Latest news with #DeliveringGood
Fashion Value Chain
20-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Purpose is the New Power
How Women Are Redefining Impact at the Intersection of Fashion, Beauty, and Business At the 2025 Women of Impact Summit, hosted by Delivering Good, a new narrative emerged: one where purpose-led leadership and cross-industry collaboration are shaping the future of fashion and beyond. 2025 DG WOIS Photo Credit Layra Marte In an era where storytelling and social value are as critical as silhouette and stitch, the 2025 Women of Impact Summit at the Fashion Institute of Technology brought together more than 250 leaders to celebrate a rising shift in the fashion and textile world — the growing fusion of purpose and profit. Hosted by nonprofit Delivering Good, an organisation that connects individuals and families in need with new products that open doors to hope, dignity, and opportunity. The event focused on how women are leveraging fashion, beauty, tech, and finance to build more equitable, conscious, and community-driven futures. The Summit's panels reflected a broader movement taking hold across the creative economy. Fashion is about what your brand stands for. Industry veterans and new voices alike discussed how sustainability, inclusivity, and digital disruption are no longer niche concerns but foundational pillars. A standout trend? Radical reinvention. Journalist Lisa Marsh set the tone early by encouraging attendees to 'stay curious' and embrace multi-hyphenate careers — a nod to how today's fashion leaders are shifting from legacy roles into multi-sector entrepreneurship. This was echoed by Emily Hikade of Petite Plume, whose transition from CIA operative to luxury sleepwear founder shows how agility and vision are reshaping leadership pathways in the fashion world. Throughout the day, fashion insiders and adjacent innovators explored how impact is no longer measured solely by the bottom line. In the Beauty, Unfiltered panel, inclusive branding was reframed not as an initiative but as an imperative. As a panellist and 2020 Miss Earth, Lindsey Coffey noted, 'The next generation of leaders is not waiting to be handed power, they're creating it. And beauty, when it's unfiltered and inclusive, can be a catalyst for real change.' Key themes that emerged across the Summit included: Sustainable Supply Chains as Standard: From material innovation to end-of-life circularity, sustainability was not positioned as a trend, but the new baseline for ethical production. Financial Equity Meets Fashion: Executives from Blackstone, Salesforce, and Mastercard discussed how wealth-building tools must be accessible — particularly for women in creative fields navigating entrepreneurship. Tech-Enabled Creativity: From AI-powered retail platforms to digital try-ons and intelligent inventory management, the conversation spotlighted how tech continues to merge with fashion to elevate customer experience and reduce waste. Emotional Impact of Clothing : Stories from Delivering Good's partners revealed a quieter but deeply resonant trend — clothing as a form of emotional restoration. FIT President Dr. Joyce Brown and high school student Khosi Ahmed both emphasised how receiving new apparel builds confidence and dignity in vulnerable communities. The presence of powerhouse names like Danessa Myricks, Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur and KraveBeauty's Liah Yoo drove home one clear takeaway: the future of fashion belongs to those who lead with purpose and aren't afraid to challenge the system. Andrea Weiss, Board Chair of Delivering Good, shared, 'For 40 years, Delivering Good has been making an impact, not just the buzzword but a real impact in the lives of those facing poverty, disaster, and other social challenges. The intersection with the Women of Impact Summit lies in the fact that many of the recipients of DG's work are women: women rebuilding after natural disasters, young women ageing out of foster care, women fleeing domestic violence or trafficking. The link between the Summit and Delivering Good's mission is clear: when we engage and empower women, we can change entire communities.' From the C-suite to the supply chain, women are rewriting the rules of fashion and textiles, proving that conscious leadership isn't just aspirational, it's actionable.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Women Of Impact Summit 2025: Where Fashion, Finance, And Tech Leaders Unite
As Delivering Good celebrates its 40th anniversary, one initiative stands out for how quickly and powerfully it has expanded the organization's impact: the Women of Impact Summit. Launched three years ago under the leadership of Board Chair Andrea Weiss, the summit has grown from a pandemic pivot into one of the country's most dynamic and inclusive platforms for advancing women leaders across industries. On June 4, 2025, the summit will be held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with a clear purpose: to empower the next generation of women with the networks, insights, and tools they need to drive real change in their fields. The mission is urgent but straightforward—to help women lead with purpose, authenticity, and lasting impact. The Women of Impact Summit was created during