Twig Ventures

???? France is taking a stand against fast fashion waste by limiting unsold inventory and preventing it from crossing borders. ?? This is an essential start—but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. ?? True sustainability in fashion goes deeper. It means eliminating petroleum-based fabrics and prioritizing organic, regenerative materials that don’t leach harmful chemicals into the planet. Imagine if every garment wasn't just ‘less wasteful’ but actively beneficial to our ecosystems. ?? For too long, fast fashion has focused on scale over safekeeping, prioritizing output over outcome. It’s not just about reducing what sits unsold in warehouses; it’s about rethinking every stitch, fibre, and dye from the ground up. ?? I believe sustainable innovation isn’t only about minimizing harm and creating a positive impact. Every aspect of a garment's life cycle—how it’s grown, dyed, produced, and finally, reintegrated into the earth—deserves our full attention. ?Colour me curious…? What would fashion look like if it served as a solution rather than part of the problem? Can fashion (consumer products) be net-zero or even regenerative? #SustainableFashion #FastFashion #ClimateAction #Biotechnology #EcoInnovation

They say that the number 1 reason a startup fails is because they built a product no one wants. Guess what, fashion brands are repeatedly doing this every freaking season... #rethink #sustainability #overproduction #supply #demand #fashion

Business Leaders in Apparel! Come share your experience. Pilot initiatives are a necessary pain for any?company trying to deploy an AI initiative. Natural, given the uncertainty involved. Typical questions include: Is my data enough? Will the algorithm give good results? Will the tool work with my ERP/PLM/CRM etc...? How does an AI-driven output look like? How much money are WE going to make (not the vendor, not the rest of the world) and many more? ? With all these questions, it is difficult to make a case within the company to get started. Even for a great idea, the effort seems a lot - need to get time from others, get internal approvals, and figure out the problems. All this effort seems too much of an ask, for an unknown ‘promise’. So, how does one handle this uncertainty? ? Our ask to Business Leaders in Apparel / Fashion Industry- please share: A> any thoughts, ideas or ways which you have come across or those you have already explored to simplify (even if it isn’t AI initiative) piloting new solutions. B> If you have tried to do pilots (any data, digital, or AI/ML), what kind of challenges did you face? What problems were unavoidable? We are?in the midst of?building an industry challenge which aims to “reduce the effort needed to find & test AI initiatives that work”. We want to shape the challenge with all your inputs.????? Your?perspectives and experience will be greatly appreciated. Reach out to us via a direct message or simply indicate under the comments section 'Here to share' and we'll reach out to you privately. Thank you. AI Singapore | Enterprise Singapore | Singapore Fashion Council | Harvard Alumni for Fashion, Luxury & Retail | World Textile Information Network (WTiN) | ALVANON - Please could you help spread the word? Thank you. #FashionAIHub?#BusinessInnovation?#BusinessPilots?#PilotInitiatives #PilotChallenges?#PilotExperienceSharing

Recently I spoke on a panel discussion organised by Twig Ventures and Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung on consumer behaviour and sustainable fashion. The usual subjects came up about innovation & tech limitations, but what stuck in my mind is the affordability gap in sustainable fashion. This means the difference in price between sustainable and conventional clothing, with the gap being significantly more expensive for consumers, limiting their accessibility and hindering the adoption of sustainable practices within the industry. Why is the affordability gap a problem? 1?? Limited Consumer Access: High prices can prevent a significant portion of the population from purchasing sustainable clothing, restricting the impact of sustainable fashion on the industry and environment. 2?? Reinforcement of Fast Fashion: Affordable, unsustainable clothing options can reinforce the fast fashion model, contributing to overconsumption, waste, and environmental harm. 3?? Barriers to Entry for Sustainable Brands: The affordability gap can make it challenging for sustainable brands to compete with larger, more established fast fashion companies, hindering their growth and development. 4?? Stifling Innovation: When consumers prioritise price over sustainability, it can discourage brands from investing in research and development for innovative, sustainable solutions. Addressing the affordability gap is crucial for the widespread adoption of sustainable fashion and the creation of a more ethical and environmentally responsible industry. I believe that can tech can be one way to reduce the gap, but at present there's still a long way to go. Watch the full webinar here: https://lnkd.in/e8AXxC7H I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts. Comment below! #fashiontech #sustainablefashion #thoughtleadership #fashion cc: Levi Reed Heather Courtney Jason Stoffer John Sandoval

