Speakers

Anna Kelles

+ Assemblymember, New York State Assembly

Dr. Anna Kelles represents the 125th District, including Tompkins County and southwest Cortland County, in the New York State Assembly. Assemblymember Kelles is the Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Agricultural Production & Technology and a member of the Assembly Committees on Agriculture, Correction, Environmental Conservation, Housing, Mental Health and Local Governments. She has authored and is the sponsor of the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (“Fashion Act”) in the New York State Assembly.

Dr. Kelles earned a PhD in Nutritional Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina, exploring the relationship between urbanization and multi-generational health-related behavior patterns in the Philippines.

Ashley Kubley

+ Associate Professor of Fashion & Head of the Evelyn G. Burgoyne Textile Innovation Laboratory, University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning

Ashley Kubley has 17 years of professional experience in fibers, fashion, and design including apparel production, textile design, and sustainable product and materials development. Her research explores the intersection of heritage craft with modern technology, and seeks to improve our understanding of textile processes by investigating the history, craft and materials that influence the adoption, application and efficacy of new technologies in the fashion industry.

Kubley's work predicts the impact of technology on stakeholders, and her research in smart textile composites, fabric membranes and materials systems has secured grants, patents, book publications and articles published internationally.

Julia K. Hughes

+ President, United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)

- not able to attend -

Julia K. Hughes is President of the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), which represents brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally. She represents the industry in front of the U.S. government as well as international governments and stakeholders, explaining how fashion companies create high quality jobs in the United States and economic opportunities around the world.

She frequently speaks at international conferences including the China & Asia Textile Forum, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Harvard University’s Bangladesh Development Conference, MAGIC, Prime Source Forum, Vietnam Textile Summit, and others.

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Benedikt Brisch

+ Director, DWIH New York

Benedikt Brisch studied history, slavic languages and political science at the University of Cologne and has been with the DAAD since 1998. Among other positions, he was Deputy Director of the DAAD Moscow Office and Head of the Division for Europe and North America at DAAD Headquarters in Bonn, Germany.

As Director of DWIH in New York since 2019, he developed the new "Future Forum" format that brings together researchers and innovators from Germany and the U.S.

Bea Brücker

+ Designer, Artist & Lecturer, Center for Design Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Bea Brücker is an interdisciplinary biodesigner, researcher and artist. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in London in 2021, she has been teaching the MA Fashion Bio Platform at the RCA and is a member of the Center for Design Research (HAW Hamburg). Her work explores how Biodesign can be an emancipatory practice that empowers people to live in balance with nature.

Working at the intersection of design and art, new technologies, ecology and computational design, she is developing a compostable algae material, digital design tools and new manufacturing processes for the development of a circular fashion system.

Michelle Gabriel

+ Graduate Program Director, Sustainable Fashion, Glasgow Caledonian New York College (GCNYC)

Michelle Gabriel is a social impact and fashion sustainability strategist, educator, and researcher who speaks widely about the strategies, policies and laws needed to establish widespread sustainable practices in the fashion industry. Her research investigating how value perceptions in the fashion marketplace are shaped and built through cultural and economic systems aims to drive more equitable dynamics across societies.

She has more than 15 years of industry experience in social business strategy, design, branding, product development, supply chain, and operations for fashion and consumer brands that she brings to her teaching and research.

Gwyn Conaway

+ Costume Concept Artist, Costume Designers Guild IATSE 892

Gwyn Conaway is a costume concept artist and fashion historian. She specializes in 3D cloth simulation, costume breakdown, and world building for science fiction and fantasy. Conaway is entertainment design faculty at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena (California), where she teaches costume design and simulation.

Martin Paul Fritze

+ Assistant Professor of Trade Fair Management and Marketing, University of Cologne

Martin P. Fritze is an Assistant professor in marketing with a focus on materiality in a digitized world and behavioral insights for macro solutions. He currently is a visiting researcher at Wharton exploring crypto-marketing and NFTs.

Isabel Slone

+ Journalist and Critic, New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE

Isabel Slone is a journalist whose work focuses on the critical intersection of fashion, culture and sustainability. Much of her work focuses on locating practical solutions to shift individual attitudes towards fashion. She is currently researching a book on our cultural obsession linking consumption with morality.

Barbro Scholz

+ E-textiles Designer-Researcher, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences / StühmerScholz Design

Barbro Scholz is an e-textiles interaction and materials designer researching e-textile wearables and their impact in human-technology relation. She is co-founder of Stühmer|Scholz Design Office (2012) in Hamburg (DE) with clients in culture, industry And education. She works as a researcher in the projects "Speculative Space"- and "Klima-ACT" at the Design Research Center at University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (DE).

