The fashion industry is undergoing a significant transformation as sustainability becomes a central priority across the prodyct development lifecycle. Traditionally, apparel production has relied on resource-intensive materials, complex chemical processes, and linear supply chains that contribute to environmental degradation and waste. In reponse to increasing regulatory scrutiny, stakeholder expectations, and consumer awareness, brands are rethinking how products are designed, sourced, manufactured, and managed at end of life. Sustainable product development in fashion now requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental considerations from raw material innovation to finished garment design.
As the industry continues to evolve, sustainable product development represents a powerful lever for reducing fashion's environmental footprint while fostering innovation. By combining circular design thinking, responsible material selection, safer chemistry, and data-driven tools, companies can move beyond incremental improvements toward more transformative change. The challenge- and the opportunity- lies in translating these concepts into scalable practices that can be adopted across brands, suppliers, and markets worldwide.
Speakers:
Kristen Allison, Product Sales & Marketing Director, LanzaTech
- Kristen Allison is the Product Sales & Marketing Director at LanzaTech, based in Chicago, where she leads global efforts to scale CarbonSmart™ products—materials derived from recycled carbon emissions—into mainstream applications across fuels, textiles, packaging, homecare, and personal care. With a background spanning engineering, commercial strategy, and sustainable innovation, she focuses on building strategic partnerships across the value chain to accelerate adoption of low-carbon fuels and chemicals and advance circular carbon solutions. Prior to LanzaTech, Kristen spent a decade at BASF in engineering and commercial leadership roles. She holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Tricia Carey, Chief Commercial Officer
- Tricia Carey is the Chief Commercial Officer at Avalo, an ag-tech innovator accelerating crop evolution through AI to produce climate-resilient, low-carbon cotton. With a career rooted in sustainable innovation, Tricia has been instrumental in advancing fiber solutions by launching TENCEL (TM) globally with Lenzing and commercializing CIRCULOSE (R) at Renewcell. A recognized connector across the textile and apparel industry, Tricia brings deep expertise in brand-building, market strategy, and scaling disruptive technologies. Her work spans the full value chain from raw material development to retail partnerships, positioning her as a bridge between innovation and implementation. She has built lasting relationships with brands, manufacturers, and sustainability leaders around the globe. Throughout her career, Trici has contributed to supply chain development by helping brands navigate the complexities of sourcing sustainable materials. Tricia resides in NYC and serves on the boards of Accelerating Circularity and the Transformers Foundation, and holds credentials from FIT, MIT, and Cornell.
Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Senior Director Sustainable Product & Packaging and Chemical Management, Lululemon
- Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis is a senior leader in senior leader in sustainable chemistry, environmental health, and regulatory strategy with experience shaping enterprise programs enabling market access and advancing safer materials across global product portfolios. She currently leads Sustainable Product, Packaging, & Chemicals Management at lululemon, integrating safer chemistry, traceability, and circularity into product creation. Previously, Renee held leadership roles at Nike, driving global governance, and led environemental health programs for the State of Oregon. She holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Chicago, an MPH in Health Management & Policy from Portland State University, and a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington.
Julia K. Hughes, President, United States Fashion Industry Association
- Julia K. Hughes represents a broad spectrum of the fashion industry, including brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers operating globally. With a career spanning over three decades, Hughes has been a prominent advocate for free trade and the elimination of barriers in the textile and apparel sectors. She has testified before the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch on trade policy issues and is a recognized expert in textile and apparel trade matters. Hughes frequently speaks at international conferences, such as the Apparel Sourcing Show, MAGIC, and the WTO Beijing International Forum. She holds an M.A. in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Her leadership has been instrumental in rebranding the association of Imports of Textiles & Apparel (USA-ITA) to USFIA, reflecting the evolving nature of the global fashion industry.
Marcial Vargas-Gonzalez, Global Lead, Science & Innovation, Quantis
- Marcial Vargas-Gonzalez is the Global Lead for Science & Innovation at Quantis, a BCG company, where he specializes in translating complex environmental challenges into science-based strategies that drive measurable business value. With deep expertise in environmental science and systems thinking, he works with global organizations to align their operations and decision-making with planetary boundaries. His work focuses on embedding rigorous, evidence-based sustainability frameworks into core business strategy, enabling companies to move from ambition to actionable impact. Originally from Costa Rica, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, Marcial’s perspective on sustainability is grounded in a strong personal connection to nature and conservation. This foundation informs his collaborative and transparent approach, as well as his commitment to leveraging science as a catalyst for systemic change. He is particularly focused on helping organizations navigate the transition toward more resilient, low-impact business models through practical, data-driven insights.
John C. Warner, CEO and CTO Technology Greenhouse, LLC
- John Warner is one of the founders of the field of green chemistry. He published the book that provides the definition and 12 principles of green chemistry with Paul Anastas in 1998. He received his B.Sc. from UMASS Boston and his PhD from Princeton University. As an industrial chemist, he has over 350 patents and has worked with hundreds of companies worldwide and serves on the sustainability advisory boards of several multinational companies. He received the Perkin Medal in 2014 from The Society of Industrual Chemistry. As an educator, he wwas a tenured full professor of chemistry and plastics engineering at the University of Massachusetts where he started the world's first PhD program in Green Chemistry in 2001. In 2004 he received the Presidential Award for excellence in science mentoring (PAESMEM) from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and President George W Bush and in 2022 he received the August Willhelm von Hofmann Medal from the German Chemical Society. In 2007 he cofounded Beyond Benign, a nonprofit green chemistry education organization with Dr. Amy Cannon.