Organized by a collective of French and American women, the SoCal Circular Textiles Summit is a two-day hybrid event held at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) on May 9–10, 2025, hosted at the indoor-outdoor ANTrepreneur Center. This gathering brings together industry leaders, innovators, academics, and changemakers to address environmental and social challenges in the textile industry and explore cross-sector solutions rooted in circularity, innovation, and systems thinking.
🌎 Reserve your spot now – limited seats available: https://lu.ma/ug2tdws3
Our mission is to foster a collaborative ecosystem for education and action—shifting mindsets from the outdated “take-make-waste” model toward regenerative, interconnected, and circular systems inspired by nature.
Program Highlights
– Keynote Session
– Panel Discussions with experts from global brands, startups, academia, and public institutions
– Interactive Workshops and real-world case studies
– Hands-on Networking with professionals and student leaders
– Hybrid Format – in-person + online access
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📅 Day 1 – May 9, 2025
Format: Hybrid (Virtual + In-Person at UCI ANTpreneur Center)
🧶 Morning Program (Virtual)
Textiles Untangled: 101 Circular Fashion Workshop
Led by: Megan Yousef, Sustainability Workshop Trainer & Facilitator
An interactive 3-hour experience exploring the lifecycle of textiles—from raw materials to end-of-life—through a circular lens. Participants engage in systems thinking, games, and real-world examples to understand sustainability challenges and opportunities.
🧶 Afternoon Program (Virtual + In-Person at UCI ANTpreneur Center)
Master of Ceremonies: Derek A. Sabori – Founder, The UnderSwell – School of Understanding
🎤 Keynote
A Holistic Vision of Circular Textiles: Weaving Systems Change
– Aditi Mayer – Climate Activist, Storyteller & Founder of The Artisan Archive
💬 Panel Discussions & Networking
Panel 1: From Advocacy to Industry: Building a Culture of Circular Responsibility
– Sarah Forsythe – Merchandising Compliance Associate, Tillys
– Jeff Forrest – Founder & Designer, Stacklab Object Project
– Courtney Barriger – Eco Fashion Creator & Author, Refashion Workshop
– Moderator: Isabelle Bart – Startup Coach & Founder, Impact Innovator
Panel 2: The Fabric of Change – Innovation Driving Circularity
– Nyleve Henry – Co-founder & CEO, Looks For Lease
– Jay Huynh – Creative Director, Circular Fashion LA
– Jessie Kosak – Professor, ASU FIDM
– Katia Hardgrave – Co-founder, Morpho Collective; Formerly Biomimicry Institute
– Moderator: Kevin Meredith – Innovation Leader & Founder, 4th Sector Innovations
Panel 3: How Can We Scale Circular Systems?
– Margaret Frericks – Director of Foundations & Sustainability, Goodwill SoCal
– Brett Blalock – Founder & CEO, Infinfty
– Joey Pham – Founder & CEO, Eorte
– Caitrin Watson – Director of Sustainability, SHEIN Technology LLC
– Moderator: Noah Last – Scientific Partnerships Manager, NIST
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📅 Day 2 – May 10, 2025
Format: Hybrid (Virtual + In-Person at UCI ANTpreneur Center)
🧶 Morning Program (Virtual)
Mini Masterclass: Sustainability 101 – Apparel Focused
Led by: Derek A. Sabori, The UnderSwell – School of Understanding
A 45-minute fast-paced intro to sustainability in the apparel and footwear industries, covering foundational concepts, industry challenges, and practical tools—with an optional Q&A.
🧶 Afternoon Program (In-Person at UCI ANTpreneur Center)
Textiles Untangled: 101 Circular Fashion Workshop
Led by: Amandine Richard – Eco-Designer, Educator & Founder, recurvence
An in-person version of the engaging 3-hour workshop, offering a dynamic blend of tools, teamwork, and systems thinking to unpack environmental and social impacts across the textile lifecycle.
Who Should Attend?
This event welcomes:
🧑🎓 Students (free admission worldwide)
🎓 UCI Affiliates (free admission)
🤝 Professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, and sustainability advocates (donation-based)
Whether you’re in fashion, design, materials science, supply chain, or sustainability—this summit is your space to connect, learn, and co-create change.
Hosted by:
recurvence, Sustainable and Just Future, UCI ANTrepreneur Center, Earth Boutique, and Curated by Juliette
🔗 More info: https://circulartextilessummit.org
🎟️ Register here: https://lu.ma/ug2tdws3