Advisory boards
We’re here to simplify material sourcing – and the team behind our name is stellar beyond measure. We’re proud of all we’ve accomplished over these last few years – and we’re only just getting started.
Advisory boards
We’re here to simplify material sourcing – and the team behind our name is stellar beyond measure. We’re proud of all we’ve accomplished over these last few years – and we’re only just getting started.
About the Fashion Advisory Board
Material Exchange’s Fashion Advisory Board (FAB) is a global, multi-stakeholder working group that meets 3 times a year. The aim of FAB is to help support Material Exchange in its mission to transform the sourcing industry. Helping the team understand what the industry needs to evolve and improve, so they can work on solutions for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
Rachel K. Lincoln
Director of Sustainability and Social Impact, PrAna
Sustainability business strategist who connects product, process, and sustainability to impact within apparel brands. Has driven the implementation of Bluesign certified products, helped to launch Fair Trade certified products, and been an instrumental contributor to PrAna’s explosive growth.
Edward Stoner
Insights & Strategy Consultant, New Dynamic
Independent consultant specialized in the marketing of sustainable materials. Has run global insights studies for Adidas, evaluating sustainability messaging. Developed brand strategies for BASF’s Haptex, Freeflex, and Infinergy solutions. Advisor to biomaterial start-up Modern Synthesis. Passionate about using storytelling to inspire sustainable choices.
Archana Archana
Manager, Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Steve Madden
Manager in the Corporate Social Responsibility team at Steve Madden with a focus on Social Responsibility and Sustainability. 10+ years’ experience in consumer goods supply chains across roles in product safety, regulatory compliance, social responsibility, and sustainability.
Tusharika Jaipuriyar
Insights & Strategy Consultant, New Dynamic
Innovating leather production as founder of leather manufacturer AM’s India. 30+ years in leather manufacturing with a wide range of experience from Quality Control Manager to Leather Development Manager as well as skills in marketing, research, negotiation, management, and more.
Imran Asghar
Co-Founder / Managing Director, Bangladesh & Pakistan, The Sourcery Group LLC
Textile professional with 20 years of experience. Has worked in production, buying, and sourcing within organizations. Focused on communications; textile and apparel sourcing; and the development of sustainable supply chain management, vendor compliance, and team building.
Anatt Finkler
Creative Director, Global Denim
Industrial designer specialized in visual communication. Heads up communication, trends, and design at Global Denim and is immersed in sustainability and compliance. Has been engaged in the world of design for the past 12 years. Named one of the 50 most influential people in the denim world by Rivet Magazine and Sourcing Journal in 2021.
Melanie Dec-Cyphert
Design Director, Geniemode
Design Director at Geniemode. With over 15 years of leadership experience in the fashion industry. Specializing in guiding design direction for full fashion sweaters, cut and sew knits, wovens, print and pattern design, denim, and leathers. Dedicated to fostering sustainability within fashion.
Jay Shroff
Owner/Partner, Fashion Panda
Banker turned entrepreneur in the fashion industry. Runs a company that designs and manufactures fashion apparel for brands and retailers worldwide. Strong belief that manufacturers/suppliers play a key role in advising and enabling the industry toward sustainability and digitization.
Lindsey Foust
Sustainability Analyst, NOBULL
Leads the sustainability program at NOBULL. Background in Sustainable Fashion Design, non-profit research at the OR Foundation, and an Executive Board Member at the Cincinnati Sustainable Fashion Initiative. Passionate and optimistic about redesigning the future of the industry!
Avedis Hovsep Seferian
President & CEO, WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production)
Recognized expert in social compliance and responsible sourcing. Chairman of the Executive Board of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors. Member of the American Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar. Served on the Board of Advisors of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.
Emily Siegel
SVP of Design, PopSockets
Executive leader in the fashion and accessories space. Leading strategic and design direction and building brand awareness. Passionate about threading connections between product, design, creative, and marketing to give the consumer the ability to connect to brands.
Katie O'Hara
Director of Account Management, Dynamic Foam
Increasing efficiencies at Dynamic Foam since 2015 through a variety of roles including operations, marketing, and key account management. Spearheaded development, certification, partnership and branding efforts for all lines of sustainable materials. Diverse background in global logistics and operations, retail buying, sales, and marketing.
Ulrich Broger Segantini
CEO, b.unlimited SA
Inspirational leader who connects people with ideas so they can unleash their potential and achieve the impossible. Develops and implements projects to make the denim industry more sustainable through initiatives like creating the first pair of jeans that absorbs more co2 than it emits.
About the Sourcing Expert Team
The sourcing expert team are a group of suppliers and industry service providers who are the strongest critics of our ideas. A team of experts who stress test what we do and make sure we are creating solutions that are strong enough to genuinely transform the industry.
Cenker Akdemir
Business Development Director, EROĞLU
Chemical engineer with 20 years of experience in denim washing and design. Has worked with many major manufacturers and brands throughout his working life and still supports these brands in design and product development activities. Gives lectures on washing jeans at universities and fashion academies.
Cathryn Widdowson
Director, Footwear Elite Ltd
Helps brands bring their vision to life by connecting material suppliers and shoe makers who best match brand and sustainability needs. Focuses on small- medium sized brands who need expertise and knowledge in sustainable materials and supply chain processes to start their sustainability journey. Researches new innovation in sustainable materials, engaging with suppliers, ensuring that the supply chain is sound and sustainability data can be verified.
Amandine Cha-Dessolier
CEO, Ostara RSE SAS - Amandine Cha
Founded textile manufacturer LTA SAS in 2010 and consulting agency Ostara RSE SAS in 2023 with the mission to enable fashion and nature to coexist sustainably. 10+ years of experience in sustainable textiles. Committed to offering innovative solutions to her customers as they face climate challenges and take charge of their CSR responsibility. Provides the sustainable textile products that brands need, from creation to production.
Ngaire Takano
Sustainability, Traceable, and Circular Sourcing Advisor, Takano Ngaire
20 years of traceability and transparency experience within sourcing as well as buying textiles and trims from specialized organic, fair trade, circular, and artisan producers. LCA and ESG sustainability auditor. Focused on textile development, shoe production, and auditing factories. Working on new and innovative sourcing processes for wool based around circular practices.
Robert Scofield
Founder, Chinook
Founder of Chinook Asia in 1988. Sourcing $100 million per year in all types of shoes from businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start ups. Offers services in design, development, innovation, quality control, and material and product sourcing. Loves the challenge.
Chris Baeza
Program Director and Assistant Teaching Professor, Drexel University
20+ years of experience as an accomplished design and merchandising executive with proven results working alongside iconic global brands. Strong background in strategic branding, design, development, and product merchandising across men’s, women’s, and children’s. Dynamic educator who provides opportunities to expand students’ learning with experiential, interdisciplinary coursework, and international study tours.
Want to chat?
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to see how we could work together.