As environmental and social action moves to the C-suite, fashion companies are facing intense scrutiny from consumers and new due diligence legislation aimed at increasing supply chain transparency. To meet these rising expectations, businesses are turning to lower-impact solutions and traceability technology.
Simultaneously, digitalization, particularly artificial intelligence, is transforming operations from raw materials to retail by optimizing design, factory workflows and the customer journey. Embracing these innovations is essential for future-proofing businesses, enabling them to align with customer demand, track ESG impact and drive cost efficiencies.
As a result, the call for innovative leaders has never been greater.
It’s within this context that WWD’s sister publication Sourcing Journal is presenting “Visions of Tomorrow” on July 27 in New York, which will spotlight five industry visionaries who are affecting change through innovations in sustainability, product creation, technology and manufacturing.
Honorees include True Fit chief executive officer Jessica Murphy; Beth Esponnette, cofounder of Unspun; Meg Ball, senior director of creative technology and AI enablement, Centric Brands; Carmen Gama, director of circular design at Eileen Fisher; and Sandra Gagnon, senior director, 3D product creation at Target.
Kate Nishimura, deputy editor of Sourcing Journal, said the honorees “represent the tip of the spear in revolutionizing the apparel and textile supply chain, from design and fit to a product’s end of life, using innovative processes and technology.”
When it comes to circularity, Gama said the challenge is in scaling innovation and embedding it into all operational aspects of a business. “We already, as an industry, have so much material in the world,” Gama said. “It’s not so much about how we are designing new garments, but how we build the infrastructure, the technology and the new software that supports the post-consumer supply chain to help us close the loop and bring back those garments customers no longer want.”
With technology, Esponnette said the challenge is not knowing where AI is really headed. She likened it to rafting down a river, coming to a bend, and suddenly there’s a boulder out front. You knew there would be obstacles, “so you need to make the next move knowing that you’re about to be there,” Esponnette said. “You are making that move now for what’s coming in the future. I think something that has been really challenging with understanding AI is that none of us actually know, even the people who are designing the AI, who are building it, don’t even know what it’s going to be in the future.”
Angela Velasquez, executive editor of SJ Denim and cohost of the event with Nishimura, said Visions of Tomorrow “is designed to challenge assumptions, spark new ideas and inspire a more resilient and sustainable path forward for the fashion ecosystem. The conversations happening here are not just about anticipating what’s next — they’re about building it.”
Join Sourcing Journal for an evening of panel discussions and cocktail networking to explore how technology is changing the industry, meet new contacts and celebrate innovation.
Click here to secure your spot.