She showed her work at (a.o.) Pailliards centre d’arts 2016 (FR), Barrick Museum of Art Nevada, LV 2022(US), Design Center Hamburg 2022 (DE). Latest awards: Wearsustain (2018), WORTH-project (2019), nominee Startz Prize at Ars Elektronica 2021.

Anne-Marie Sust

+ Fashion Designer, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences

Water is an important component of our lives. Current dyeing processes in the fashion industry are focused on the use of non-sustainable textiles and highly polluting dyes. Interdisciplinary collaboration between design and natural science has resulted in innovative microalgae inks for printing on textiles.

The aim is to sensitise the viewer to the temporary and sustainable nature of clothing, as the prints fade when they come into contact with light. It´s up to the wearer to decide how to deal with the "living" microalgae prints. This way, organic processes and their temporary nature are elevated to the level of aesthetics.

Matthias Finkbeiner

+ Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technical University Berlin

I am Chair of Sustainable Engineering and Managing Director of the Department of Environmental Technology at Technical University Berlin working in the fields of carbon footprint, climate neutrality, water footprint, life cycle assessment, resource efficiency, social and organisational LCA. I am Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment.

Earlier in my career, I was Manager for Life Cycle Engineering at the Design-for-Environment Department for Mercedes-Benz Cars. I have a multidisciplinary background of environmental science, environmental law and an MBA in sustainability management.

Patrick Kugler

+ Professor of Clothing Engineering, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

After having worked in various professional positions in the clothing industry, Patrick Kugler joined the HAW Hamburg design department. He teaches courses on clothing technology and management as well as multichannel trade investment in the textile business. Kugler is interested in design development and material requirements in ready-to-wear textiles. He focuses on the holistic and sustainable aspects of production and design for the clothing industry of the future.

Natascha von Hirschhausen

+ zero-waste fashion designer

For fashion designer Natascha von Hirschhausen, "design is the key to sustainability." She has developed an innovative zero-waste design approach, after seeing how much waste is generated in the textile industry. Her design minimizes resource waste in production from 20% to less than 1%, challenging the fashion industry as it has been. For her holistic future-driven design concept Natascha was awarded with the federal award "ecodesign" in 2017.

Adam Minter

+ Columnist and Author, Bloomberg

Adam Minter is a columnist with Bloomberg Opinion, where he writes about a range of topics, including sustainability, China, and the private space industry. He is the author of two critically-acclaimed and best-selling books about globalized waste, recycling, and reuse: "Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion Dollar Trash Trade," and "Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale." Minter is a widely sought expert and speaker on globalized waste and recycling issues.

Anna Wuebber

+ Professor of Costume Design, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Anna Wübber was born in the infamous St. Pauli district of Hamburg city in 1982. Being the only child of a carpenter and a fortune teller, Anna developed a sense for the beauty of weirdness at an early age. Studying people and their outer appearances became her passion.

Today, inventing characters and thereby creating the visual reality of a film is Anna's way to be part of a great narration. Anna's feature film works include: TOTEM, TORE TANZ, TSCHICK by Fatih Akin, BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ and SENECA, starring John Malkovich. In 2021, Anna Wübber was appointed professor of Costume Design at HAW Hamburg.

Marco Scheel

+ CEO, M.S. Nordwolle GmbH

I founded Nordwolle to prove three things:

1. Functional clothing and fashion can be produced and sourced locally and still be affordable

2. It is possible to redevelop the necessary know-how and pursue innovative paths in a short amount of time

3. The fashion industry can become less harmful, and even create value for communities

Hannah Glaser

+ Multidisciplinary designer and fashion scholar, GREEN CYCLES

Hannah Glaser is a multidisciplinary designer and fashion scholar. With a BA in Visual Communication and a MA in International Fashion Management, Hannah observes questions of identity, ideology and clothing through the lens of visual arts and humanities in her work, exploring the intersection of fashion and culture.

Highlighting her passion for interdisciplinary research thus far spans the fields of costume history and fashion studies, as well as sociological and psychological topics, Hannah’s work investigates the impact of new stylistic and aesthetic criteria on processes of identification and fashion garment lifespans as an approach that addresses new sustainable thinking.

Renata Brink

+ Professor of Textile Design, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

textile concepts :: material matters

Renata Brink develops surfaces. While her work is textile-based, she engages with notions of interior and exterior space, architecture, and intervention. With an MA in Textiles from Goldsmiths, University of London, she negotiates urban environments and sustainability aspects, mapping out terrains of contemporary making, deconstruction, and craft practice.