a time of crisis. As nonprofits nationwide struggled with the decline of in-person fundraising during the pandemic, Weiss steered Delivering Good through innovative solutions. She launched a series of free "lunch and learn" seminars focused on leadership, philanthropic empowerment, and the fashion industry. Those sessions kept the organization connected, activated a thriving community, and raised critical funds at a time when few nonprofits could. More importantly, they revealed a powerful truth: women want real stories, tools, and opportunities to learn from one another's unique experiences. By fostering conversations about leadership, personal journeys, and generational perspectives, Delivering Good built a stronger community—one that could evolve beyond pandemic restrictions. With a focus on inclusivity, Weiss sought to leverage these insights to create a broader, more engaging experience moving forward. Lauren Savage, Director of Marketing and Communications, emphasized the broader goal, "It's about uplifting the next generation of women leaders and inspiring their next act, regardless of age." This year's summit reflects that vision, with an expanded speaker lineup featuring leaders in fashion, finance, corporate social responsibility, beauty, leadership, and technology—each sharing personal stories rooted in purpose and resilience. "It was clear from the beginning—women wanted to learn from each other," Weiss said. "And they wanted substance. Real stories. Real tools." That pivot became a growth model. Thanks to the generous support of the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Women of Impact Summit has expanded into a full-day conference, with more than 450 attendees expected on June 4. While Delivering Good built its early reputation in fashion, Weiss recognized that the industry doesn't operate in isolation. Fashion sits at the center of a much broader economic network. "Fashion is part of a complex ecosystem that includes finance, logistics, technology, legal, and investment firms. If we wanted to lead for the long haul, we had to engage that full network," Weiss said. Expanding beyond fashion has paid off. Delivering Good diversified its donor base, broadened participation, and built a scalable, sustainable model for the future. Finding women leaders in these adjacent industries posed another challenge, as many senior roles were still male-dominated. To address this, Weiss sought out trailblazing women across finance, private equity, and tech—many of whom started their careers in consumer-facing sectors like fashion and beauty. Today, their leadership stories are central to the energy of the Women of Impact Summit. Weiss also emphasized fashion's continued cultural and economic power, particularly in today's digital landscape. She pointed out that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have built ecosystems fueled by fashion and beauty through shopping, style inspiration, and self-expression. Without fashion's influence, the digital economy would look very different. Broadening Delivering Good's reach wasn't just strategic—it was essential. As Weiss said, "We're building a movement that reflects the real world." This year's lineup reflects the summit's cross-sector reach and depth. Standout women leaders include: Crucially, the summit has never been about exclusivity. Through sponsorship models that allow companies to donate tickets to students and early-career professionals, the event has become a true launchpad for multi-generational leadership. It also reflects the work of Delivering Good's Associate Council—an internal advisory group composed of rising professionals who help shape the summit's agenda and outreach. "Whether you're an executive, a recent graduate, or somewhere in between, this is a room where your voice matters," said Savage. "It's not a one-way event—it's a network in motion." Savage added that the summit is more than inspiration: "Our focus is on tools, tactics, and human stories. The impact happens when someone returns to their job the next day and makes change happen. That's what this is about." Beyond the summit, Delivering Good continues its core mission of distributing new products—from clothes to household goods—to individuals affected by poverty or disaster. With over 800 community partners and 250 brand contributors, the organization has reached 33 million lives since 1985. It operates with just 12 full-time employees and maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating for transparency and impact. Weiss sees the Women of Impact Summit as a natural extension of the organization's values. "Most people want to do Good. They just don't know where to start. We provide a clear, credible way to plug in—whether that's as a sponsor, donor, volunteer, or mentor." While there are no immediate plans to spin off the summit as a standalone initiative, Weiss acknowledges its potential to grow even further. "Right now, it's the Women of Impact Summit. Maybe one day, it will become an even broader Impact Summit. But we're proud that women are leading the way." As for the future, both Weiss and Savage agree: the movement has only just begun. "This isn't just an event," Weiss said. "It's a movement. And every woman in that room is part of it."
