Design from Waste: Principles of Fashion UPCYCLING

This presentation explores how design can serve as a powerful tool for sustainability, using waste and constraint as catalysts for innovation. Inspired by the upcycling movement, the talk introduces various approaches to designing from waste, encouraging the next generation of designers to find creative solutions using the materials they have at hand. It offers an introduction to how designers can build a practice based on resourcefulness—focusing on material analysis, color harmony, functionality, and of course, design principles. The session will outline a foundational framework rooted in upcycling methods, equipping the audience with practical strategies they can begin applying in their own future work.

Building a Made-in-Canada Fashion Business from the Ground Up!

In this session, I’ll share my journey of moving to Canada and starting over in a new country, navigating the fashion industry with limited resources but big dreams. From creating my first samples to running my own in-house brand and eventually building a production facility that supports other local designers, I’ll talk about the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way.

Moodboard? Check. Designs? Brilliant. Now How Do You Actually Start a Fashion Brand (Without Going Broke or Crazy)?

The fashion industry loves its gatekeeping — but in this session, I’m handing you the keys. As someone who’s been inside every layer of the business — from retailers and designers to developers, agents, and manufacturers — I’ll show you what really happens behind the scenes and how to avoid the costly traps no one warns you about. You’ll learn the true cost of making your product, how to build a profit model that puts you in control, and how to position and structure your brand so you’re running the business (and not the other way around). If you’re serious about launching your label, you don’t want to walk into this industry blind — come get the insider’s roadmap before you spend a dime.

Shape the Future of Textile Waste in the Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Management Plan

Join Awl Together Leather and BCAG to learn more about the plan update and share your thoughts on how Metro Vancouver can improve textile waste management in our sector. Shape how waste is managed in our region over the next decade and beyond.

Metro Vancouver is currently in the Options Analysis phase of its solid waste management plan update. This phase builds on earlier public engagement and focuses on evaluating specific draft strategies and actions to reduce waste, increase recycling, advance a circular economy, and make programs more accessible and inclusive. The feedback we gather in this session will help inform the draft plan on our industry's waste management needs.

Water Repellent Concept (Lotus Leaf Quick Drying and water REPELLENT Concept)

What is Water Repellent and the Lotus Leaf Concept, and how does it support the apparel? Water repellent means a material or surface that resists water rather than absorbing it. That makes water bead up and roll off the material or the surface rather than soak it. It makes a barrier and better protection from water penetration, but it’s not fully waterproof, and this concept can be improved and applied to apparel and other Industries as well. (Ex- Waterproof wall paints/ automobile Industry, Marine Industry, etc…). This concept has a self-cleaning process and stays dry when submerged in water, either seawater or chlorine water. The concept of this superpower. Plan to share the Background and the concept of the lotus leaf effect. Using this super-hydrophobic concept, what was the manmade technology? Causes of super-hydrophobicity. The lotus effect is applied in apparel.

Everything you wanted to know about local manufacturing

I have been an apparel producer in Vancouver for 25 years. My company does pattern making and manufacturing in-house. I have helped many brands get started and grow into thriving international brands. I am connected to many local sources of supply and help independent designer take their brands to the next level. I have presented this type of information to the Vancouver Fashion week participants, students are a variety of local design school programs and customers new to the industry. The response has always been very positive.

How to Build an Apparel Brand People Actually Talk About

Your product is only half the equation. This session breaks down the storytelling, visuals, and strategies that transform an upstart apparel company into a brand people get excited about. You’ll walk away with a practical roadmap to make your brand stand out – even on a tight budget.

E-commerce SEO Strategies in the Age of AI

In this session, Glynis Tao will share her insights on the evolving DTC landscape, particularly the impact of AI and e-commerce. She will discuss her experience working with fashion brands and the challenges faced in the e-commerce space, and the importance of adapting to changing consumer behaviors. Glynis will explain the importance of blogging and content creation in establishing credibility and authority in the fashion e-commerce industry. She will provide valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on navigating the complexities of e-commerce and the necessity of being adaptable in a rapidly changing market.

Overcome the Biggest Barrier to Apparel Success

Every apparel entrepreneur faces a hidden force that keeps them from reaching their goals. In this session, we’ll name those forces out loud, dissect how they quietly derail momentum, and learn practical strategies to move through them. Using stories from the apparel world and proven business practices, you’ll leave with clarity, focus, and practical steps to push your business forward.

Made in Canada: Choosing the Right Contractors for a Sustainable Apparel Business

Join Laela Blanchet, founder of Dampkring Designs, for an in-depth look at what it really takes to build a successful apparel business in Canada. Drawing on over two decades of experience as a pre-production contractor in Vancouver, Laela will demystify the essential early steps of pattern making, grading, and marker making, and explain how these processes impact your production timeline and costs. She’ll also guide attendees through the world of digital files—what formats to expect, how to share them effectively, and what a .dxf file actually is—while showcasing how industry-standard tools like Gerber and CLO software are used in modern CAD design workflows. Whether you're launching a brand or refining your production model, this session will help you make smarter decisions and connect with the right partners to bring your “Made in Canada” vision to life.

Virtual Showrooms in AI and VR

Experience a Virtual Showroom and a VR Fashion Museum. Headsets will be supplied so you can experience VR. Discussions on using the Apple Vision Pro and its future in the apparel industry.

Unraveling BC's Textile Waste: Progress, Challenges, and Solutions

Discover the current state of textile waste management in British Columbia through an in-depth look at both promising initiatives and persistent challenges. This Session will examine successful reduction programs, innovative community solutions, and the stark realities of textile waste volumes across the province. Drawing from extensive knowledge of the landscape of all waste management in BC, Sheila Molloy, Executive Director of the Coast Waste Management Association, will provide an insider's perspective on BC’s waste reduction efforts, sharing critical insights about what's working, what isn't, and will look for your insights on a path forward for sustainable textile management in our communities.