We’re kicking off our panel on consumer trends in sustainable fashion in just two hours, so it’s about time to introduce our moderator for this event! Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung has a remarkable career history that includes a Harvard PhD in physics, launching an internal incubator at Microsoft, and an impressive set of projects and roles in the fashion tech industry including a role as Director of AI at Browzwear. Most recently Kitty is the founder and CEO of Wear It, an AI-powered digital fashion and design platform enabling an entirely new relationship between designers, consumers, and fashion.? Kitty is one of our favorite founders to work with at Twig Ventures and we’re looking forward to her joining us to moderate what promises to be a highly engaging discussion. If you haven’t already, register here for the panel Zoom link: https://lu.ma/pburiyou John Sandoval

One more panelist highlight! The Twig Ventures x Harvard Alumni for Fashion, Luxury & Retail panel on consumer trends in sustainable fashion is happening tomorrow, register here to join what promises to be a fascinating discussion:?https://lu.ma/pburiyou —---------- Heather Courtney is the founding general partner at Alwyn Capital, an innovative new venture fund based in New York that’s combining a nuanced investment perspective with a strong commitment to social impact. With a background in molecular biology, photography, and an impressive track record as an investment leader at the GlassWall Syndicate Association, Inc. , Heather combines a broad array of expertise with a commitment to improving our world. Her fund makes investments in high-potential underrepresented founders developing innovations to remove animal products from food, fashion, and medical industries. We’re excited to have Heather’s unique perspective and expertise as part of our panel discussion tomorrow! Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung, John Sandoval

Panelist feature! We're excited to have Jason Stoffer joining our upcoming panel on investor perspectives on consumer trends and sustainable fashion. Jason joined Maveron as a general partner in 2007 and currently serves as chief investment officer to the fund. An investor and board member in an impressive array of successful companies, he focuses on consumer verticals after building a career in the education space. Founded in 1998, Maveron was created by Dan Levitan and Howard Schultz specifically to invest in new consumer ventures led by “non-normal entrepreneurs”. The firm takes a unique approach to assessing investment opportunities, considering the value of brand and incorporating a perspective on human psychology, technology, and consumer behavior intersect to drive change. Register for the panel here: https://lu.ma/pburiyou Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung, John Sandoval

Panelist feature - Peter Jeun Ho Tsang is the founder of Beyond Form, a Paris-based venture studio helping innovative founders building fashion tech ventures. He knows a thing or two about the space too; he literally wrote the book on the topic. Fashion Tech Applied explores the impact of tech on the fashion industry through case studies from fashion brands, tech organizations, startups, and more. Previously, Peter has a remarkable track record as an educator, innovator, and founder in the fashion space, notably finding opportunities to apply cutting-edge technology to the industry. Register here to join our upcoming panel on consumer trends in sustainable fashion: https://lu.ma/pburiyou John Sandoval, Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung

Panelist feature - Peter Jeun Ho Tsang is the founder of Beyond Form, a Paris-based venture studio helping innovative founders building fashion tech ventures. He knows a thing or two about the space too; he literally wrote the book on the topic. Fashion Tech Applied explores the impact of tech on the fashion industry through case studies from fashion brands, tech organizations, startups, and more. Previously, Peter has a remarkable track record as an educator, innovator, and founder in the fashion space, notably finding opportunities to apply cutting-edge technology to the industry. Register here to join our upcoming panel on consumer trends in sustainable fashion: https://lu.ma/pburiyou John Sandoval, Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung