Drapers Talks

Leaders from supply chain network Infor Nexus and Amsterdam-based womenswear label Gauge81 share their top tips for working with suppliers towards achieving sustainability regulations, in the latest Drapers Talks podcast.

Patagonia’s marketing and product director Tyler LaMotte reveals how the outdoorwear brand is expanding its repair offering for its customers.

Leaders from Primark, Nobody’s Child and Asda share how they have implemented circular business models and reveal their tips for success.

Listen to why Daniel Rubin, founder and chairman of Dune, has his heart set on international growth for the footwear brand, with the Middle East and US proving to be popular destinations.

Sweaty Betty global brand president Melissa Mullen shines a light on the sportwear company’s values and how it communicates this to its workforce.

Peter Ruis, executive director at John Lewis, took part in a fireside chat during Drapers Inner Circle Summit last year. Tune in to hear Ruis’s plans for the retailer's turnaround and opportunities for growth.

Industry leaders from Harrods, Neem London, Deckers Brands and Infor Nexus discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the supply chain, from balancing cost and agility to embedding sustainability and ESG. 

Moderated by Lee Kenny, news editor of Drapers, during the Drapers Supply Chain Summit 2024.

Matalan’s chief supply chain operations officer, Phil Hackney, reveals the latest trends in operations management, supply chain performance improvements, and the biggest opportunities in 2024 and beyond. 

Moderated by Lee Kenny, news editor of Drapers, during the Drapers Supply Chain Summit 2024.

Listen to Catherine Jobling, chief operating officer of AllSaints, explain how the premium high street retailer’s strong relationships with suppliers and symbiotic approach helps to future-proof the company's supply chain. Find out how AllSaints collaborates with its partners on sustainability, and the challenges the business has faced and overcome.

Moderated by Gabriele Dirvanauskas, acting editor of Drapers, during the Drapers Supply Chain Summit 2024.

Innovative approaches to customer engagement and what they mean for the future of fashion

The future of fashion is not just about what we wear, but the entire customer experience. How is engagement going to evolve? Drawing from her broad knowledge in machine learning, Tian explored the opportunities that generative AI will potentially be able to offer fashion brands in serving their customers. She also discussed Zalando's AI-powered assistant which was co-created together with customers and how to inspire and entertain customers with AI experiences onsite.

Tian Su - vice president personalisation and recommendation - Zalando

Fashion trends in the digital era

Listen to Jonny as he discusses the fusion of fashion trends and digital technology. Discover how brands can leverage AI-powered tools and emerging platforms to stay ahead of and respond to trends as well as shape market narratives.

Jonny Longden - group digital director - Boohoo Group

Crystal ball forecasts: what should fashion retailers be investing in to future-proof their businesses?

• With so many tools available, what are the most promising emerging technologies and disruptive innovations on the horizon for fashion retail?
• How are fashion businesses leveraging AI?
• How can fashion retailers adapt their strategies to cater to the unique preferences and behaviours of the Generation Alpha consumers?

Chris Williamson - group director of technology - N Brown

Papinder Dosanjh - director of data science and AI - Asos

Stephanie Legg - chief marketing officer - Schuh

Sangeetha Chandru - senior vice president, AI - EXL

Outside view: how to drive innovation within your business

Peek at other industries' technology innovations with Paul Wilkinson, who drew on his experience driving innovation at industry giants like Deliveroo, Amazon and Tesco. Paul talked about actionable strategies to ignite innovation within your team and lessons that fashion retailers and brands can learn from unexpected places.

Paul Wilkinson, product director - Deliveroo

Retracing fashion's steps to build in sustainability

Understanding how and where fashion retailers are tackling sustainability is critical: these changes – even seemingly small ones – can have a huge impact. Our panel explored:

• How are fashion retailers creating products built to last, and reducing overconsumption? Exploring materials efficiency and longevity, ways of designing differently, and approaches to limiting overproduction;
• Which projects and partnerships are driving change? Optimising collaboration between brands, suppliers, industry bodies and beyond;
• Changing consumer behaviour: exploring the role fashion retail plays, and uncovering initiatives to drive this.

Rethinking revenue streams: accelerating growth via circular business models

Fashion resale, rental, repair and recycling are at the beginning of a rapid growth projection. Our panel of speakers hosted a deep dive into the opportunities offered by circular business models, including:

• Rethinking customer experiences, changing consumption habits and reimagining ownership: exploring journeys around rental, repair, reworking, resale and beyond
• Discussing the additional benefits of alternative revenue streams, from customer loyalty to data
• Rethinking and re-educating consumers around end of life - from takeback to closed-loop technology

Play your part: cohesively threading sustainability across the value chain

From sustainable materials to consumer strategies and scope 3 targets, everyone across the fashion retail industry needs to be on the same page to reach sustainability goals. How can retailers, brands, manufacturers and suppliers all play their part? Our speakers discussed:

• Outlining sustainability obligations: does everyone in the value chain know what is required from them?
• How to build collaboration into your day-to day working
• Where are products, processes and partnerships working well; what can we learn from this?

Our pick of the best sustainable companies to watch pitched head-to-head to our expert judging panel:

4 startups battled for the chance to win the title of the ‘One to Watch’ at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards later that evening, as well as some mentoring support from industry leaders. 

For the first time this year, the audience had the chance to vote for their favourite via a live poll. The audience vote will accounted for 25% of the overall scores.

To find out who won, you can check out our coverage here.

Michael Thomson closed the conference in conversation with Jill Geoghegan, discussing leading a business through change.

The core values you hold as a company and as a leader are the guiding principles that can influence everything you do, and underpin your business’ personality: how do you and your business shape, live and breathe them?

David Gandy, founder of David Gandy Wellwear, told Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023 why he decided to launch the business two years ago and where he sees the market heading.