ITM’s 2nd Biennial Sustainable Global Sourcing Forum – 2017

34 thoughts on “ITM’s 2nd Biennial Sustainable Global Sourcing Forum – 2017”

1. I was not yet a student when this took place but I really wish I could’ve attended something like this during my time at FiIT and hear all the great ideas. Sustainability in global sourcing is something that should be taken seriously, and it’s encouraging to see that FIT was taking this into consideration even before it became a trending practice. When focused just on the business elements of a firm, sustainability can be easily forgotten, so it’s critical to have areas where we can discuss these problems. It is really important to involve students who are about to enter the field so they bring all these ideas to their future employers. We have the power to change things, and I believe that education and conversation venues like this are the most significant catalysts for change in the fashion industry’s sustainability sector.
   Today, I feel it is critical for brands and businesses to address sustainability. Furthermore, I believe there is a consumer push for transparency. Consumer awareness is becoming increasingly popular. People are become more aware of what they purchase and what they want to support so businesses will have to keep up with that. It was a great forum and really interesting to read some ideas!

2. It’s glad to see that ITM has this kind of program to discuss sustainable sourcing. Without a doubt, it’s an important issue for all fashion brands. As the second-largest pollution industry, every company has the responsibility to deal with this problem and protect our earth. I remembered that I saw an article from wwd, talking about the sustainable sourcing program from VF Corp. It mentioned that VF’s supply chain organization has helped develop a responsible sourcing program. Many of their partners were meeting the minimum requirements set by the company, but VF felt they could do better with guidance and help. The Responsible Sourcing program helps improving partners’ approaches to worker rights and safety, and environmental sustainability. The process is a team of experts will provide support to the key supply chain partners. Then, these teams set goals for factories and help our suppliers improve their performance. I believe it’s a excellent example for the industry and each of the company can do more effort on protect our own earth.

3. From articles and consumer phenomena, consumers are educating themselves about the products they buy and are becoming more aware of the ingredients in their beauty products. In the past few years, natural and sustainable cosmetics and skin care products have mushroomed. Consumers do not buy blindly, but learn relevant knowledge to choose the right skin care products for them. This kind of consumption behavior should be encouraged. In the past, many skin care product brands did not follow the trend of green development, but now many brands begin to promote products in accordance with the requirements of green development. This is also a positive phenomenon

   I was particularly impressed by keynote speaker, Enrique Villa, CEO, Founder of Povigy +, and his panel. His emphasis on the importance of social and environmental concerns, and their roles in purchasing goods and customer values resonated with me the most. I wish I had been able to attend this forum at the time! Each of the panels captivated my interest in the push for sustainability, in regard to international trade and marketing.

4. Seeing ITM and ITSA participate in such engaging events for students really motivates me to do the same thing. This panel clearly enticed participants to come out and participate in out of class activities to further understand their career paths and the trends in the supply chain. The Transparency in the Supply Chain forum was interesting, I myself would want to host an event similar to this.

   When talking about the supply chain, there is so much more than just the customer and the supplier. There are a plethora of stakeholders that all play a part in the international supply chain. Seeing senior executives from companies like the PVH corp, Mara Hoffman and the Sustain Apparels Coalition really solidified how important this industry is. I wish I had been there is listen !

5. I think its vital that we address this age of transparency. In todays age sustainability is needed consider the state that the earth is in. We need to start caring about what is eco-friendly and what can suppress global warming. At this point its not what we want its what the earth needs. The fashion industry plays a big role when it comes to fossil fuels being that our everyday apparel is generated by huge factories that run on fossil fuels. By using raw materials and sustainable products we are being proactive.

6. This post was a great recap of such an informative and exciting event! As a student who is passionate about sustainability within the fashion industry, it is reassuring to know there are many people out there with the same interest. By also being in the textile development and marketing program with a minor in international trade and marketing, I have truly enjoyed my time being taught by professors who are passionate about sustainability and making advancements in their fields. How I was our semester was still going as normal for this event to have conducted this year! When FIT is back in session and events like this can happen again, how covid-19 has affected the fashion industry will be an important and interesting topic!

