All Writers: List

Mike Redwood retired some years ago from a 50 year long career in the leather industry, where he started as a technician holding many senior positions around the world, latterly focusing on marketing and innovation. During his retirement he has supported Leather Naturally and currently spends most of his time as a Trustee of the Leather Conservation Centre in the UK. 

Dr Timo Rissanen is an associate professor in fashion and textiles in the School of Design, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). His research focuses on design-led approaches to sustainability and social justice in fashion and textile systems. He has published two books on fashion and sustainability: Zero Waste Fashion Design (2016), co-authored with Holly McQuillan, and Shaping Sustainable Fashion (2011), co-edited with Alison Gwilt. He is a founding member and a board member of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion.

Dr Elaine Ritch is a senior lecturer in marketing at Glasgow Caledonian University and she is the programme leader for BA(hons) International Marketing. Elaine has presented her research at International conferences and has published in International journals and book chapters. Her co-edited book, New Perspectives in Critical Marketing and Consumer Society’, was published in March 2021. Elaine is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Kirsi Roine is Infinited Fiber Company’s Chief Customer Officer. With a background for example in chemistry, viscose industry and fibre production methods, Kirsi is Infinited’s main point of contact with global fashion brands and responsible for customer engagement and sales.

As Infinited Fiber Company’s Chief Customer Officer, Kirsi blends her chemistry background and experience in the viscose industry to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and global fashion brands. She leads the fiber sales and serve as the primary liaison with major fashion labels worldwide.

Her mission extends beyond sales – as a passionate advocate for sustainability, driving transformative initiatives that close the loop on textile waste, she actively collaborates with industry associations to shape regulations, promote circular economy practices, and create significant value across the fashion supply chain.

Nicole Rycroft is Founder and Executive Director of award-winning Canopy, a Canadian environmental nonprofit. A former physiotherapist and elite level athlete, she is an ardent surfer and enthusiast of life. One of Nicole’s guiding philosophies in life, “ask for what you want, you might just get it”, is foundational to her work in guiding Canopy’s team to transform unsustainable supply chains and advance forest conservation and community rights.

In addition to being a member of the UBS Global Visionaries Program, Nicole is an Ashoka Fellow, the recipient of a Canadian Environment Award Gold Medal, winner of the 2020 Climate Breakthrough Award, and a recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross of Canada.

Canopy works closely with global fashion brands to reduce the use of fibres sourced from primary forests. Canopy's mission is to support companies in adopting sustainable practices and transitioning toward a greener future. In India, Canopy is looking to transform supply chains to eliminate Ancient and Endangered Forest fibres by 2033 by collaborating with brands to transition to low-carbon, Next Generation fibres, driving innovation through partnerships with forward-thinking companies and developing scalable alternatives.

SM Najmus Sakib is a journalist based in Dhaka. His work focuses on human rights, refugee rights, public health, the environment and climate change. Follow him on Twitter @ns_rafsan.

Dr Michiel Scheffer was born in a textile family: his father was a textile chemist with ICI, his mother a textile designer in the Lancashire textile industry. Scheffer studied economic geography in Utrecht and at LSE, and wrote a PhD thesis on globalisation of the fashion industry. 

From 1991 to 2000, he worked as Director for Economic Affairs at the Dutch Fashion Industry Association, Modint. Scheffer has held several professorships in fashion and in international economics in Paris (IFM), Amsterdam (AMFI), Enschede, Kleve and Wuhan. 

Currently, he is Project Manager for Sustainable Textiles at the Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Scheffer is also Chairman of the Dutch Investment Deal in Professional Education, and Chairman of the Cultural heritage and Climate Change Fund, on behalf of the Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science.

Sebastian Schmidt, Advisor - Sustainable Economic Development at GIZ, is a business administration professional dedicated to sustainable economic development and employment promotion. Working with GIZ (German Development Agency) in Morocco on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the Invest-for-Jobs programme, he focuses on various initiatives, including fostering circular economy practices within the textile industry.

Sagarika Sengupta is Consultant with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

Deirdre Shaw is Professor Consumer Ethics and Sustainability at the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School. She has researched the area of consumption ethics throughout her career, publishing on the subject in a range of international journals, including, British Journal of Management, Work, Employment and Society, Journal of Consumer Culture, Psychology and Marketing, Journal of Business Ethics, Marketing Theory, European Journal of Marketing, Business History, Journal of Marketing Management, Sustainable Development; contributing to books and non-academic publications and giving invited talks and supervising PhD researchers in this area.