Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week marked its most international event to date, with sustainable Spanish designs also a highlight.
Key Takeaways
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week marked a wide array of bridal, evening, and red carpet fashion at its event held in April. According to show organizer Fira de Barcelona, this edition was its most international to date. This edition attracted nearly 23,500 visitors, 81 percent of whom were international attendees from 107 countries, the highest in its history. The trade show featured nearly 420 exhibiting brands from 37 countries, 87 percent of which were international — representing the highest proportion for the event to date.
The first three days of the event showcased runway collections from 34 designers. The collections presented a wide-ranging take on the trends that will define the 2027 season – including sustainability. On day one, designer Barcelona-based bridal brand Yolancris – founded by sisters Yolanda and Cristina Pérez in 2005 – demonstrated a modern commitment to sustainable, handcrafted, and locally-produced wedding fashion. Feather-dotted frocks and crocheted details took over the runway with 80’s pop hits energizing a lively crowd.
Marta Martí was another Barcelona-based bridal and guest fashion brand that stood out for its focus on slow fashion, local production, and sustainable craftsmanship. Founded by designer Marta Martí, the firm emphasizes artisanal techniques, custom-made designs, and high-quality, responsible sourcing of fabrics, aiming to avoid mass production.
Spanish bridal brand INUÑEZ, founded by Isabel Nuñez, featured understated made-to-measure and artisanal production methods in modern twists like a billowy suit set.
Meanwhile at Unbridled Studio, the focus was on giving wedding looks a revival for everyday wear. The Liverpool-based, U.K.-made bridal brand focused on modern sustainability through multifunctional, re-wearable designs, and ethical sourcing. Highlights included cropped dresses with corset waists and bubble hems.
Exhibitors such as The Touch Barcelona explored the persistence of natural elements like feathers and mohair to adorn winter bridal looks. Victoria Espar Almeda, part of a mother-daughter design duo, told Cascale she prefers the use of more natural materials for the longevity and luxurious look.
The next edition of BBFW will take place from April 14 to 18, 2027 at Fira’s Montjuïc venue, with the intent of furthering international creative reach.
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff attended the “Design for Compliance: Textile EPR in California” event during Los Angeles Climate Week.
Last week in Los Angeles, Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, senior director of communications at Cascale, had the opportunity to attend the “Design for Compliance: Textile EPR in California” event during Los Angeles Climate Week (LACW) – a week that brings together a range of events and conversations across sectors exploring climate solutions, policy, and innovation.
LACW discussions affect not only fellow Angelenos, but also the world – as California ranks as the fourth largest economy. Those specific to textile, apparel, and footwear manufacturing are particularly of interest, given that Los Angeles is also the largest apparel manufacturing hub in the United States.
Quick Recap of LACW:
Fashion is Outrageous and the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) co-hosted the event which was held at the Little City Farm urban regenerative farm and zero-waste event space. It brought together designers, circularity stakeholders, and experts including Nayantara Banerjee, workforce development manager at the Garment Worker Center and Paul Asplund-Dirani, co-executive director of Project Ropa, which provides clothing to people experiencing homelessness. Event attendees were encouraged to explore and express these ideas through creative exploration led by Gabrille Miller and Kestrel Jenkins, co-founders of FIO.
Joanne Brasch, director of advocacy and outreach at CPSC, led the discussion on how California is moving from policy design to implementation for SB 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, which is the nation’s first statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for textiles. The conversation focused not only on the policy landscape, but also on what implementation will require in practice — from infrastructure readiness to producer obligations and system coordination.
While Climate Week conversations often focus on emerging solutions and future pathways, CPSC’s perspective highlighted the sustained stakeholder engagement and coalition-building required to bring SB 707 forward. A clear takeaway was that “design for compliance” is increasingly becoming synonymous with designing for system readiness, linking product design decisions directly to recovery infrastructure and material flows – connecting design, policy, and end-of-life systems.
The conversation was especially relevant to discussions happening during climate weeks held around the globe. Across sectors, there is increasing attention on how climate goals translate into implementation — particularly where policy, industry systems, and infrastructure intersect.
As Cascale approaches its 2026 Annual Meeting, held in Athens this September, participants are increasingly challenging how the industry shows up to this collective call to action. Because it’s not one city or company acting in isolation, it’s a shared economic and climate reality.
And every corner of Cascale’s global, diverse membership brings an important perspective to the table.
Asia’s premier fashion event, Fashion Summit Hong Kong convened leaders across the value chain with learnings across textiles, sustainability, and circularity.
Cascale attended the Fashion Summit Hong Kong event this month at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, exploring one of Asia’s premier fashion conferences and fashion shows.
Cascale attended the Fashion Summit Hong Kong event this month at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, exploring one of Asia’s premier fashion conferences. Each year, the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA), Cascale’s affiliate member, organizes the event with more collaborating organizations including The Mills Fabrica and Redress.
CITA’s chairman Roger Chan gave opening remarks, followed by individual expert talks from Chris Woodward, director general trade and investment, British Consulate General Hong Kong; Paul Alger MBE, international business director at UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT); and Liang Pengcheng, vice president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council.
Programming highlights included the focus on local textile innovation, circularity, sustainable fashion, and more perspectives unique to the APAC region.
Cascale members – among them Jessica Chan, sustainability implementation director, TAL Apparel Limited and Dr. Joey Chan, market director, Lululemon – spoke in a panel to address the business opportunities and risks on circularity.
Fashion historians also found their draw in a presentation on “The Art of Sustainable Fashion at China’s Qing Imperial Court, 1644 – 1911” by Dr. Daisy Wang, deputy director, Hong Kong Palace Museum. Deeper spotlights on textile art, jewelry, silk, tailoring and more were featured highlights.
Cascale staff were strongly represented at the event. Alexandra Rieger, senior director of manufacturer membership; Nicole Lee-Kauer, manager, Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP); Betty Li, senior manager of member engagement manufacturing; and Howard Kwong, senior manager of public affairs, APAC, were all in attendance.
Additional Cascale members were also in attendance, including Cotton Incorporated, PDS, and Intertek, among others.
In all, the event was an important showcase of regional design and APAC manufacturer involvement.
Bureau Veritas Manufacturer Decarbonization Playbook includes Cascale contributions, featured at COP30 discussions and webinar.
At COP30, Bureau Veritas launched its Manufacturer Decarbonization Strategy Playbook.
This practical resource, developed with key contributions from Cascale, supports manufacturers, including SMEs, in setting and advancing decarbonization targets. The Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB) recently included the playbook in a small-to-medium enterprise discussion at COP30, where Cascale also participated in an associated Bureau Veritas member webinar.
At the “Decarbonization Playbook for Manufacturers” webinar, speakers included Cascale’s senior director of decarbonization Joyce Tsoi; Apparel Impact Institute’s senior director of sustainable finance and engagement Kristina Elinder Lijas; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit’s head of project (GIZ) Gundolf Klaehn; Gokaldas Exports Limited’s deputy general manager Mahantesh Bangari; and Bureau Veritas’ senior program specialist Hailey Wang, as well as head of decarbonization and cleaner production, Rakesh Vazirani.
The webinar laid the foundation for the decarbonization business case, with an inclusive focus on manufacturer perspectives and cultural nuance. It convened more than 500 participants, with over 40 percent reporting that they are either just beginning their decarbonization journey or are in the early stages of data collection and target-setting.
Participants highlighted the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) as a common industry tool for measuring carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, and noted key barriers to decarbonization including high costs, limited in-house expertise and resources, and the challenge of securing customer support to cover decarbonization investments.
Tsoi offered insights into how Cascale’s Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) accelerates climate action. Welcoming Cascale members and non-members alike, the 18-month MCAP program helps manufacturers across the consumer goods industry develop and validate Science-Aligned Targets (SATs) to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. To date, MCAP has engaged 70 manufacturers with a collective CO2 reduction potential of over 419,000 tCO2e from 16 validated participants.
At a high-level, Tsoi explored the steps manufacturers and suppliers can take today to make progress on decarbonization goals, starting with measurement and baseline setting. She encouraged attendees to understand their current energy usage, fuel types, and carbon footprints in their owned operations and supply chain.
Next, she explored the target-setting approach in greater detail. Her advice: Use standardized, science-based frameworks like those developed for MCAP or by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) For successful implementation, Tsoi recommended manufacturers prioritize and plan impactful, cost-effective actions, and delegate out further responsibilities.
Bangari, representing Gokaldas, a Cascale manufacturer member based in India India, described how participating in MCAP helped the company set science-aligned targets for their Scope 1 and 2 emissions. He described Gokaldas’ sustainability achievements, which include procuring 75 percent renewable energy, improving machinery efficiency, and increasing waste and water recycling rates, among others. Showcased among the certifications in the company’s recent investor report, Gokaldas’ average Higg FEM score was 89 percent.
ZDHC’s South Asia Regional event outlines the evolution of Roadmap, Supplier to Zero programs with Cascale among speakers.
Cascale joined brands, manufacturers, chemical formulators, solution providers, and industry stakeholders at the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) South Asia Regional Event in Bengaluru, India under this year’s theme “Accelerating Impact through the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero (RtZ) Program.”
The November event convened more than 250 stakeholders committed to improving chemical management, strengthening ESG performance, and driving consistent progress across the textile, apparel, and footwear value chain. Program themes included responsible management of chemicals and wastewater, exploring actionable insights on chemical decision-making, carbon foot-printing, and more.
Cascale’s Prasanth Nandakumar, manager of stakeholder engagement, APAC, participated in a multi-stakeholder panel alongside Padmakar Panday, vice president, corporate sustainability, from Indian fashion and retail company Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), and Aatheeswaran S, national manager – RSL, from global testing company Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS).
The discussion explored how sustainable chemical management — particularly through the RtZ Program — contributes to measurable ESG performance, risk mitigation, and value creation across global supply chains.
Speaking on behalf of Cascale, Nandakumar emphasized the importance of shared frameworks and aligned tools in reducing audit burden and supporting supplier-driven progress.
When it comes to tool alignment, ZDHC and Cascale are frequently and deeply collaborating. For one, the Cascale’s Higg Brand and Retail Module (Higg BRM) supports ZDHC’s Brands to Zero reporting. Likewise, ZDHC and Cascale work towards continued alignment on the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). The Higg FEM has evolved to help users stay aligned with the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero by adjusting questions across the sections evaluating wastewater, air, and chemicals management with refinements informed by ZDHC guidance.
Nandakumar shared that Cascale’s collaboration with ZDHC reflects a shared vision: aligning credible, science-based tools that help the industry measure, manage, and reduce its impact. When systems like the Higg Index and the RtZ Program work in concert, industry stakeholders can unlock better comparability and clearer pathways for improvement.
Ahead of the panel discussion, Cascale’s Nandakumar, Dhawall Mane, director of verification, training and insights, and Manjula Trigunait, manager verification projects, joined a technical side meeting on aligning Higg FEM Verification and ZDHC’s Supplier to Zero (StZ).
The APAC region’s centrality in global consumer goods production means it is a driving force in chemical compliance with unique regional expertise.
Across programming, attendees learned they have a clear role to play in prioritizing chemical management best practices with broader ESG expectations. For suppliers, the availability of training, guidance, and practical tools enable them to take ownership of performance improvements from the start. For governments and brands as well, sustainability criteria needs to be embedded into frameworks.
In line with the event’s theme, Cascale’s close collaboration with ZDHC and supply chain players across the region continues with capacity building, data transparency, and meaningful support on chemical management as it relates to broader sustainability goals.
Cascale centers decarbonization, policy leadership at STAR Annual Meeting in China and Asia-Pacific Sports and Outdoor Fashion Forum in Singapore.
Cascale played a leading role at the recent Asia-Pacific Sports and Outdoor Fashion Forum in Singapore and the Sustainable Textiles of the Asian Region (STAR) Annual Meeting in China, highlighting vast collaboration opportunities in decarbonization and policymaking.
At the 2025 STAR Annual Meeting in Humen, Guangdong Province, China, policy and industry leaders from across Asia’s textile and apparel sector convened to exchange best practices. Howard Kwong, senior manager, public affairs APAC, was invited by STAR to join a peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange session to present Cascale’s global policy and public affairs strategy.
In his remarks, Kwong outlined how Cascale works to advance smart, globally harmonized policy that enables credible sustainability action, while equipping members with the tools, data, and guidance they need to navigate fast-evolving regulation. He highlighted recent insights from the Manufacturer Interview Group — a project co-led by Cascale and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) — as well as Cascale’s APAC policy deep dive on corporate supply chain responsibility trends and the newly-established APAC Policy Member Expert Team (MET). Sovichea Saron, STAR’s head of secretariat, is a MET member, reflecting how manufacturer perspectives are integrated into Cascale’s global public affairs work.
Meaningful engagement was key. Throughout the event, Kwong met with the STAR board members and association leaders from China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar to explore deeper collaboration.
In a separate event at the Asia-Pacific Outdoor & Sports Fashion Forum, Joyce Tsoi, Cascale’s senior director, decarbonization program, gave a virtual keynote presentation on the decarbonization and collaboration potential in the outdoor and sporting goods supply chain.
This event is part of the wider programming under the Asia-Pacific Textile & Supply Chain Summit & Expo (APTEXPO). Representing an extensive collaboration, the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) and the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) jointly sponsored the event, with ECV International, and The Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT TEX) as co-organizers. The Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) also supported as a host association. Speakers joined from across Cascale’s membership, among them Mammut Sports Group AG, Puma, and New Balance.
Based in London and joining remotely, Tsoi’s virtual opening remarks began with a playful connection between an individual’s fitness commitments and a company’s decarbonization targets – pointing out that both require diligence, consistency, and commitment to succeed. Then she highlighted the top three systematic industry challenges that stop us from moving at the pace and scale necessary to combat climate change. The first was stalled engagement of Tier 2 materials production facilities, followed by few commitments from brands and retailers. This ultimately creates a lack of true business partnership. With that, Tsoi underscored the need for brands and manufacturers to have shared goals, vision, and responsibilities.
Her presentation then moved into hard-hitting industry carbon emission data, infused with actionable and regional insights from the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). Her final points offered a hopeful resolution, highlighting the successes of manufacturers, reflecting eight sponsoring brands, that were achieved through participating in Cascale’s Manufacturers Climate Action Program (MCAP): To date, MCAP has engaged 85 manufacturers in 19 countries with a collective CO2 reduction potential of over 1,429,087 tCO2e from 38 validated participants. She ended with a call for collaboration, highlighting Cascale’s membership, including the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and the European Outdoor Group (EOG).
At the Los Angeles gathering, industry leaders — including several Cascale members — explored practical steps to strengthen transparency, scale circularity, and align with emerging regulations across global value chains.
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff and Dennita Sewell with Nicholas Brown, partnership and engagement lead at Retraced, a Cascale member, and fashion designer Marrisa Wilson
The Sourcing Journal Sustainability Summit returned to Los Angeles this month, bringing together leaders from across the apparel, retail, manufacturing, and materials sectors to discuss how the industry can turn climate and social commitments into measurable progress.
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Cascale communication director, attended the event, which explored the practical steps required to strengthen supply chain transparency, scale circularity, improve environmental performance, and address emerging regulatory expectations in the United States and globally.
Key highlights included a presentation by Dennita Sewell, founding director of ASU FIDM and professor of practice at Arizona State University, followed by a keynote address from U.S. representative Jimmy Gomez.
Cascale members were strongly represented in the speaker mix. Ryan Hahn, director of R&D and innovation at GUESS?, presented the company’s path to net zero; Yvonne Johnson, senior director of product development at Cotton Incorporated, shared the organization’s Engineered by Nature program; and Madeleine Danzberger, sustainability and social impact specialist at Steve Madden, joined a panel on circular footwear. Jennifer Guarino, president and CEO of the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC), a Detroit-based national nonprofit institute that produces for Cascale member Carhartt, joined Christian Birky, founder of Because Capital, to discuss responsive manufacturing in the U.S.. After top-lining the current state of overproduction, in which 20 percent of apparel is landfilled before reaching consumers, Guarino described producers as “doing business with one foot on a banana peel.”
Guarino is currently developing an ISAIC funding match to pilot solutions. “The U.S. can lead on showing how responsive manufacturing solutions can work but we need to have partnerships to do it,” she said. “Manufacturers can’t do it alone. The technology is there, but you have to change the model.”
A standout presentation on “Legislating Change” included perspective from Rachel Kibbe, founder and CEO of Circular Services Group and American Circular Textiles. Kibbe detailed California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (SB 707), the first U.S. textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, which requires companies with revenue over $1 million that sell apparel, footwear, and textiles in the state to sign up with its Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) by July 2026.
Across the summit, a consistent theme emerged: industry can only close the gap between ambition and delivery through shared tools, consistent measurement, and deeper supplier–brand collaboration. These priorities mirror Cascale’s commitment to collective action and credible sustainability progress across the consumer goods value chain.
A statement from Dustin White, co-founder and CEO of LAB Denim, which pioneered a waterless dyeing and and finishing technology, best captured the industry’s changing course: “If something’s been done for 150 years one way it’s hard to show up and say, ‘We have a solution for that’ without partnership,” he said. “It’s hard to get that momentum but we’re starting to see it now.”
At Climate Week NYC, industry organizations convened for a joint presence under the Climate and Nature Studio that drew in brands, suppliers, investors, UN advocates, and more.
At Climate Week NYC, eight leading fashion organizations joined forces to present the Climate and Nature Studio, a collaborative platform designed to accelerate progress on climate, labor, and nature impact across the sector.
Together, Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Cascale, Fashion for Good, Global Fashion Agenda, Textile Exchange, The Fashion Pact, Worldly, and ZDHC Foundation co-hosted the event, delivering two full days of impactful programming and networking moments.
Drawing over 450 attendees (with 235 attending the drinks reception), the inaugural event marked a new level of cooperation, reinforcing that collaboration is the industry’s most powerful tool to drive measurable change. Sessions spanned topics like green chemistry, decarbonization, climate adaptation, financing mechanisms, supply chain data and technology solutions, regulatory reporting, policymaking, and more.
Despite a busy week for delegates, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) also had a special presence at the event. Acting as a high-level sector champion, Isabella Marras, senior programme management officer of interagency affairs at the UNEP, provided opening remarks on the sector’s positive potential for accelerating transformative change. Highlighting the impact of the apparel sector, Marras shed light on the importance of each organization convening together, with a call-to-action, noting ”collaborations that last are sincere and operational.”
Apparel Alliance
For the day one plenary, attendees played an interactive trivia game called “Inside the Apparel Alliance” spotlighting each Apparel Alliance member’s unique role and impact. By blending knowledge with play, participants gained clarity on the distinct roles of Apparel Alliance members Aii, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC. The interactive session featured Aii’s president Lewis Perkins; Cascale’s senior director of brand and retailer membership Joleen Ong; ZDHC’s CEO Frank Michel; Textile Exchange’s CEO Claire Bergkamp and senior director of engagement and partnerships, Sarah Needham; who each shared how their organizations drive collective impact.