Textiles and text, textiles and writing, grids and lines – textiles in an expanded transdisciplinary field and within international cultural contexts link formal qualities and issues of representation. Constructed textiles, weaving, materials, (natural) dyeing, installation and reference are integral to her conceptually grounded work.

Jan Lüdert

+ Head of Programs, DWIH New York

Jan Lüdert is Head of Programs at the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York. He has a proven track record of driving innovation and excellence in higher education. He is passionate about international affairs, knowledge management, and building transatlantic partnerships.

Jan earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of British Columbia (UBC). He holds Harvard Kennedy’s School Public Leadership Credential; a First-Class Honors MA in International Relations from the Australian National University; and a BA in Public Policy from Hamburg University for Economics and Politics.

Aradhita Parasrampuria

+ Materials Developer and Educator, Slow Factory Labs and Parsons

Aradhita Parasrampuria is a sustainable materials researcher and textile designer originally from India, based in New York. Aradhita creates scientific, eco-friendly, ethical, and affordable textiles to help replace toxic petroleum-based products. She works primarily with organisms such as Algae, Escherichia coli, and Mycelium.

She is the recipient of the Aronson Fellowship from Tishman Environment and Design Center. Her work has been featured in Vogue, L'officiel Brazil, CFDA, No-Kill Magazine, New York Design Week, Mana Contemporary, and Talking Textiles.

Christoph Greb

+ Scientific Director, Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University

Christoph Greb is a mechanical engineer with a strong background in plastics processing and textiles technology. He has been with the Institute für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University since 2008, and is currently serving as scientific director on the institute´s managing board.

The institute aims at significantly contributing to a more sustainable textile industry and is active in the fields of recycling, design for recycling, biobased materials, life cycle analysis and local manufacturing of apparel.

Charlotte Holzer

+ Textile Conservator, Deutsches Museum Munich

My name is Charlotte Holzer and I am a textile conservator at the Deutsches Museum Munich. In my current role, I love the research on functional, technical textiles, hands-on treatments of artifacts, like historic airplanes, space suits or full-size ships and creating custom-made support structures.

I studied in my hometown at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and went on to write my PhD in conservation at the Technical University of Munich. Every day, I get the opportunity to develop a long-term perspective, onto both the past and the future of our cultural heritage, learning from colleagues and personal experiences.

Chris Baeza

+ Program Director & Assistant Teaching Professor, Drexel University

Chris Baeza has had an extensive 25 plus year working with iconic global brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Adidas. Her research explores a learner-centered pedagogy which integrates design fiction, ethics and social entrepreneurship with the aim of reconsidering the design process by creating moments of reflection to better understand the ethical implications of design proposals.

Recently, Chris has been exploring how we might combine the provocations of speculative design to solve the dilemma of environmental and social issues in a collaborative and playful exercise for designers.

Marlen Vesper-Gräske

+ Attorney, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Marlen focuses on all areas of Compliance and Internal Investigations. She is advising on corporate, criminal and ESG compliance with a strong focus on human rights. Currently, she is strongly involved in supply chain and human rights advice for the textile industry.

Sebastian Serafin

+ Deputy Director, Berlin Business Office USA

- not able to attend -

Deputy Director of the Berlin Business Office, USA - representing the capital city-state of Germany in the USA, headquartered in New York. Successfully founded several startups, expanded with venture capital into the United States and led many international network initiatives.

David Gill

+ Consul General, German Consulate General New York

Explaining Germany, understanding America, and fostering successful discussions and exchange – that’s our mission here in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Bermuda.

Elizabeth (Leza) Bieber

+ Counsel and Head of Shareholder Engagement and Activism Defense, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

She focuses on corporate governance issues, including activism and takeover defense preparedness.

Leza advises boards of directors and management on governance and crisis management, including stakeholder engagement; sustainability trends; board and disclosure issues, including director independence, board and committee structure, securities law compliance, board leadership structures, board composition, listing standards, shareholder proposals, annual meetings; ESG issues; proxy season trends; and succession planning.

Leza is also a recognized thought leader on governance and activism matters.

Kurt Becker

Vice Dean for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Kurt Becker is Vice Dean for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering. He also serves as Advisory Board Chair of the DWIH New York.

Dr. Becker earned a Diplom in Physics (MS) and Dr. rer. Nat. at Saarland University in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He is the recipient of the Dr. Eduard-Martin Prize for Excellence in Research, American Physical Society Fellow, Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award (with Erich Kunhardt), and an honorary professorship from the Leopold-Franzens-Universität.