   One session I wish I could have seen was “The Future of Sustainability in the Home Products Industry”. Home products has always interested me as a potential field to go into. Through my studies, I have learned about home products and production methods but not so much about sustainability. There is one company today that catches my eye in this category. Brooklinen is a company based in New York where they have eliminated a wholesaler in their production to provide high quality cotton sheets at a competitive price to their consumers. Brooklinen has their methods of production and business approach clearly lined out on their website https://www.brooklinen.com/pages/about. I really like their branding and quality of products. I think they will be a good company to watch over the next couple years to see how their business declines or grows. Is sustainable sourced home products something today’s consumer wants? Today Brooklinen “has raised $50 million in new funding from growth equity firm Summit Partners” (https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/03/brooklinen-funding/) so while company growth looks good, tracking Brooklinen’s success with their business model, time will tell!

7. Ths discussion of how to connect retail customers in an age of transparent is a conversation that we need to continue to have. So many companies have started being so much more transparent with how they source their materials its kind of suspicious to me when companies don’t share. Brands like Everlane are showing customers exactly where and how they source their materials. I think the best way to let your customers know how your participates in corporate social responsibility is showcasing behind the scenes footage. It’s one thing to write about it, but to show actual footage of video san pictures connects better with the customers. It’s as simple as posting these videos on your social media or a tab on your website.

8. While viewing the blog post titled, “ITM’s 2nd Biennial Global Sourcing Forum-2017,” I am disappointed that I missed this event, three years later! With many experienced, knowledgeable professionals throughout different parts of the industry, those who attended must have gained superb knowledge and experience. Just by reading the various descriptions of many panels, I have become knowledgeable of different areas. Thank you, Dr. Musa! Throughout my college career, I have taken courses such as Team Development and International Corporate Responsibility, which have heightened my senses when it comes to the topic of sustainability.

   Out of all of the panels, my favorite would have to be “Empowering Customers to Make Responsible Choices.” As an avid shopper, I consider myself to be an aware, responsible consumer. While it is not always possible, I try my best to limit unreasonable purchases that will impact the environment in a negative way. If I were to answer the question of, “what is the best way to let your customers know about your corporate responsibility efforts?” I would say there are various ways to do so. Of course, implementing simple, yet noticeable actions in retail stores such as reusable bags, will create a spark among consumers. Another way is to create and maintain a social responsibility actions page on social media platforms and websites, in order for consumers to know that your brand is sustainably aware, and pushing for better action within their industry. With a fashion business management degree and a very soon-to-be international trade and marketing degree, both majors have provided me with different tools and information to be more aware of sustainability throughout the fashion industry. Whether it be through retail stores or in a global supply chain, it was great to see industry professionals that relate to different majors combating the topic of sustainability in a positive way!

9. One of my favorite courses in the ITM program was International Corporate Responsibility because the course really dived deep into real life CSR issues. I learned about social enterprise, sustainability in regards to global warming, GMOs and Animal Rights, social responsibility, responsible sourcing, and sustainability in fashion and textiles. I feel that in most of my courses at FIT we learn about sustainability in regards to human rights/fair trade practices and in regards to raw materials (wool, cotton, recycled materials, etc.). Then we focus on responsible sourcing and sustainability in supply chains. I feel that as an ITM student this would be a great unit for our Global Sourcing course. To question what the benefits of transparent sourcing are. To get a better understanding of the product life cycle and the flaws in it currently. Also identify trends in supply chains and what is actually sustainable.

10. I wish I wasn’t an online student so I could attend events on campus such as this. The whole event appeared to be relevant and resourceful. I feel as the segment on “Empowering customers to make responsible purchases” was particularly important. It is great how the fashion industry is focusing on sustainability but an unfortunately when products are made sustainably and ethically prices increase. Consumers need to be willing to spend more money on their goods for these practices to be widespread. The only way to make that happen is to make customers aware of the issues when it comes to sustainability and ethics and then show them how your company or brand is making a difference. Only then, will more customers be willing to pay more. These efforts need to be at the forefront of your brand’s image.