Attendees tested their knowledge through a round of trivia, underscoring the shared goals and complementary roles of each group. The discussion reinforced that no single organization can solve the industry’s challenges alone.
Similarly, day two’s plenary panel, “Partnerships that Power Progress,” brought together voices from across the value chain in a candid discussion moderated by Gonzalo Muñoz, cofounder of Ambition Loop and UN high-level climate champion. Panelists underscored how partnerships with the Apparel Alliance are advancing progress through harmonized measurement systems, shared investment models, and collective climate action.
Speakers included Ulrika Leverenz, head of green investment at H&M Group; Jeanne Carver, founder and president of Shaniko Wool Company; Scarlette Tapp, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council; and Nikhil Hirdaramani, director of Hirdaramani Group.
Carver spoke to the rancher and farmer perspective, describing the importance of community at Textile Exchange and calling industry fragmentation the greatest challenge. Based in Sri Lanka, Hirdaramani brought the manufacturer’s view, pointing to ZDHC’s role in chemical management while urging stronger collaboration in light of severe weather disrupting supply chains. “I’d like to see even more suppliers at Climate Week,” he said.
Tapp highlighted how Cascale’s acquisition of SFC’s assets expands opportunities for cross-sector collaboration in home and textiles. Noting parallels between wood and fiber, she emphasized transparency and tool alignment as key enablers of progress. Leverenz underscored the role of financing in overcoming fragmentation, citing H&M Group’s partnership with Aii as a model for efficiency and scale.
Together, the discussion showcased how partnerships — from farms to finance — are accelerating climate solutions and driving industry-wide transformation.
Apparel Impact Institute
Aii hosted three interactive sessions addressing barriers and solutions for decarbonization including, “Cost of Inaction: Financial Case for Decarbonization,” ”Beyond Apparel: Lessons from Cross-sector Leaders on Climate Action,” and ”Doubling Down on Decarbonization.”
In the first workshop, attendees developed tailored finance pitches through exercises like persona creation, reflection mapping, and collaborative storyboard building. Attendees engaged in structured peer discussions to co-create arguments for sustainable investment. The outcomes from this session will inform a new report by Aii and Accenture about the quantifiable benefits to decarbonization, slated for Q1 next year.
Structured as a dynamic “fishbowl” conversation, the “Beyond Apparel” session invited participants to first listen in on a discussion between leaders from multiple sectors, and then rotate into the inner circle to contribute their own perspectives. The format allowed attendees to draw parallels between sectors, challenge assumptions, and spotlight their own barriers.
In the last session, participants took part in a board game-style experience where they worked in teams to navigate real-world barriers to supply chain decarbonization. The game encouraged problem-solving through trivia, map-based exercises, and rotating breakout stations staffed by experts on finance, infrastructure, and technology.
Attendees found the workshop formats fresh and engaging. They enjoyed the opportunity to learn both from Aii staff and from one another about creative approaches for funding and advancing supply chain improvements.
Aii’s president Lewis Perkins emphasized: “In the spirit of Climate Week NYC and turning bold ideas into urgent action, our Climate and Nature Studio proves the power of transforming fragmentation into collaboration, and mobilizing networks into collective impact. By uniting in one space, we not only amplify each other’s efforts, we send a clear signal that the apparel industry is ready to accelerate systemic change and drive measurable progress toward a lower-carbon future.”
Cascale
At Cascale’s intimate decarbonization session “Reality Check: Challenges in Tier 2 Decarbonization,” Chris Marshall, head of industry decarbonization, set the scene using a high-level data analysis from the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). Afterwards, Cascale’s editorial director Kaley Roshitsh moderated a chat with James Dougherty, managing director of REN Energy, examining the pressing challenge of engaging Tier 2 suppliers in decarbonization efforts. The conversation examined how multi-stakeholder collaboration models are unlocking progress where engagement has historically lagged. Key takeaways included the critical role of supplier business cases, the need for aligned metrics and financing mechanisms, and the importance of scaling proven engagement frameworks to overcome systemic and regional barriers. By pre-qualifying suppliers, Dougherty said some of them are seeing 20 to 30 percent cost-savings by switching to renewable energy.
On day two, Cascale’s session “Thriving in Climate Uncertainty: Prioritizing Decent Work for All,” featured Cascale’s Joleen Ong; Chana Rosenthal, consultant at NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and principle and founder of ReDesign Consulting; Nim Deshpande, managing director at Good Business Lab; and Evre Kaynak, Global Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Leader, W. L. Gore &. Associates.
Panelists addressed how climate instability threatens workers’ rights and livelihoods across the supply chain. Speakers emphasized that safeguarding decent work must remain central to climate action, pointing to practical solutions such as risk-based due diligence, worker well-being programs, and harmonized solutions.
Ong called climate adaptation the “perfect storm” of vulnerabilities, including lost productivity and wages. Citing Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 data, she said that in an audience poll, over 55 percent reported they are “unsure” of what to do about climate adaptation. Rosenthal called for action and a shift from the status quo, using tools like NYU Stern’s ROSI Methodology to calculate savings. “We have to look internally and shift the way we do business.” Kaynak called attention to the inequity faced in the Global South while Deshpande spoke about worker satisfaction and retention as a key benefit for employers, exploring solutions like cooling vests and heat insurance.
Fashion for Good
For the session “Catalyzing Future Forward Factories,” speakers explored how clean textile manufacturing could become the industry’s default. Speakers included Stephanie Grotta of Target, Sophia Halliday of the H&M Foundation, Amol Mehra of the Laudes Foundation, and Katie Tague of Artistic Milliners. Together, they examined how philanthropy, corporate capital, and new business models can help accelerate a transition to low-impact production.
The conversation challenged long-held assumptions around risk and responsibility in financing the shift to cleaner manufacturing. Panelists questioned whether fashion brands could make long-term capacity reservations to secure investment in new facilities and highlighted the role of catalytic capital in demonstrating viable, scalable solutions. They also discussed the importance of creating shovel-ready projects that unlock broader market transformation.
Speakers stressed that while philanthropy has helped advance early-stage innovation, corporate capital must also play a greater role to ensure a just and effective transition. This collective responsibility, they noted, is essential to align ambition with action.
Global Fashion Agenda
The GFA Policy Masterclass brought together a full room for a timely dialogue on fashion’s fast-moving policy landscape. The discussion covered California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act, new EPR frameworks in the EU, and the revision of the Waste Framework Directive — addressing fragmented regulations and exploring opportunities to bring greater clarity for producers. Earlier this week, the GFA Assembly also explored the key topic of EPR.
Speakers included; Federica Marchionni, CEO, GFA; Chelsea Murtha, senior director of sustainability, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA); Dennis Nobelius, CEO, Syre; Rachel Van Metre Kibbe, founder and CEO, American Circular Textiles; and Maria Luisa Martinez Diez, VP, public affairs, GFA.
In a separate session, GFA and strategic partner Ralph Lauren brought together industry peers for its “Innovation Networking” at the Climate and Nature Studio. With the aim of supporting the adoption of solutions across the fashion industry, the event featured a series of 126 strategic meetings connecting brands, financiers, and solution providers to foster collaboration.
Textile Exchange
Textile Exchange’s “Closing the Gap with Decision-Makers” panel featured Vogue Business’ Bella Webb, Textile Exchange’s Claire Bergkamp, Tapestry’s Logan Duran, Syre’s Dennis Nobelius, and Goldman Sachs’ Letitia Webster. The discussion centered on bridging ambition and action in sustainability by identifying key roadblocks and strategies for engaging decision-makers. Barriers include misaligned timelines, lack of relevant business-focused information, and difficulty translating sustainability into clear ROI, cost savings, and risk mitigation. Panelists emphasized the need for transparency, shared language, and framing sustainability as core to business viability, not an add-on.
Examples included Tapestry shifting sustainability from legal compliance to supply chain integration, which enabled deeper embedding into brand strategy and board conversations. To gain traction, sustainability professionals must “speak the language of business,” using true-cost accounting and material risk modeling to show relevance and profitability. Rather than fear-based messaging, companies should highlight incentives, circular models, and opportunities for competitive advantage. With sustainability budgets shrinking, organizations must leverage cross-departmental champions to embed sustainability across marketing, finance, and operations, ensuring resilience despite lean teams.
The “Unlocking the Economics of Scale for Preferred Production Systems” panel featured The Business of Fashion’s Sara Kent, Textile Exchange’s Sarah Needham, Cotton On’s Liz Hershfield, and Everlane’s Katina Boutis. The discussion centered on insights from Textile Exchange’s newly released Materials Benchmark report, highlighting the encouraging rise in certified material adoption. Panelists explored how lower-impact fibers are gaining traction with both brands and farmers, emphasizing that scalability is key to making these models viable. While rigid standards limit scale, overly flexible ones risk undermining trust. Costs remain a major barrier, driven by both adoption and climate change impacts, but panelists agreed that long-term investment is worth it if it strengthens supply chains and supports farmers.
The conversation stressed the importance of incentivization, fair farmer compensation, and recognizing that materials like cotton cannot be taken for granted. To advance, the industry must commit to long-term strategies, leverage financial mechanisms, and emphasize the business case for scaling sustainable practices. Opportunities in regenerative agriculture, circularity, and data-driven business models provide optimism for transformation.
