Sustainable Fashion: Responsible Manufacturing of Garments and Textiles for the Global Marketplace

Event: Thursday, November 7, 2019

5:30 pm-7:30 pm
Gensler, 45 Fremont Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105

The garment and textile sector has been a major driver of economic growth in Asia for over 50 years. The sector has been key to the development of Asia’s advanced economies such as Korea, Singapore and China and continues to drive economic growth in middle-income economies such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Pakistan.

What does the evolution of this sector mean for Asia? Can it balance social and environmental sustainability with economic growth? How are women’s economic opportunities and rights as workers key to achieving sustainable supply chains? Will rising awareness and activism on environmental issues inspire Asian consumers to demand sustainable and ethical sourcing and production from their preferred brands, or are regulations needed? What are companies doing to address these concerns proactively?

Please join The Asia Foundation, in partnership with Levi Strauss and Co., for a cocktail reception and panel discussion with fashion industry leaders. They will address how fashion companies are innovating to reduce carbon emissions, support gender equality, and take greater responsibility for environmental and social sustainability.

Featuring

Michael Kobori has led sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co. since 2001. Under his leadership, the company has been a pioneer in bringing sustainability to the apparel industry. He has been a champion of industry collaboration on sustainability, serving as chair of the Better Cotton Initiative and board member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. In 2014, Fast Company magazine named him one of the 1000 Most Creative People in Business. Kobori is currently a member of the President’s Leadership Council of the Asia Foundation.

Lisa Hook is senior manager of Global Sustainable Innovation at Gap, Inc. She focuses on Gap’s water stewardship strategy to build resilience and scale innovation, advancing water security through women’s empowerment, financing, policy and governance.

Amina Razvi is executive director of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. Razvi was previously a senior manager on the Global Sustainability team at Gap, Inc., where she led environmental initiatives across owned and operated facilities as well as in their supply chain.

Elizabeth Romanoff Silva is assistant director for the Women’s Empowerment Program at The Asia Foundation. Silva provides technical assistance on a range of women’s empowerment and gender issues including women’s economic empowerment and women’s entrepreneurship, violence against women, political participation and education.

Dien Yuen is an assistant professor of Philanthropy at The American College of Financial Services in San Francisco. She has worked as a financial and philanthropic advisor, steering clients toward investments that produce positive social outcomes and a healthier environment.

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