Future Focus; UK at Expo 2020

In this episode of our E-Commerce podcast mini-series, host Chloe Thomas meets Olivier Buffon, Head of International at Faire, an online wholesale marketplace connecting thousands of independent retailers and brands across the globe. In his role, Olivier oversees Faire's international scaling and expansion strategy.

Faire was founded in 2017 with idea based on the belief that the future of retail is local. Their mission is to help independent entrepreneurs chase their dreams as an online wholesale marketplace empowering small business owners and independent brands to buy and sell wholesale online. 

This podcast will explore how e-commerce can support alternative retailers and local economies, helping to build a more sustainable future and thriving communities in place of mono-retail. 

For more information about Faire, visit: https://inews.co.uk/news/business/wholesale-marketplace-faire-launch-uk-co-founder-predicts-boom-independent-retailers-924936

To learn more about Chloe Thomas and listen to more of her podcast, visit: https://chloelink.com/ff

In this episode of our E-Commerce podcast mini-series, host Chloe Thomas meets Cally Russell, CEO and Founder for This is Unfolded and Mallzee Insights.

Cally is a firm believer that the fashion industry needs to change to become less wasteful and more equitable. He launched This is Unfolded, a made-to-order clothing brand that reduces fabric waste and creates a new sustainable model for how people shop.

https://thisisunfolded.com

This podcast will look at how innovations and agility within e-commerce will highlight the fashion industry’s need to change and how fashion e-commerce can be a force for good.  

Chloe Thomas is founder of the eCommerce MasterPlan, a best-selling author and host of the successful eCommerce Masterplan podcast.

For more information on Chloe, you can go here: https://chloelink.com/ff

Mariah Idrissi featured in a campaign for global retail giants, H&M and became recognised as the World’s first hijab wearing model in 2015. She was on the cover of Emirates Woman Magazine in 2018 and won the ‘Young Achiever’ Award at the Arabian Business Awards in 2019.

While she acknowledges that the fashion industry is “doing better” and has been making strides to be more inclusive over the past five to six years, she believes it’s going to take a lot longer for equality and equal opportunity to trump equity, and for the Modest Fashion mission to truly be accomplished. The podcast will help us to understand the journey which Mariah has gone on and the changing attitudes the industry has gone through. It will go on to ask what still has to be done, to ensure that fashion truly reflects the diverse and inclusive aspirations we have.​

For more information on this episode’s guest, visit: https://www.instagram.com/mariahidrissi

Our host for this episode was Dr Nick de Leon, for more information about Nick and his role at the Royal College of Art, you can find out more here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/staff/nick-leon

In this episode, host Dr. Nick de Leon meets Stephanie Phair, CCO at Farfetch.

In April 2017, Farfetch unveiled their Augmented Retail vision and launched their FARFETCH Store of the Future, a technology-powered retail operating system. This suite of technologies aims to improve retail productivity by capturing consumer data and enhancing interactions between consumers and sales associates, both in store and when the consumer interacts with the retailer or brand online.

In this episode, Nick and Stephanie discuss what has been learned since 2017 but most importantly what Farfetch is predicting following the impact of COVID-19.​

For more information on this episode’s guest, visit: https://aboutfarfetch.com/about/leadership-team/stephanie-phair

Our host for this episode was Dr Nick de Leon, for more information about Nick and his role at the Royal College of Art, you can find out more here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/staff/nick-leon

Claire Lerpiniere is a senior lecturer in textile design with over 20 years of teaching experience. This has been particularly focused on the studio practice of textile design and its intersection with the human and ecological impacts of textiles.  

In this episode, host Dr. Nick de Leon talks to Claire about the circular economy and what can be done to implement a truly circular economy in the fashion sector. Is there a problem with our consumer attitudes and behaviours or does a new business model have to be implemented that will force us to change our behaviour? 

For more information on this episode’s guest, visit: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/academic-staff/art-design-humanities/claire-lerpiniere/claire-lerpiniere.aspx

Our host for this episode was Dr Nick de Leon, for more information about Nick and his role at the Royal College of Art, you can find out more here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/staff/nick-leon/

In the first episode of Future Focus, host Dr Nick de Leon, Executive Education and Knowledge Exchange Lead at School of Design, Royal College of Art meets Lucy Jones, a designer with a focus on solution-based design.

Lucy aims to marry style and function with the intent of addressing a larger portion of society, often overlooked in the fashion design process. The podcast will explore Lucy's approach to design and the importance she places on understanding all types of consumers when designing.

This podcast supports In the Future... What will we Wear programme of activity. For more information on how to get involved, visit -https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/3176

For more information on this episode’s guest, visit - https://www.lucyjonesdesign.com

Our host for this episode was Dr Nick de Leon, for more information about Nick and his role at the Royal College of Art, you can find out more here - https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/staff/nick-leon

Welcome to the Future Focus; UK at Expo podcast series, your spot for the latest on the UK's participation at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Running from October 2021 to March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai is bringing together more than 190 nations across the planet to celebrate and re-imagine tomorrow. Throughout the series you'll be able to join us as we explore the very best creativity and innovations the UK has to offer and speak to special guests about how we all can innovate for a shared future.

If you want to hear more, you can subscribe to Future Focus via your favourite podcast app and see more about UK at EXPO 2020 Dubai via this link: https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en/understanding-expo/participants/country-pavilions/uk