The Fashion Pact
In The Fashion Pact’s “Scaling Climate Action in Fashion with the Future Supplier Initiative (FSI),” brands, suppliers, and partners convened to highlight how this collective financing model is helping suppliers access capital and accelerate decarbonization. Speakers included moderator and reporter Olivia Rockeman, business leader and The Fashion Pact’s co-chair Paul Polman, and The Fashion Pact’s executive director Eva von Alvensleben.
“Profit without sustainability will not give you a long lasting company,” stated Polman. He called for collective courage, highlighting the industry’s need to cooperate, adding: “The future of humanity is also the future of your industries.”
Tanul Chakraborty at Hameem Group and Mohammed Zahidullah at DBL Group joined to provide the manufacturer perspective in a hybrid session that also included Gap’s vice president of global sustainability Dan Fibiger, H&M Group’s head of green investment Ulrika Leverenz, along with Hemang Nerlekar, associate director at Guidehouse which is the facilitator of the FSI. Overall takeaways included the importance of pooling resources and de-risking investment, direct supplier engagement, and engagement at the CEO and CFO level to accelerate impact at scale. To date, 45 suppliers have been engaged in the FSI which also includes manufacturers from Aii’s Climate Leadership Programme.
Worldly
In the sessions “Put Your Supply Chain Data to Work” and “Getting Scope 3 Data That Is Fast, Reliable, and Flexible,” speakers Adele Stafford, chief growth officer; Stefanie Kato, associate director of accounts; Michael Krakower, senior director of accounts; and Paula Bernstein, associate director of sustainability science, reflected on how supplier engagement, primary data, and actionable intelligence help brands, retailers, and manufacturers innovate, future-proof their operations, and move the industry forward together.
When equipped with trusted data and insights, businesses can understand supply chain risk, strengthen collaboration, and deliver product-level transparency. From carbon intensity and production volumes to climate scenario analysis and policy forecasts, Worldly’s supply chain data enables companies to pinpoint where investments can drive the greatest impact so they can build resilience while meeting regulatory requirements and improve social and environmental impact globally. Worldly’s recently launched solution Worldly Axion helps companies look forward to future-proof their operations. It brings together dozens of risk datasets—including heat, water, climate, and transition risks — to give companies a clear view of where their operations and suppliers are most exposed. Its built-in AI system helps teams interpret the data, from planning GHG reductions to guiding decisions like coal phase-out strategies for factories, electricity pricing, and next steps.
In both sessions, Worldly speakers expressed gratitude in joining collaborators and customers at the Climate and Nature Studio.
ZDHC Foundation
ZDHC Foundation hosted two sessions on how safer chemistry de-risks supply chains, safeguards natural capital, and creates durable financial value. For its “From Chemistry to Natural Capital: Launching the ZDHC-Quantis Study, Results, and Real-World Impact,” ZDHC partnered with Quantis to launch the Natural Capital Impact study. In a presentation, Quantis’ Phillipp Meister shared data-driven findings on how safer chemistry and ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero MRSL approach directly reduces negative impacts on human and environmental health and well-being, mitigates risk and equips organizations with practical tools for ESG integration. He underscored real-life brand case studies. Facilitated by ZDHC’s Lauren Zahringer, a leadership dialogue explored the significance and real-life application of the results and research findings. This candid conversation included Alante Capital’s Leslie Harwell, investor David Bennell, ZDHC’s CEO Frank Michel and chief impact officer Scott Echols, offering diverse perspectives from the industry, private equity and innovation to public markets finance industry at large.
The following day, ZDHC’s session ”ROI: Financial Strategies and Market Value from Safer Chemistry” shifted focus toward tangible business and shareholder value. The session drew investors, sustainability strategists, ESG rating agencies, and supply chain experts for a personable roundtable style session exploring the returns of investing resources in safer-chemistry, sustainable chemical management and the connection to risk and natural capital.
The session featured insights and research findings from ZDHC’s Lauren Zahringer, Quantis’ Natalie Benz, and an investor-led dialogue with Diederik Wokke of the Wire Group and David Bennell, an investor and leading expert in the emerging field of natural capital investing. The session drew on cross-sector experience and offered participants clear examples of how integrated chemical management supports mitigating risk, enhances due diligence, and creates long-term value.
Momentum Across All Programming
Across all sessions, a unifying theme emerged: collective action is not optional – but essential. Too, networking moments – including a jointly sponsored drinks reception by the Apparel Alliance and catered lunches both days by all organizers – captured the spirit of unity. During these networking moments, attendees found a space to carry on dialogues and make additional connections. Brand partners, where noted, also contributed immensely to the festivities.
Across the two days of programming, attendees, speakers, and organizers stressed the value in the Climate and Nature Studio as a dedicated convening hub for celebrating and building actionable momentum at Climate Week NYC.
Photography Credit: Barbara Gabrielle
Cascale team members shared insights on procurement ethics, sustainability data, and supply chain resilience at ReThink Hong Kong and the Worldly Customer Forum.
