Throughout this October, the CFDA in partnership with UGG® presented a series of four virtual conversations centered around sustainable material innovations in honor of the launch of the CFDA.com Materials Hub.

Featuring experts from brands such as Deckers, For Days, Another Tomorrow, Pangaia B2B, Textile Exchange, and many more, the conversations explored topics in sourcing, supply chain, material and packaging innovation, and advice for brands looking to create a better future for people and planet.

This open-access series is now available here on CFDA.com and on CFDA’s YouTube channel.

For more information on UGG® and their FEEL GOOD platform dedicated to outlining their goals and initiatives related to sustainability and responsible design please visit: https://feelgoodfuture.ugg.com/

Fireside Chat on Sustainability + Innovation with UGG®

Understanding how other brands are navigating responsible design can help provide a blueprint for your own business. Hear through this fireside chat on ways that Deckers (whose company roster includes UGG®) are tackling their journey within responsible design and what advice can best translate for small to medium sized businesses to collectively shift the industry in to a stronger future.

Leading the conversation’s agenda were the ways that UGG as a company is tackling its journey within sustainability and innovation. The chat was structured to help show the successes and challenges a brand will face as it explore ways to integrate and grow responsible design practices across the supply chain in a hope of ensuring that other brands can best prepare for their own explorations into these areas.

Ericsson noted the various areas of focus, alliances needed, organizational goals, priorities, and more that come together to create their overarching sustainable strategies.

Additionally, Ericsson noted how young designers should begin for responsible design practices in smaller supply chains. Ericsson offered advice on the importance of seeing supply chains first-hand, showing transparency, and recognizing that the sustainability journey may be never-ending and always evolving and should be focused on “progress not perfection.”

Featuring:

Nicks Ericsson | Director of Product Marketing at UGG®

Cal McNeil | Associate Director of Program Strategies at CFDA

Introduction to Materials Hub + Learnings from Brand Leaders

This session kicks off with a short site walkthrough of the new CFDA Materials Hub and best practices in navigating the site’s various components. Following the site walkthrough, a moderated discussion with brands explores both challenges and successes that each brand has encountered as they navigate and integrate responsible business practices related to sourcing and innovation.

Featuring:

John Graebin | VP of Global Product Development and Materials at Deckers Brands

Kristy Caylor | Founder at For Days

Vanessa Barboni Hallik | CEO at Another Tomorrow

Yotam Solomon | Creative Director at Covalent

Moderator | Cal McNeil, Associate Director of Program Strategies at CFDA

Leaders in Fiber / Material Innovation

Hear from experts working on solutions to some of the industry’s greatest problems across material sourcing and innovation while discovering tangible ways you as a designer can begin to integrate change through collaboration with these leaders and others.

Featuring:

Beth Jensen | Climate + Strategy Director at Textile Exchange

Christine Goulay | Global Director at Pangaia B2B

Nicole Rawling | CEO at Material Innovation Initiative

Regina Polanco | CEO at PYRATEX®

Moderator | Tara St. James, VP of Sustainability at Another Tomorrow, Founder at Re:Source(d)

Leaders in Packaging Innovation

Packaging has become one of the most impactful ways as a designer you can integrate more responsible materials in to your supply chain. Learn from the leaders across the packaging sector through this moderated discussion and obtain key insights to what it takes to add these responsible options in to your business, including polybag and hanger alternatives, and more.

Featuring:

Flavien Chaussegros | Co-Founder at The Invisible Company

Michael Waas | VP North America at TIPA

Neda Eneva | Director, Global Brand, Marketing and Communications at Arch & Hook

Saloni Doshi | CEO at EcoEnclose

Moderator | Tara St. James, VP of Sustainability at Another Tomorrow, Founder at Re:Source(d)