11. Empowering customers to make responsible purchases was one of the panels that interested me the most. When they discussed how to connect with retail customers in an age of transparency a brand that I have been following for a couple of years came to mind, Everlane. Everlane is a company that is known for their transparent pricing and to be one of the top brands that lets the consumer know where their product comes from, who made it, and the factory it was made in. When you go to their website, for each item they do a breakdown of the costs of how much the material costs, labor costs, duties, and transportation costs as well. Not only that, but they also show the true cost of how much the company paid to make the item, how much they sell it for, and how much a traditional retailer would mark it up for. Brands seems to take on a more transparent approach with their consumers to keep them in the loop and be more aware of where their items are being produced and who’s making their items.

12. I believe sustainably in fashion should be the most focsed upon topic among all brands and fashion houses. The fashion industry is just recently focusing on putting their efforts in sustainability and I feel that it should have been done from the start. I really love that this discussion had all the major departments from FiT participating in it as well and agree with Elmira Andreyeva that the topic of “Transparency in the Supply Chain” is incredibly important because that’s where it all starts. By having more the brands and companies be more transparent with their supply chain it really benefits the consumers. It forces to have more competition among distributors, which provides for an ideal situation for companies. If everyone upfront and open and honest about how things are being produced and where the materials are coming from it can really create a shift in how we buy and consume our products. We as consumers have the ulitmate say on what we want from companies and after all the power is in our hands.
    During my time at FiT i only had classes that spoke about only a handful of brands who had sustainability be their main focus on the brand and I really wish that wasn’t the case. I wish that most if not all of the fashion brands that are out there put sustainability and ethical sourcing on their priority list. We live in such a fragile earth and we are depleting our recourses faster than what the earth can produce. According to earthday.org there are about 8 million metric tons of plastic that are thrown into the ocean annually. Of those plastics, there are 236,000 tons are microplastics which are tiny pieces of broken-down plastic smaller than your little fingernail. Can you imagine all of the tiny lifeforms and creates that get to live and breath that in that aren’t even aware of it. I believe we really need to make a big change in how wasteful we are with our plastic products and look what we can do to help reduce its production and preserve what we have left.

13. The topic “Sustainable Sourcing and Textile Companies Technology” grabbed my attention. It is interesting that advances in textile materials hold the key in the march towards sustainability. I knew sustainability is very important for the global environment. To solve it, I am only aware of recycling clothes. I think using textile materials that have less negative effects on the environment is a novel thought for me. Fashion is changing quickly and people would like to buy new clothes than used ones. However, if producers make clothes using textile materials that do not harm the environment, people can enjoy new fashionable clothes and a cleaner global environment. I wish many fashion companies will use eco-friendly textiles.

14. The session that interested me the most is the Empowering customers to make responsible purchases discussion. I personally love it when companies are transparent with their customers. I know that I am more likely to purchase a product from them if they are completely honest with me about what they are doing. I touched on this a little bit with my final project for L’Oreal. They told their customers that they would be carbon neutral by 2020. But, as soon as they realized that they would not be able to achieve that goal in time due to transportation issues, they told their customers. It shows that they truly want to reach this goal.

15. The situation of our planet today forces us to revisit our methods of production and it is important that companies from different fields come together and use their respective knowledge to create new technologies such as bio-based materials. I am also glad to see the awareness on this issue in the Fashion and Beauty industry. As an ITM student, it is important to realize that companies and individuals should push towards being environmentally conscious. Having seminars such as this helps educate students and companies to become better aware of the environment and how harmful the beauty industry can be.

16. The word/topic “suitability” will evermore be a topic that will grasp my consciousness, for its significance in our day-to-day lives, and international trade and marketing. I am delighted to see a growing awareness of this matter in the Fashion and Beauty industry, especially at one of New York’s top fashion schools, FIT. It is imperative to inform not only the students but all, as a society, about this crucial aspect of the industry. Following this fashionable global trend, I realize that enhancing the impartiality of a product truly affects its reputation. Therefore, I am assured that sooner or later, we will be living in a society where most, if not all, are sustainable and accessible. As an ITM student, we abruptly see how trade can influence the environment in incredibly innumerable ways. It is vital to be informed of such an organization that is inspiring a sustainable future in the field.