With the Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 recently held in Hong Kong, Cascale team members made their mark at various events, including ReThink Hong Kong and Worldly’s Customer Forum.
Cascale had a visible presence with a booth and speakers at ReThink Hong Kong, successfully building on the collaboration of previous years. In one session, Alexandra Rieger, Cascale’s senior director of manufacturer membership, spoke on a panel titled “Procurement Leaders Confront Ethics Challenges Amid Global Strains.” The session included Wendy Chan, chairlady of activities and events, at The Institute of Purchasing and Supply of Hong Kong; Clement Chung, principal manager, Commercial & Supply Chain at CLP Holdings Limited; and Kirk Lui, group assistant director of purchasing at Regal Hotels International Limited.
The panel outlined how procurement is under intensifying pressure as companies face stricter ESG standards and scrutiny over corporate responsibility. Speakers warned that balancing ethical sourcing with cost efficiency has become more complex against a backdrop of geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty. Speakers also discussed the emerging risks in supply chains, from pinpointing Scope 3 emissions to responsible sourcing. They weighed whether technology such as artificial intelligence could help companies meet rising ethical expectations while maintaining competitiveness.
In a separate event, the Worldly Customer Forum, Joël Mertens, director of Higg Product Tools, and Joleen Ong, Cascale’s senior director of brand and retailer engagement, each contributed to thought-provoking sessions.
Mertens spoke on a panel with Worldly’s vice president JR Siegel and associate director of sustainability Paula Bernstein diving deep into the key insights of the 2024 Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). The session explored emerging trends, shifts in performance across key impact areas, and the latest data opportunities and challenges. Attendees received key guidance on how to interpret data, identify meaningful patterns, and translate insights into action.
Ong joined a panel discussion called “Social and Labor Data Demystified: Finding Meaning in Your Higg FSLM Results.” The session featured Jaclene Roshan, vice president of products, Worldly; Steve Harris, chief operating officer, Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP); and Herman Leung, VP of sales and operations, Dakota Garment Group and Companies.
The session covered how Cascale, SLCP, and Worldly work together with data-rich insights on navigating social and labor compliance. Throughout the session, the speakers underscored their foundational commitment to supporting decent work for all within the textiles, apparel, footwear, and wider consumer goods industry.
Ong covered Cascale’s role in driving facility labor improvements and what the Higg FSLM adoption and trends point to in an ever-evolving compliance landscape.
“The Higg FSLM is more than a scoring tool—it’s about converging on credible data to spot risks early, reduce duplication, and prioritize remediation in ways that also save costs,” Ong reported. “With regulatory shifts and new technologies emerging—like Worldly’s Insights Hub and Axion—collecting data alone isn’t enough. Our industry must turn these insights into real improvements for workers and stronger, more resilient supply chains.”
Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, senior director of policy and public affairs at Cascale, recently took to the stage at Innovation Forum’s Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference in Amsterdam to discuss Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and how brands can get ahead of implementation.
Carsten Wentink, policy officer at the European Commission, joined her for a conversation moderated by Ian Welsh, publishing director at Innovation Forum.
Von Reitzenstein noted the significant adaptations that ESPR will require, which will encourage manufacturers and brands to prioritize circularity, transparency, and innovation. She shared key requirements companies must fulfill to comply with ESPR, including proactively integrating eco-design principles, assessing their supply chains, and preparing for Digital Product Passports (DPPs). Von Reitzenstein highlighted the crucial challenges DPPs will present for businesses, particularly those not currently measuring their carbon impact across supply chains.
Emphasizing the importance of gathering reliable information from the full scope of suppliers, von Reitzenstein acknowledged the difficulty in collecting comprehensive and accurate data throughout complex global supply chains. She highlighted Cascale’s Higg Index tools, exclusively available on Worldly, and how they can support the collection, tracking, and analysis of supply chain data for regulatory compliance. She noted Cascale’s continued efforts to support its members along their compliance journeys by providing resources, guidance, and collaborative platforms to navigate the new regulations.
Presenting a global perspective, von Reitzenstein emphasized that companies must move beyond compliance to build genuine resilience. She underscored the critical role of education in understanding legislation, highlighting Cascale’s “Navigating Legislation & the Higg Index” webinar series, which explores how Cascale continues to evolve the Higg Index tools to support companies navigating the legislation landscape. She also shared Cascale’s ongoing efforts to develop and share resources with its members and Higg Index users to ensure they are well informed and supported in their compliance journeys.
Von Reitzenstein reiterated the vital role of industry input, emphasizing the EU’s call for businesses to contribute ideas to shape effective eco-design rules and realistic implementation timelines. She reassured members that they are not alone in this journey, as Cascale continues to offer valuable resources and engagement channels for alignment. She also called on the need for collaboration, highlighting the crucial role of industry organizations like Policy Hub — a Cascale ecosystem partner — in uniting the industry’s voice to shape the sector’s future.
