Building Back Better
Day 1: Wednesday 10 March
10:00 |
WELCOME ADDRESS Kirsty McGregor, Editor, Drapers |
10:10 |
PANEL DISCUSSION: The post-Covid refocus After a year of battling for survival through the coronavirus pandemic, coming back to sustainability as a high-importance issue can be difficult. Hear from a panel of experts from across the industry on how Covid-19 reshaped their sustainability priorities, and which areas they will focus on in 2021. TBA |
10:50 |
Back to basics with the Sustainable Development Goals Whether you’re starting your journey or looking to further your progress, the United Nations-backed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a useful roadmap to help fashion brands become more sustainable. Find out more about the SDGs and how to apply them to your day-to-day. Kerry Bannigan, Founder, Conscious Fashion Campaign TBA, United Nations |
11:20 |
Sustainability at every step A holistic approach to sustainability is growing ever more possible as new brands emerge with innovative ways of sourcing and selling fashion. Hear from one brand that has sustainability covered at every step of the supply chain. TBA |
11:40 |
Avoid the greenwashing trap Greenwashing continues to plague the industry, but it is more important than ever – both in the eyes of the consumer and, increasingly, MPs – to ensure your brand is aligned to the law when it comes to sustainability. This session will be led by an expert retail lawyer. Nicola Broadhurst, Partner, Stevens & Bolton LLP |
12:10 |
The delivery dilemma As online sales swelled during lockdown, more of us became used to ordering fashion purchases for home delivery – with implications for the environment. Hear from experts on how to minimise the damage done by deliveries. TBA |
12:25 |
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Leicester problem One of the retail industry’s darkest secrets resurfaced in the summer after poor working conditions were identified in factories used by fast fashion giant Boohoo Group in Leicester. In this session, we will unpick the problems in Leicester and look at the best solutions, as well as how to deal responsibly with ethical dilemmas about working conditions. TBA |
13:10 |
BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS Join us for our breakout workshops, where you can come together with industry peers and sustainability experts to examine the big issues in more depth. *Subject to availability; spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. TBA |
13:45 |
From farm to fashion This session will look at how and why more fashion brands are producing collections that can be tracked back to the original fibres used in the materials. TBA |
14:15 |
In-store recycling In-store recycling services are becoming more widespread. Hear from one brand making a difference by diverting as much used or unwanted clothing as possible from landfill. TBA |
14:45 |
DRAPERS’ DEN Returning for the third year running, Drapers Den will identify rising stars in sustainable fashion. Hear innovative start-ups pitch their concepts and watch as they are quizzed by our panel of expert judges. TBA |
16:00 |
DRAPERS SUSTAINABLE FASHION AWARDS Join us as we announce the winners of the second annual Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards! Categories include Best Supply Chain Initiative, Sustainable Store Design, Brand of the Year and the Graduate Award. Enter the awards now at sustainablefashion.drapersonline.com |
16:30 |
IN CONVERSATION WITH: TBA |
17:00 |
CLOSING REMARKS Kirsty McGregor, Editor, Drapers |
Day 2: Thursday 11 March
10:00 |
WELCOME ADDRESS Kirsty McGregor, Editor, Drapers |
10:05 |
PANEL DISCUSSION: Renewing the inquiry into sustainable fashion As the government continues to shine an unforgiving spotlight on sustainability in fashion, our panel will shed light on the actions needed from the industry to move forward. TBA |
10:45 |
Designing for circularity Brands are increasingly aware of the need for a circular approach to fashion from design stage onwards – in this session we will hear about one designer’s journey to circularity. TBA |
11:20 |
PANEL DISCUSSION: The human impact of coronavirus Canceled orders and closed factories amid the coronavirus pandemic plunged Bangladesh’s clothing manufacturing industry into chaos, hitting suppliers – and the garment workers they employ – hard. We look at the lessons learned. TBA |
11:50 |
Workers’ welfare – staying ethical Taking care of your workforce is central to a sustainable business model. This session will focus on how you can improve the wellbeing of workers throughout the supply chain while growing your business. TBA |
12:20 |
Harnessing technology for good By embracing technology, fashion brands can better evolve to create sustainable alternatives to fast fashion – get the latest tech update in this session. TBA |
12:40 |
The rise of rental fashion The rental market is expanding rapidly and offers an alternative to the traditional model of selling fashion. Hear from a brand that’s expanding their horizons in the world of rental fashion. TBA |
13:00 |
BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS Join us for our breakout workshops, where you can come together with industry peers and sustainability experts to examine the big issues in more depth. *Subject to availability; spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. TBA |
13:30 |
Shaping an effective CSR strategy Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of keeping your brand sustainable – so what is needed in this capacity? One brand dives deep into their CSR goals, and how they’re moving forward with them. TBA |
13:45 |
Fashion’s green deal A greener future for the fashion industry will come from partnerships. This session will look at how retailers are working with the brands they stock to improve their sustainability and ethical credentials. |
14:30 |
Building a career in sustainable fashion As sustainability becomes priority number one in fashion, retailers are looking for fresh talent to shape their strategies. Hear from those in sustainable fashion roles about how they got to where they are. TBA |
15:00 |
PANEL DISCUSSION: Fast fashion and the price conundrum Younger consumers may say they are willing to pay more for sustainable fashion, but their actions say otherwise and sales of cheap, trend-led clothing are soaring. Our panel will discuss the role of high-volume fast-fashion retailers in working towards a more sustainable future for the industry. TBA |
14:45 |
IN CONVERSATION WITH: Winner of Drapers’ Sustainable Fashion Champion 2021 |
16:45 |
CLOSING REMARKS: Kirsty McGregor, Editor, Drapers |