Circular Fashion: Sustainable Design and Innovation

Dieuwertje de Wagenaar serves as Content Coordinator of the Circular Fashion Lab at Wageningen University & Research, where she has established herself as a leading voice in sustainable fashion innovation. As a trained environmental engineer specializing in transdisciplinary urban challenges, she founded Circular Fashion 2017 and has been instrumental in developing circular fashion initiatives at WUR. Her research "reMade in Amsterdam" investigates opportunities for creating local production networks in the textile and apparel industry, focusing on waste streams as input for circular development. She played a pivotal role in coordinating the comprehensive MOOC "Circular Fashion: Design, Science and Value in a Sustainable Clothing Industry," which has attracted over 30,000 participants worldwide. As Country Co-Coordinator for Fashion Revolution Netherlands, she continues to advocate for sustainability and equality in the fashion industry. Her work bridges academic research with practical implementation, focusing on circular economy principles, urban waste management, and local production solutions. Through her leadership, she has organized significant events including the Circular Fashion Symposium, which connected students, professors, and companies to address industry challenges and create innovative solutions for a circular fashion future

Paulien Harmsen serves as a Senior Scientist at Wageningen Food and Biobased Research, where she leads groundbreaking research in sustainable materials and biorefinery processes. With a background in chemical engineering, she has established herself as a leading expert in biomass conversion and circular economy solutions. Her significant research contributions include developing innovative approaches for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment, creating green building blocks for bio-based plastics, and advancing sustainable textile solutions. As Expertise Leader in Biomass Fractionation, she coordinates complex biorefinery projects and shapes strategic initiatives for both natural materials and post-consumer waste streams. Her influential work is evidenced by highly-cited publications, including her groundbreaking paper on physical and chemical pretreatment processes for lignocellulosic biomass and her comprehensive work on green building blocks for bio-based plastics. Recently, she has focused on sustainable textile solutions, publishing significant work on textile recycling options for circular fashion and advocating for the transition from fossil-based to renewable materials in the textile industry. She serves as co-editor of the 'Groene Grondstoffen' (Green Resources) booklet series and contributes to the MOOC "Circular Fashion: Design, Science and Value in a Sustainable Clothing Industry," demonstrating her commitment to education and knowledge dissemination in sustainable materials science.

Dr. Nishant Shah is a distinguished academic and researcher currently serving as Professor of Global Media and Director of the Digital Narratives Studio at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, following his role as Vice-President Research at ArtEZ University of the Arts (2016-2020). His work intersects feminism, humanism, and digital technologies, focusing on digital culture, technological subjectivity, and collective action. As co-founder of the Centre for Internet & Society in India, he has established himself as a leading voice in digital humanities. His recent books include "Really Fake" (2020) and "Overload, Creep, Excess: An Internet from India" (2022/23), exploring digital authorship, authenticity, and information overload. He holds multiple prestigious positions, including Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, Visiting Professor at Radboud University, and Knowledge Partner for various global organizations. His academic background includes a PhD in Cultural Studies from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, and his research examines infrastructures of digital culture, technosocial subjectivities, and practices of collectivity. As a regular columnist for The Indian Express, he continues to bridge academic research with public discourse on digital culture and society.

Dr. Kim Poldner serves as Professor of Circular Business at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and holds the endowed professorship in Regional and Circular Economic Development at the University of Groningen since January 2024. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, focusing on sustainable entrepreneurship in the textile industry. Before entering academia, she established herself as a pioneer in sustainable fashion by founding the Netherlands' first eco-fashion store in 2005 and launching the Eco Fashion World platform. At Wageningen University & Research, she founded the Circular Fashion Lab, which brings together scientists and designers to create innovative materials and redefine textile supply chains. Her research spans circular business models, sustainability transitions, and regenerative leadership, with her work appearing in prestigious journals including Business & Society and the Journal of Cleaner Production. Her practical experience includes curating a green wardrobe exhibition "Wear I Am" in 2017, featuring her upcycled wedding dress. She advocates for transforming consumer behavior and education around textiles, promoting digital fashion as a sustainable alternative, and emphasizing that the transition to a circular economy requires not just technological innovation but a fundamental shift in values.

Louise Ottilie Fresco served as President of the Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research from 2014 to 2022, culminating a remarkable career spanning academia, international development, and policy leadership. After earning her PhD in Tropical Plant Breeding and Production Systems cum laude from Wageningen University in 1986, she went on to serve as Assistant Director-General at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (2000-2006) and held numerous influential positions in global food security initiatives. Her tenure at WUR was marked by significant achievements, including strengthening the institution's international position, establishing the Omnia dialogue centre, and creating the Louise O. Fresco Fund for students facing financial difficulties. Her expertise is recognized through membership in multiple prestigious academies, including the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and Arts, Spanish Academy of Engineering Sciences, French Academy of Agriculture, and Belgium's Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences. She continues to serve as a columnist for NRC, member of the Trilateral Commission, and board member of various cultural institutions including the National Opera and Ballet. Her contributions to science and society were honored in June 2022 when she was appointed Commander in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. Throughout her career, she has maintained an extensive involvement in development programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while teaching in Sweden, Belgium, and the US, establishing herself as a leading voice in global food security and sustainable agriculture.