17. This article was really interesting! Sustainability within global sourcing is something that should be taken very seriously and it’s comforting in a way to see that FIT is willing to have a platform for discussion among professionals in the industry and students at FIT. Sustainability can easily be overlooked at times, when focusing on just the business aspects of a company so it is very important to have places where we can discuss these issues, especially with students who are about to become involved in the industry! We are the ones who are able to change things and I think education and discussion platforms such as this are the most important catalyst for change among the sustainability sector of the fashion industry. I also liked how they included multiple speakers that discussed many issues because this is an issue that is definitely multifaceted and it is key to understand every aspect of global sourcing if sustainability efforts are going to be made.

18. I’m so glad FIT is continuing to do this. Sustainability and the green market are a huge widespread topic in the fashion industry. I think once concern in the fashion industry is how real and genuine a company’s sustainability efforts are. Companies have been caught doing this as a PR stunt to get more customers. This article (https://fashionista.com/2017/04/sustainable-fashion-brands-problems) talks about how sustainability and green are trendy words and used to look better in the market. The article says no fashion company can be called sustainable because they are creating products that will eventually end up in a landfill.

19. Hi Professor!

    This forum caught my eye. I believe sustainability is important for brands and companies to address today. Additionally, I feel that there is a push among consumers for transparency. There is a growing trend regarding consumer consciousness. I believe it is important for students at FIT, people in business and the like to have a greater knowledge regarding sustainability and transparency, in this day and age many want to feel like they are making an positive impact on the environment. This event provides a great opportunity for students to see current actions being taken by brands and companies to address sustainability and transparency.

20. The Sensory Sustainability panel is of particular interest to me. I am very interested in all-natural cosmetics and skincare. Consumers are educating themselves about how the products they purchase are made and are becoming more aware of what is in their beauty products. Natural and sustainable cosmetics and skincare has really taken off over the last several years or so. In particular, I’ve noticed many more vegan products and brands on the market in response to the backlash against animal testing. While animal testing is starting to be used less frequently, it is unfortunately still a widespread practice in the industry. One thing in particular that consumers need to be aware of is how natural the products they choose to buy actually are and not to just accept the brand’s claims. Many brands are guilty of greenwashing and making their products appear to be much more natural than they actually are. I also believe that the beauty industry needs to go beyond sustainable packaging and actually incorporate these aspects into their products as well.

21. I wish I had been able to attend ITM’s 2nd Biennial Sustainable Global Sourcing Forum. It’s so important for current students and future artists, businessmen/women, and designers to be knowledgeable about sustainability and how they can make it a priority. As a student of the Jay and Patty School of Business & Technology, I am proud that it hosted an event discussing such an important and progressive topic. I was particularly interested in the discussion that occurred at 2pm, with keynote speaker Enrique Villa. For my term project in Import/Export regulations this semester, I chose to “create” an environmentally friendly chocolate company, supporting human rights and fair trade. One of my biggest dilemmas during the project was coming up with ideas regarding how to find customers who’s priorities aligned with mine, as well as how to convey the importance of the message behind the chocolate. I think many current entrepreneurs are making causes such as sustainability a priority in their business, and a discussion on how to let customers know about their efforts would be a extremely valuable thing to be a part of.

22. I would have loved to attend this event! Sustainability in the fashion industry is constantly in the news because it is a very important issue but it can also be difficult for companies to practice sustainability. It is also hard to reconcile sustainable practices with an industry that is all about consumption and produces so much waste. However, I’m glad that it appears that most companies nowadays are trying to be sustainable in the best ways they can. Lately there has been a move toward apparel that is ethically sourced and made using recycled materials. Events such as this one help students to think about sustainability and how they can implement it when they graduate and enter the workforce.

23. Hello Professor Musa,

    Wow, I would have loved to attend this forum! During the ITM program, I’ve learned how important sustainability has become in the apparel and textile world; not only from a CSR perspective, but for the future of our industry and the world we live in.

    Since the boom of fast fashion and its leading role as a mainstay in closets and garbage bins across the globe, increased pollution, toxic chemical use, and excess waste have proven that although the price tags might be small, the environmental cost of fast fashion is massive! Although consumers are growing more curious about where the products they buy are coming from, it is easy to be distracted by a low number on a price tag. I think it is essential that companies follow the lead of those like PVH, and not only continue to educate consumers on these environmental costs, but encourage them to fight for transparency from retailers before they decide where to spend their dollar vote.

    An excellent example of a company that has followed this lead is Everlane, which prides itself on “radical transparency”; on the main page of their retail site, consumers are offered a direct link to a map with tours of the various factories and suppliers they utilize, as well as which items are produced where. All factories must have a compliance score of at least 90, costs per item are broken down, and no sales are offered since a promotional markup to fool consumers is not included in their pricing. Real itemized costs are available to see for all products, consumers can even see how much the import duties were for any item on the site.

    As consumers see positive changes from such companies, my only hope is that they realize they are entitled to such information before casting their dollar vote. The dollar votes we cast can cause a butterfly effect, and if spent in favor of sustainability, we can help build a better future for our industry and environment.

    “Do you know what comes between PVH and sustainability? Nothing. When a powerful company makes sustainability a priority, the positive influence of their leadership can be felt across the globe.” – Brooke Shields

    additional sources:
    1.https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170809005795/en/PVH-Corp.-Honored-Sustainability-Award-Accessories-Council
    2.https://www.everlane.com/about
    3.https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/environment-costs-fast-fashion-pollution-waste-sustainability-a8139386.html

24. Hi Professor Musa,
    The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a great tool for beginners wanting to use or source from sustainable home products. Sustainable furniture is something that is not talked about often, and it delights me that there is a council that promotes such message to businesses in the industry. +Olive is a luxury sustainable furniture brand that caught my eye:https://www.plusolive.com/index.php/

    Karin

25. I was glad to see panelists who work in different fields of fashion industry. This is a great way to learn what processes happen before a product reaches the shelves. The supply chain process should be fair and transparent. The most important and widely recognized principle underlying the modern procurement system is an open competition – free access to the procurement market.
    Moreover, it should be open for public examination and review, this makes it a transparent process. For instance, global sourcing is expected to yield more reputable partners by developing networking that will help to obtain any information on companies.

26. Hi, I remember that I attended the ITM’s 2nd Biennial Sustainable Global Sourcing Forum last semester. I was having a great time in Transparency in the Supply Chain session. I found an interesting article about sustainability strategy in the supply chain.
    https://digiday.com/marketing/kerings-sustainability-strategy-brings-supply-chain-speed/
    In the forum, they said more people are having an intention to the transparency of supply chain and it should be.
    The article said that ‘luxury brands, supply chain transparency, and improvements are becoming table stakes, in order to move more efficiently and sustainably.’
    This plan is still in early stage, but we should care more and try to develop. I think the luxury brands should step up to make a way. Lastly,
    The experience is so nice to know deeply about global sourcing.

27. After reading this article, the keynote speaker who grabbed my attention was Enrique Villa- the founder and CEO of Povigy. The mission of his company is actually in some ways helping the main concerns in the retail industry today. Povigy is a company that helps the consumers to better recognize the face behind the product and whether the ethical expectations of the production of those products are met. Povigy’s mission is to verify the creation process of each garment and get the consumers to ask questions such as: Who made it? Where was it made? How it was made and under what condition? Essentially, Povigy wants to advocate to the consumers that they should always have the idea of sustainability and improved manufacturing conditions in mind when they are making a purchase of any kind. Moreover, I find it fascinating how the CEO of this company has dedicated his career to understanding client needs, to finding the best option to resolve complex challenges, and also to looking for possible ways to maximize the potential of limited resources. This company is driven by positive environmental and social impacts, which continues to improve people’s lives around the world as a result of their hard work and dedication. This company should be considered as a big accomplishment in both the retail and supply chain industry.

28. The panel on sustainable sourcing and textile technology really grabbed my attention.

    The situation of our planet today forces us to revisit our methods of productions, from textile sourcing to international trade. I am also really glad to see that people from completely opposite fields( fashion and science) merge and use their respective knowledge to create new technologies such as bio-based materials.

    As an ITM student, we quickly discover how trade can affect the environment in so many ways. It’s important to be aware of such organization who push a sustainable future in the field.

29. I was able to attend/volunteer this event last semester and absolutely loved it! From start to finish the sessions were so informative and covered a real range of topics. The Sensory Sustainability session was really fascinating to me as I had never really researched sustainability within the beauty industry. One of the guests actually made an interesting point, which I’ve continued to use in my discussion on the topic, about how consumers care about the objects that go in them more than they do for items that go on their skin and surround their daily life. This was especially fitting as the conversation discussed the impacts of toxicology certain chemicals have and how beauty products are pretty unregulated for these toxins in the U.S.

    Another one of my favorite sessions was with, my boss, Natalie Grillon of Project JUST and, my former professor, Ann Cantrell. I was able to introduce the two but didn’t know what would unfold in their conversation. I was surprised at the questions audience members had about the platform that hosts ethics and sustainability information on retail brands. Some even approached me afterward for more information on how to access the site for their use in their studies.

    Overall, a fantastic event! I can’t wait to return as an ITM alumni in 2019.

30. This article really grabbed my attention for its emphasis on sustainability in my field of study, International Trade and Marketing.

    I am glad to see the evolution in the awareness on this issue in the Fashion and Beauty industry. It is important to teach students about such major aspect of the industry, especially when it is thought by such influential players such as PVH and Estee Lauder to name a few. In the field of marketing for example, following the current global trend, I believe that pushing the fair aspect of a product will truly affect it’s popularity.

    In today’s reality, we have no choice but to become aware of our social and environmental responsibility, and I wish I was able to attend this panel which must have been very relevant and instructive.

31. I wish I had been able to attend this forum at the time! Each of the panels captivated my interests for the push of sustainability, in regards to international trade and marketing.

    I was particularly impressed by keynote speaker, Enrique Villa, CEO, Founder of Povigy + and his “Empowering customers to make responsible purchases” panel. His emphasis on the importance of social and environmental concerns, and their roles in purchasing goods and customer values resonated with me the most. I firmly believe in the importance of companies and individuals being socially and environmentally conscious global citizens.

    What an incredible forum, comprised of such bright panelists! Thank you for sharing this post, Professor Musa.

32. I was glad to see that the Estee Lauder Company was represented at this forum. I am highly intrigued by their use of the relatively new concept, “green chemistry” through which they ask chemists and engineers to develop chemical processes and eco-friendly products that will prevent the creation of toxics and waste in the first place.

    Estee Lauder is also an industry leader in creating sustainable packaging solutions that still remain trendy and elegant. I found the company with whom they and many of their competitors work with on this:

    http://www.diamondpackaging.com

    Diamond Packaging is an award winning company that is well worth looking into. I love discovering companies like this because it broadens my scope of possibilities and amazing companies that I may apply for when I graduate.

33. Hi Prof. Musa, I find the subject of the panel “Transparency in the Supply Chain” very important. The more competition among distributors, the better situation is for companies. The supply chains’ opacity of equipment does not allow tracing its origin. Will the restructuring of this sector of the market help to solve the emerging problems? Naturally, in the market, there is no absolute transparency, everything has a relative and probabilistic nature. It is good if the supply chains become more transparent, but no one needs an absolutely transparent market, on which will be impossible to buy the components necessary for production.

34. Hi Professor! I wish I attended this event. The panel “Sensory Sustainability” interests me most because I am fascinated by the sustainable aspect of the cosmetics world compared to fashion. I had the opportunity to work for a cosmetics brand during the spring, and I asked the CEO about why their products are primarily made in the US and Canada. She told me that is typically how it is in beauty, with a select few products being outsourced to countries with an expertise, due to many chemists being based in the US already. In cosmetics, their main sustainability concern seems to be packaging.

Comments are closed.