Audience:
Open industry. All apparel and footwear industry professionals, regardless of AAFA membership, are encouraged to participate.
Description:
Sustainability in apparel has matured past broad commitments and category-level claims. Consumers are looking for data and traceability behind the materials they wear and are holding brands to a higher standard of proof. To meet that, brands need trusted, verifiable data that gives them greater confidence in the materials they are sourcing. The Trust Protocol is committed to driving continuous improvement in the production of U.S. cotton through transparent, verifiable data, and together with Oritain, they offer the highest level of end-to-end traceability in the industry.
Join Liz Hershfield from US Cotton Trust Protocol and Josh Biss from Oritain to discover:
- How consumer expectations are guiding sourcing decisions and what brands are now expected to prove.
- How verified field-level data and product traceability support sustainable supply chains.
- How brands sourcing U.S. cotton are using digital and physical verification to future-proof their business.
Speakers:
Liz Hershfield
Co-Director
US Cotton Trust Protocol
Liz Hershfield has worked in various leadership roles in the fashion industry for 30 years, specializing in production, product development, supply chain and operations. She has led full supply chain and sustainability initiatives while contributing to the growth and success of brands such as Old Navy, Bonobos, and J. Crew Group. She possesses extensive knowledge in supply chain traceability, with a focus on cotton. She was actively involved in consultations with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during the formulation of the UFLPA legislation. Consequently, she designed and executed a program at J. Crew Group, successfully transforming the approach to traceability within the supply chain, with a particular emphasis on cotton and adherence to UFLPA regulations.
In 2024, she launched Green-ish, a consultancy that helps businesses navigate the complexities of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and supply chain management. Ms. Hershfield remains immersed in the world of cotton, offering her expertise to clients on supply chain traceability and working with organizations like Cotton Council International and US Cotton Trust Protocol.
Additionally, Ms. Hershfield is a member of the board of directors of Grace Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides women with skills training and career support. She is also a member of the council of Better Cotton Council, a global organization that promotes sustainable cotton production. She has received several awards and accolades for her work in the fashion industry, such as the Textile Exchange Ryan Young Climate + Award, The Lead's The Direct 60, and Rivet 50 Index.
Josh Biss
Senior Account Executive
Oritain
Josh Biss is a Senior Account Executive at Oritain, where he's spent seven years helping leading brands and manufacturers protect their supply chains with forensic origin verification. He works closely with producers and retailers across the textile and apparel space, including a close working relationship with the US Cotton Trust Protocol, guiding them through the science and practicalities of proving where their raw materials really come from. Josh regularly represents Oritain at major industry events, and holds a Master's degree from the University of Southampton.
AAFA Host:
Conor O’Brien
Sustainability Policy Specialist
AAFA
Conor O'Brien joined AAFA's policy team in 2024 as its Sustainability Policy Coordinator after completing his Masters in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. Prior to joining AAFA, Conor worked for several years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boston, where he engaged with RCRA compliance, state coordination, climate adaptation planning, and environmental justice application. Initially trained as a chemist at Princeton University, Conor combines scientific research with policy analysis and application to provide holistic approaches to sustainable resource usage in pursuit of a more circular economy. Conor supports the work of the AAFA Environmental Committee and AAFA Product Safety Council by engaging with public and private stakeholders on issues of sustainability, product safety, and chemical management germane to the apparel and footwear industry.
Unable to join on August 26?
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CONTACT | QUESTIONS
Stephanie Paendong