EXPERT TALKS ON-DEMAND
Tuesday, October 7
9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Speaker: Stewart Sheppard, Founder & principal consultant, S2 Consulting
9:20 AM
Colors & Trends
PERFORMANCE COLORS by Nora Kuehner Update Summer 2028 | Kickoff Winter 2028*29
Speaker: Nora Kühner, Independent Fashion & Design Consultant
10:20 AM
Phase Two of The War On Retail - What may happen after the Mid-Term Elections
Speakers: Rick Helfenbein, Consultant - Former Chairman, President & CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) | Ambassador Ron Sorini, Founder and Principal, Sorini Strategic Advisors
11:05 AM
Forum Insights
Speaker: Alexa Dehmel, Performance Apparel Design & Functional Material Advisory, Innovation & Sustainability, Alexa Dehmel - Consulting & Design
11:40 AM
Think With Your Hands: Prototyping in the Age of AI
Speakers: Zac West, Creative Lead, Ideology
12:25 PM
More Data, More Options_ What You Find When You Look at the Full Picture
Speakers: Jan Beringer, Senior Scientific Expert, Hohenstein Laboratories | Tim Sherry, Sustainability Technical Manager, Hohenstein | Shane O’Toole, Founder, Red Wolf Innovations
1:10 PM
Roadmap to Adoption: Bio-Based Materials - a panel discussion with Hyosung Textiles and REI
Speakers: Ajay Chadha, Director, Advanced Materials Innovation, REI Co-op | Laura Nilo, US Marketing Manager, Hyosung Textiles
1:55 PM
The DPP Playbook: Navigating Europe's New Product Transparency Rules
Speakers: James Pollack, Partner, Marten Law LLP | Ellen Johnson, Sustainability and Innovation Manager, Columbia Sportswear Company
2:40 PM
Stop the Stink. Navigating legal and regulatory landscape in AM's to meet the new 'Switching Window'
Speakers: Barry McGeough, Principal, Next Now | Bernd Leisenfeld, President, QMT Quick Med Technologies | Harrie Schoots, Textile Consulting/Advisor, AATCC Past President
3:25 PM
Beyond T2T_ Advancing Polyester Circularity and Microplastic Fiber Mitigation
Speakers: Chad Bolick, Director Strategic Accounts and Global Apparel Brand Sales, Intrinsic Advanced Materials | Jack Changchien, Sr. Director, Fujian Cyclone Technology Co., Ltd / Cyclone North America | Cheryl Smyre, VP, Parkdale Advanced Materials
4:10 PM
A/W28 TREND INTELLIGENCE | Performance, Reimagined
Speaker: Nichole de Carle, Trend Spotter, London Contour Experts
4:55 PM
From Chemical Inputs to Environmental Releases: Managing Environmental Risks in Textile Manufacturing
Speaker: Sumit Sarker, Sustainable Textile Expert, bluesign technologies ag
5:40 PM
Closing Remarks
Speaker: Stewart Sheppard, Founder & principal consultant, S2 Consulting
Wednesday, October 28
9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Speaker: Stewart Sheppard, Founder & principal consultant, S2 Consulting
9:20 AM
The Visionary Outlook Design Beyond Perfection In between confines & usability
Speaker: Nora Kühner, Independent Fashion & Design Consultant
10:20 AM
From Fiber to Market: How Cross-Functional Collaboration Turns Sustainable Innovation Into Product
Speakers: Samantha Frederick, Founder, Principal Consultant, Sustainable Apparel & Material – Strategies | Lisa-Thien Hue To, Founder & Creative Director, LT STUDIO, LT STUDIO | Joy Gruver, Business Development Manager, Americas, Eastman, Textiles Division representing Naia(tm)
11:05 AM
Bio-Based Reality: Can Renewable Materials Make Circular Design Easier?
Speakers: Davide Ballico, Founder & Principal, DB ORAMA CONSULTANCY INC. | Neil Bell, Owner future of textiles, Future of textiles | Ruth Kelly, Founder & Materials Consultant, Weft x Warp Fabric Consultancy Ltd, Weft x Warp | Ludovic Duran, Principal/Owner, LD ACE Consulting
11:50 AM
Tariffs Are the Easy Part - A guide to navigating trade uncertainty & supply chain risk
Speakers: Joshua Werthaiser, President, Downlite International, Inc. | Jon Devine, Chief Economist, Cotton Incorporated | Stewart Sheppard, Founder & principal consultant, S2 Consulting
12:35 PM
Garment Take-Back Laws: EPR Already in Effect and Expanding
Speakers: Jan Beringer, Senior Scientific Expert, Hohenstein Laboratories | Tim Sherry, Sustainability Technical Manager, Hohenstein | Will Troutman, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
1:20 PM
What Artificial Intelligence Changed for Small Brands, and What It Did Not
Speakers: James Ewsuk, Product Developer, Design Works | Hidi Fankhauser, Owner, Design Works
2:05 PM
Transform Your Business for Success Under New Textile Circularity Laws
Speakers: Keelin Christensen, Senior Manager, Sustainable Business Innovation, Outdoor Industry Association | Kevin Ann Jordan, President, Circular Textile Alliance | Nellie Cohen, Founder, BALEEN | Todd Copeland, Owner and Founder, Copeland Consultancy LLC
2:50 PM
Can Consumer Demand Scale Next-Generation Materials
Speakers: Brittany Sierra, Founder/CEO, Sustainable Fashion Forum | Bill Morris, Materials Analyst, Fabrics Vetted | David Stover, Co-Founder, Bureo Inc
3:35 PM
Closing Remarks
Speaker: Stewart Sheppard, Founder & principal consultant, S2 Consulting