Alumni Panel Discussion:
"To shop or not to shop: a case for conscious fashion"

Can fashion and sustainability of the people and the planet go hand-in-hand or should we stop shopping altogether? As the traditional fashion industry gets exposed for exploiting the basic human rights of people throughout their supply chain, and for causing a great deal of harm to the planet, a global movement is emerging calling for conscious fashion. Come and listen to our panel of Oxford Brookes Alumni discuss how they are helping change the face of the industry to make it fairer, more diverse and sustainable.

When: Wednesday 3rd February 2020, 6.30pm (UK time)

Price: FREE

Where: Online via GoToWebinar

Who is this event open to? Everyone

Alumni Panellists

	Laurenti Arnault & Ru Amiri Founders of Wardrobe of Tomorrow www.wardrobeoftomorrow.com Laurenti Arnault is a British business entrepreneur and founder of LARA Media Group, a consortium based out of London and comprisingWTVOX Magazine, The VOU, and Wardrobe of Tomorrow, a marketplace dedicated exclusively to sustainable luxury fashion. Prior to LARA Media Group, Laurenti Arnault has co-founded O.M., a PR agency dedicated to innovative fashion designers, later acquired by WPP plc. Ru Amiri is the co-Founder of Wardrobe of Tomorrow, a marketplace for sustainable luxury fashion hailed as "The home of conscious designers" by Forbes, BusinessWeek, and The Economist. Amiri's eco-conscious entrepreneurial flair had manifested since early childhood when, at the age of 14, he launched a concept marketplace that restricted products from leather and plastic, aiming to show brands that profit can still be made, without exploiting animals or polluting the environment.
	Sarah Jordan Founder & CEO Y.O.U Underwear and Co-Founder BOLD LinkedIn www.youunderwear.com www.boldgoals.wordpress.com Sarah Jordan is a recognised industry leader with over 20 years’ digital and business experience across not for profit, commercial and publishing sectors. She worked for many years in the ‘tech for good’ space holding several high-profile client-side roles, including as Head of Digital Strategy at Oxfam and Digital Director at the MS Society. Sarah never expected to end up running an underwear business! Everything changed on a trip to Uganda in 2016, where she took part in the Uganda Marathon. While volunteering in local villages she came face-to-face with the problems associated with not having underwear. In some communities 1 in 10 girls miss school on their periods due to a lack of underwear and sanitary products – up to 12 weeks a year! This inspired Sarah to found Y.O.U Underwear on a buy-one-give-two model with the charity Smalls for All.
	Tamsin Lejeune Founder of the Ethical Fashion Forum and CEO of the Ethical Fashion Group and CO LinkedIn www.the.ethicalfashionforum.com www.commonobjective.co Tamsin Lejeune is the Founder of the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF), the global industry body for sustainable fashion, and the CEO of the Ethical Fashion Group and Common Objective (CO) a platform that helps fashion professionals to do business better. For 15 years Tamsin has been building a global movement in the fashion industry, spanning 150 countries. In 2015, Tamsin was named by Linked In as the most engaged woman in UK Fashion and Retail.
	Alberto Saccavini Sustainability in Fashion Consultant Twitter LinkedIn www.ethicalista.wordpress.com After his MA in Humanitarian and Development Practice at Brookes, Alberto settled in Milan. As a Consultant for Sustainability in Fashion, he has been working in creating value in the fashion supply chain through sustainability, circular economy, transparency and accountability. For the last 10 years, Alberto has been supporting brands, textile and fiber producers in their strategy design and journey towards sustainability. At the same time, he has been involved in many local initiatives to educate consumers to a more conscious fashion consumption at fairs, seminars and round tables. He has been asked to give lectures for different courses and universities and has been teaching a module in Sustainability in Fashion for a few years now at Politecnico di Milano for Fashion Design students.
	Andy Showell-Rogers CEO of Visible Clothing LinkedIn www.visible.clothing After his MA in Human Resource Management at Brookes, Andy co-founded Visible Clothing, and until recently oversaw the strategic direction and operations of Visible's Indian fair-trade zero-waste garment factory and in-house brands. Living up to the company name, people and processes were made visible so that fashion brands, NGOs, and individuals could confidently buy in line with their values. Andy now oversees Common Objective's supplier and partnership network and seeks to catalyze the life-changing work being done in every part of the supply chain. Common Objective (CO) is the global tech solution for sustainable fashion business; their technology simplifies and rewards best practice, resourcing a network of 35,000 individuals who are transforming the fashion industry in over 141 countries. Prior to working in sustainable fashion, Andy worked extensively in HR management, both in the UK and abroad in charitable and socially responsible organisations, implementing all aspects of modern HR methodologies, government legislation and industry best practice.

Conscious Fashion brands founded by Brookes Alumni

Sustainable babywear handmade with organic fabrics, stories, and crafts in Spain & Latin America.

www.missfrida.com

Socially and responsibly produced knitwear.

www.mistycashmere.co.uk

Recognised brings together amazing causes with beautiful jewellery products.

www.recognisedstore.com

Online boutique offering gifts sourced from local British Independent Artists, Craftsmen and Manufacturers and supporting Fair Trade.

www.indigobluetrading.com

Reason to rent is a monthly subscription service for a sustainable wardrobe.

www.reasontorent.co.uk

British menswear born from surplus fabrics.

www.sirplus.co.uk

Ethical African fashion sourced and stitched in Ghana.

www.nimawear.com

Cosi Textiles is a luxury, sustainable brand designing and producing a range of Mongolian cashmere scarves.

www.cositextiles.com

Classic & timeless style made unique, fun & meaningful. Supporting Kenyan communities through every sale.

www.koyclothing.com

Online women's fashion store with a difference, selling donated, high-quality clothes to fund charitable causes.

www.re-fashion.co.uk

Empowering women in Nepal whilst bridging the gap between ethical and luxury fashion.

www.lasororite.com

Pala Eyewear

High quality, sustainable eyewear that minimises impact on the planet and maximises impact on people.

www.palaeyewear.com

Sunglasses and spectacles as individual as you. Designed in London, handmade in Italy. Prescription lenses available.

www.finlayandco.com

English shoe company, with international influence, creating Proper Shoes.

www.lanxshoes.com

Ethically made cotton underwear that’s comfy, stylish and sustainable. We’re changing the world one pair of pants at a time; buy one, give two.

www.youunderwear.com

Leim is a brand of clothing designed and manufactured in the UK with a transparent supply chain.

www.weareleim.com

Handcrafted in Ghana, A A K S creates bags in styles that maintain the spirit and durability of their ancestral counterparts.

www.aaksonline.com

A brand new luxury ethical swimwear and beachwear brand based in London.

www.emily-may.com

Beautiful everyday kids clothing, made ethically from 100% African Cotton. Everything they make has been created with social responsibility at its core.

www.cooee-kids.com