcing? Previously price driven, what are the key considerations for a successful sourcing strategy for the next 10 years

Panel discussion including Vanessa Harrison, Director of Buying and Sourcing, Seasalt, Ginny Hutt, Head of Product, BHS and others to be announced

– Embracing sustainability issues
– Competitiveness and risk management
– Technological developments and adaptability to consumer demand
– Smaller production runs and eliminating overstocks

The session will be moderated By Della Nelson, Design & Brand Consultant

15:00

The continued development of future technologies and innovation in action; Aiming to find concrete solutions to sustainability in denim

Panel including Mohiuddin Ahmed, CEO Pioneer denim, Tim Browne, Director, Ministry of Denim and Oya Barlas Bingul of Lenzing Fibers

– What do brands want to see in the future?
– How is consumer demand effecting change?
– What will be the manufacturing reality compared to the aspiration?

The session will be moderated by Clare Lissaman, Director of Resources and Impact at Common Objective

Tamsin Lejeune is the Founder of the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF). For 12 years Tamsin has been building a global movement in the fashion industry, spanning 141 countries. Through EFF, Tamsin has launched and grown a raft of initiatives including the worlds’s leading sustainable fashion sourcing and intelligence platform, online trade events uniting hundred ‘Common Objective’ businesses, and global awards celebrating fashion business best practice.

Amanda Johnston is the curator and educational consultant at The Sustainable Angle, having curated the sustainable textiles collection and Future Fabrics Expo since its inception. She has a background in design consultancy and education, and has co-authored two books: Fabric For Fashion, and Fabric For Fashion The Swatch Book (both published 2010; 2nd edition 2014). Amanda also teaches at London College of Fashion, acting as academic mentor on the Kering Award to embed sustainability in the curriculum. Amanda regularly runs sustainable materials workshops, presentations and seminars internationally, both at industry events and in educational forums.

With over 30 years retail experience, Topp has previously held senior roles at Marks & Spencer and BHS. Most recently Topp was initially LK Bennett chief executive from September 2016 until March last year. He was reappointed after working with Rebecca Feng to buy the fashion retailer out of administration.

Lauretta Roberts is the managing director and Editor-in-Chief of The Industry London. Previously she was a long-standing member of The Industry’s advisory board and a former editor of Drapers. Until recently Lauretta was also director of brand & propositions at the world’s leading trend forecaster WGSN.

Since her graduation from ITU Textile Engineering Zennure Danışman is weaving her story with denim. Started as a washing designer in 2010, today Zennure is the head of Marketing and Washing Department at Orta Turkey and Bahrain. Holding an Executive MBA Degree, Zennure is passionate on denim’s future. Inspired by her washing experience she is advocating sustainable denim production by applying the newest techniques and  new and emerging trends in sustainable fashion. A true travel lover Zennure is chasing both vintage objects and the last emerged technologies and innovations, everything related to denim and indigo. 

For the last 5 years Shailina has been Product Director Jigsaw, one of the UK’s top womenswear brands. Prior to this position she was for 2 years the Design and Buying Director at Monsoon and previous to that was both Global Production and Sourcing Manager for 10 years then became Director of Overseeing Buying/Sourcing/Production at Jaeger. She has huge experience of premium brands, a passion for product and for building British brands in an ever changing market.

Vanessa Harrison is the Director of Buying & Sourcing at lifestyle and clothing brand Seasalt based in Cornwall. Previously working across a number of well-known High Street brands, Vanessa has extensive experience with the challenges of sourcing and costings.

Ginny Is an experienced buying professional with close to 30 years spent in buying roles in a wide variety of retail formats from the value end to luxury retail, and including online, outlet, wholesale, licensing and franchising. She has considerable international experience as well as a grounding in UK retailing.

After graduating with Degrees in Art History and Fashion Design, my career started in 2006 with iconic designer Roland Mouret. Here, I progressed in several roles and ultimately as Managing Director (2013 – 2018). This breadth of knowledge and expertise has enabled me to dig deeply into the business, understand both its successes and failures, challenges and growing pains, and how to get past them. 

Primary experiences centered on organic growth while remaining essentially self-funded, allowing the company to maintain a clear and distinctive place within the marketplace and develop as a respected RTW category leader globally. By respecting the customer and her needs we created empowering and inclusive, yet reliable product, while honouring the strong brand codes and fashion message defined by the label’s eponymous founder. Through an agile and resilient infrastructure the company was able to achieve consistent growth, channel expansion, and profitability, while adapting to continually changing market conditions.

Working across consumer sectors in strategic business development, I now support companies by building brand and product differentiation, optimising performance, empowering teams, propelling sustainable growth, and driving profitability.

A Design Director with vast experience in global product manufacturing and leading creative and buying teams in the UK.

A denim industry veteran with over 30 years’ experience, working for leading denim brands, fabric mills and manufacturers.
He is currently involved in the organization of Bangladesh Denim Expo which actively promotes sustainable initiatives within the denim industry and is working with small independent European denim labels.

Oya Barlas Bingul has been working in the textile and fashion industry more than 17 years at international level. During this time she has been able to collect experience in various roles within sales and marketing. Oya’s competencies spread over a variety of segments in the value chain from fabrics, design, sourcing, garment making and finishing. Her strong background, together with her depth knowledge and understanding of the textile supply chain, is key to her role as Business Development Manager at Lenzing Group since 2016.

At Lenzing Group Oya looks after the brands and retailers in UK by promoting the benefits and values of Lenzing’s fibres such as TENCEL™Lyocell, TENCEL™Modal, TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ and LENZING ECOVERO™.

Clare has worked for over 20 years on sustainable trade with a particular focus on labour standards in global supply chains and fair trade. She has a background in consultancy for a number of both corporate and charitable clients including Arcadia, Fairtrade, and Karen Millen. As CO’s Director of Content & Impact, Clare is responsible for developing expert intelligence that supports fashion businesses to build sustainable supply chains and have a positive impact.