Fashion & Sustainability Summit: The 2020 Series
Week 3: A Conversation on Plant-Based Sourcing with Local and Domestic Suppliers
This past Thursday, I joined Fashiondex & LIM College’s week 3 of Sustainability Summit. Every week there is a set of new panelists that discuss the topic of the week and what their company’s participation is in making the fashion industry more eco-conscious and sustainable. The panelists from this week: David M Prentice from On-Point Manufacturing, Jessica Osborn from Privy Label, Tsul Pappas from JS Group, Jenny Siede from In Style Exchange, Anna Livermore from V.Mora, Diviya Loomba from Eagle Fabrics, and Benjamin Golshani from Noveltex Fabric.
Learn more about the panelists and their company
David M. Prentice is the VP Sales at On-Point Manufacturing; On-Point Manufacturing provides services like apparel manufacturing, manufacturing solutions, and integrated web services. Jessica Osborn is the CEO & Founder at Privy Label; Privy Label works with clients to create their own private label line with design, development, and production. Tsui Pappas is the Director of Sustainability & PD Sourcing at JS Group; the JS Group is recognized to be one of the leading suppliers of Ladies Dress, Sportswear, and Evening Wear. Jenny Siede is the Chief Thinker at In Style Exchange. At In Style Exchange, they are about fashion and technology coming together, with design, development, managed process, and productions. Anna Livermore is the CEO and founder of V.Mora; V.Mora helps out designers and guides them to become a strong business is every aspect. Diviya Loomba is the VP of Development at Eagle Fabrics. Eagle Fabrics is a wholesale fabric company, they include knitting, dyeing, finishing, and printing for the apparel manufacturer. Lastly, Benjamin Golshani is the president of Noveltex Fabric; Noveltex Fabrics specializes in linen and incorporates a number of different ways to use the fabric for their customers.
How do these companies support sustainability in the fashion industry?
At On-Point Manufacturing, they stick to an on-demand business model as opposed to overseas manufacturing. No wasted inventory, lower CO2 emissions, no wasted fabrics, no landfill, reduced greenhouse emissions, and minimal environmental impact is a result of their business model. Privy Label does their part with production in the USA; producing in the U.S prevents fossil fuels from being wasted as opposed to shipping products worldwide. In Style Exchange is all about fashion and technology coming together—they have a factory in Texas that provides an on-demand business model, and investing in technology when creating apparel can create a lighter environmental impact. At Eagle Fabrics, they provide a line of environmental-free products that are free of toxic dyes and synthetic materials like fiber technology, natural raw materials, certified organic cotton, bamboo, recycled cotton, recycled polyester, recycled viscose, and more. Lastly, Noveltex Fabric is another company that provides an on-demand business model with their products dyed and printed in the U.S. This leaves a light impact on the environment, and customers’ requests are made quickly.
Questions and Answers
Q: What are the positives of inshore manufacturing?
A: Anna Livermore from V.Mora stated, “To know your factory well and be there in person for quality checks because customers want to know where products are being made.”
“Know your factory well when it is inshore manufacturing.”
Q: How has technology affected your business?
A: Diviya Loomba from Eagle Fabrics stated, “The big advantage is what consumers want and they want transparency within the brand; Who is making the products? Where are the fabrics from? Etc.”
“What am I offering my customers? How are they going to be benefitted at the end of the day?”
Q: How has COVID affected your materials?
A: David M. Prentice from On-Point Manufacturing expressed that COVID hasn’t affected them at all because they are sourced domestically. On-Point Manufacturing started to make masks because of their inshore materials, they were able to keep their employees working while making masks and sending them out quickly. Jenny Siede from In Style Exchange said that they were able to make masks that had FDA approval. Diviya Loomba also stated that Eagle Fabrics started to make masks as well, and COVID brought this industry together. Overall, domestic brands can be quick to move and produce to help out.
Q: Has there been any success stories?
A: Jessica Osborn from Privy Label expressed that U.S manufacturing is a great thing because of how fast they can move. She also shared that customizations were possible and collections were able to be in stores. Jenny also added that she was working with production and hospitality groups, and while working domestically, the workers from these hospitality companies were able to have their uniforms during COVID.