Drapers Talks

Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference 2024 - CottonConnect, Primark, and New Look

Retracing fashion's steps to build in sustainability
Understanding how and where fashion retailers are tackling sustainability is critical: these changes – even seemingly small ones – can have a huge impact. Our panel explored:
How are fashion retailers creating products built to last, and reducing overconsumption? Exploring materials efficiency and longevity, ways of designing differently, and approaches to limiting overproduction;
Which projects and partnerships are driving change? Optimising collaboration between brands, suppliers, industry bodies and beyond;
Changing consumer behaviour: exploring the role fashion retail plays, and uncovering initiatives to drive this.
Alison Ward
Chief executive - CottonConnect
 
Lynne Walker
Director of Primark Cares - Primark
 
Susan Fairley
Head of sourcing, quality and sustainability - New Look
 
Tom Berry
Independent advisor - Tom Berry Sustainability Consulting
 

Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference 2024 - Finisterre, John Lewis Partnership, The North Face and SATCol

Rethinking revenue streams: accelerating growth via circular business models
Fashion resale, rental, repair and recycling are at the beginning of a rapid growth projection. Our panel of speakers hosted a deep dive into the opportunities offered by circular business models, including:
Rethinking customer experiences, changing consumption habits and reimagining ownership: exploring journeys around rental, repair, reworking, resale and beyond
Discussing the additional benefits of alternative revenue streams, from customer loyalty to data
Rethinking and re-educating consumers around end of life - from takeback to closed-loop technology
Adele Gingell
head of positive impact - Finisterre
 
Catherine Loader
sustainability manager - John Lewis Partnership
 
Julian Lings
senior sustainability manager - The North Face
 
Majonne Frost
head of environment and sustainability - SATCoL

Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference 2024 - Boden, Hirestreet, M&S and Zedify

Play your part: cohesively threading sustainability across the value chain
From sustainable materials to consumer strategies and scope 3 targets, everyone across the fashion retail industry needs to be on the same page to reach sustainability goals. How can retailers, brands, manufacturers and suppliers all play their part? Our speakers discussed:
Outlining sustainability obligations: does everyone in the value chain know what is required from them?
How to build collaboration into your day-to day working
Where are products, processes and partnerships working well; what can we learn from this?
Ben Dreyer
Strategy, sustainability and operations director - Boden
 
Isabella West
Founder and chief executive - Hirestreet
 
Katharine Beacham
Head of materials and sustainability in clothing and home - Marks & Spencer
 
Rob King
Co-founder and chief executive - Zedify

Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference 2024 - Drapers' Den

Our pick of the best sustainable companies to watch pitched head-to-head to our expert judging panel:
Natalie Binns, sustainable fashion consultant, Priya Downes, founder at Nudea and Touker Suleyman, chairman at Hawes & Curtis.
 
4 startups battled for the chance to win the title of the ‘One to Watch’ at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards later that evening, as well as some mentoring support from industry leaders. 
For the first time this year, the audience had the chance to vote for their favourite via a live poll. The audience vote will accounted for 25% of the overall scores.
To find out who won, you can check out our coverage here.

Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023 - Michael Thomson, founder & CEO, Pour Moi

Michael Thomson closed the conference in conversation with Jill Geoghegan, discussing leading a business through change.

Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023 - Building and embodying core company values

The core values you hold as a company and as a leader are the guiding principles that can influence everything you do, and underpin your business’ personality: how do you and your business shape, live and breathe them?

Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023 - David Gandy, founder, David Gandy Wellwear

David Gandy, founder of David Gandy Wellwear, told Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023 why he decided to launch the business two years ago and where he sees the market heading.

Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023 - Paul Marchant, CEO, Primark

Paul Marchant, CEO of Primark, kicked off Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023. He identified ways the retailer is progressing with its click and collect offering, international expansion and making headway with its sustainability strategies.

Drapers Future of Fashion 23 - Ger Wright, managing director of sport, Frasers Group

Supercharging the next generation of British retail
Delving into the 360 elevation strategy that is driving the sports arm of Frasers Group into a new era - from shaping experience-led stores to building relationships with key brand partners that resonate with and inspire consumers.

Drapers Future of Fashion 23 - fashion retail’s growth opportunities

What matters to fashion consumers in 2023? How should brands be responding, disrupting, and innovating?
Are new clothes being viewed as an unaffordable luxury today? Or is a price-conscious mindset driving the need for higher-quality, longer-lasting clothing?
How much is price driving the growth of alternative models versus a sustainable mindset?
Which regions offer growth potential in today’s challenging climate, and how can you make an impact in new markets?
Panellists include:
Eshita Kabra-Davies, Founder and CEO, By Rotation
Beth Pettet, head of fashion brands, John Lewis
Heather Wight, tax technology solutions manager, Avalara
Moderated by Emma Finamore, features editor, Drapers