Drapers Talks

Fred Perry, Asda and Belstaff review who the future leaders in fashion will be and how to encourage young people into the industry.

Industry leaders from Aligne, Alo and Nadine Merabi share their insights and tips to grow a fashion brand.

Stefan Lewis, chief digital officer of Represent, reflects on the brand’s journey from a small graphic design project founded by two brothers to a globally recognised label.

Topshop and Topman managing director Michelle Wilson details her future plans for bricks-and-mortar stores.

Abhy Thomas Joseph, global COO and president for Asia-Pacific, Pentland Brands highlights his tips to tackle the global supply chain landscape.

Laura Hilton, COO at With Nothing Underneath, reveals how to keep returns low.

Superdry chief operating officer Shaun Packe details how it is tackling international tariffs and trade deals.

Charlotte Dewhurst, former marketing director at Matalan, shares insights into the retailer’s relationship with influencer Lady of the Manor.

Odd Muse and Never Fully Dressed founders reveal their tips on how to build and maintain a brand in the world of social commerce.

Industry leaders from Dr. Martens, Fred Perry and Vervaunt dive into paid media’s role in brand growth.

Primark’s marketing and community leads shed light on how the retailer is utilising its community to drive its social media channels.

This chat with Simone Williams, technology, digital and business development director at Cos, uncovers how the brand transformed its entire tech stack.

David Clark, chief customer officer at Frasers Group, explores the launch of Sports Direct’s new benefit-based membership programme.

Orlebar Brown’s Jamie De Cesare and Shopify’s Deann Evans discuss how unified commerce is driving personalisation at the menswear brand.

Marlies Hersbach, Mango's ecommerce executive director, shares insights into the tech and innovation driving the brand's ecommerce success.

Mike Coates, assistant director for consumer protection at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), discusses how fashion retail should follow the Green Claims Code when making environmental claims.

Leaders from UKFT, Neem London, Superdry and Cotton Connect discuss what retailers and brands should be prioritising ahead of game-changing regulations such as ERP and DPPs.

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. Alison Ward Chief executive - CottonConnect   Lynne Walker Director of Primark Cares - Primark   Susan Fairley Head of sourcing, quality and sustainability - New Look   Tom Berry Independent advisor - Tom Berry Sustainability Consulting  

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 Adele Gingell head of positive impact - Finisterre   Catherine Loader sustainability manager - John Lewis Partnership   Julian Lings senior sustainability manager - The North Face   Majonne Frost head of environment and sustainability - SATCoL

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? Ben Dreyer Strategy, sustainability and operations director - Boden   Isabella West Founder and chief executive - Hirestreet   Katharine Beacham Head of materials and sustainability in clothing and home - Marks & Spencer   Rob King Co-founder and chief executive - Zedify

Our pick of the best sustainable companies to watch pitched head-to-head to our expert judging panel: Natalie Binns, sustainable fashion consultant, Priya Downes, founder at Nudea and Touker Suleyman, chairman at Hawes & Curtis.   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.

Paul Marchant, CEO of Primark, kicked off Drapers Inner Circle Summit 2023. He identified ways the retailer is progressing with its click and collect offering, international expansion and making headway with its sustainability strategies.

Supercharging the next generation of British retail Delving into the 360 elevation strategy that is driving the sports arm of Frasers Group into a new era - from shaping experience-led stores to building relationships with key brand partners that resonate with and inspire consumers.

What matters to fashion consumers in 2023? How should brands be responding, disrupting, and innovating? Are new clothes being viewed as an unaffordable luxury today? Or is a price-conscious mindset driving the need for higher-quality, longer-lasting clothing? How much is price driving the growth of alternative models versus a sustainable mindset? Which regions offer growth potential in today’s challenging climate, and how can you make an impact in new markets? Panellists include: Eshita Kabra-Davies, Founder and CEO, By Rotation Beth Pettet, head of fashion brands, John Lewis Heather Wight, tax technology solutions manager, Avalara Moderated by Emma Finamore, features editor, Drapers

The power of data in driving a future-facing business strategy: product, content and service We began the day by exploring the big questions, uniting industry leaders on how they are driving innovation in this new era. Tune in for a a succinct insight into what matters; where to gain inspiration; and how to stay ahead!  

Brand-building innovation: the Castore story Following a remarkable rise in an extremely competitive market, Castore co-founder Tom Beahon will join us to discuss the innovation that the premium sportswear brand is built on. Tom Beahon, co-founder, Castore … in conversation with Jill Geoghegan, editor, Drapers

Fashion can be circular; it doesn’t have to mean take, make, dispose. But are alternative models financially viable? On March 28 we explored how non-linear models - from resale, rental and repair; the linking of green targets to profits; and degrowth - can make business sense as well as impact on the industry’s environmental footprint.

Revolutionising, shaping and educating the fashion retail industry on the future of garment production is key to a circular fashion future. Listen in as we explored ISKO’s newest hub in London, The Creative Room, from the technologies that drive a closed loop within the denim system to its role as a platform for education and support for the wider UK denim community. We delved into how working in partnership with designers, brands, retailers and universities drives shared knowledge and brings circular ideas, concepts and mindsets to life.      

Listen in as Drapers leads an intimate, in-depth exploration into an industry leader's journey so far towards sustainability and circularity, and the shape of future plans and ambitions.   Sébastien Kopp, co-founder, Veja Jill Geoghegan, editor, Drapers

Welcome to Drapers Talks, a new podcast by Drapers. Join editor Jill Geoghegan live from the 2023 Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference which was held 28 March at Kings Place in London. This session, Drapers Den, invited our pick of sustainable companies to watch who pitched head-to-head to an expert panel of judges, battling for a chance to win mentoring support from industry leaders. The judging panel was made up of Natalie Binns, sustainable fashion consultant, Christopher Raeburn, creative director and collaborator-at-large for RAEBURN, Timberland, and Touker Suleyman, founder and owner of Hawes & Curtis, Ghost, and Low Profile Holdings.  Subscribe to Drapers Talks to have the latest episodes delivered direct to your device, and keep up with all the latest news at www.drapersonline.com