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In today\u2019s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I\u2019m joined by Tara St James: a fashion designer, sustainable design strategist and responsible supply chain consultant all rolled into one.

Tara has spent the last 20 years designing and producing collections for both men and women; and she\u2019s overseen development, production and design procedures at factories across the globe. This extensive experience in product development, sourcing, textile research and development, led her to dive deeper into sustainability and supply chain, and she\u2019s never looked back.

Tara established her own sustainable womenswear brand in 2009, successfully running it for over 11 years, and went on to found Re:Source(d), a consultancy and education platform looking to demystify the world of sustainable fashion and textile sourcing. She\u2019s an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, as well as holding leadership roles at a sustainable fashion brand and fashion collaboration platform.

Today Tara will be talking to us about her career so far, her love for fashion; her dedication to sustainability and shaping the future of ethical fashion; and she\u2019ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in the industry, and her words of advice for all of those women following in her footsteps.

Apex Logistics are proud to sponsor Let\u2019s Talk Supply Chain\u2019s Women in Supply Chain podcast and blog series. Our leadership team actively works to empower an industry as diverse as our workforce with a focus on inclusion, and we\u2019re passionate about promoting the voices of women leaders to drive visibility around their achievements. Find out more over on the Apex Logistics website.

[06.02] How Tara\u2019s interest in fashion started at just five years old, her career journey and how fashion has changed.

\u201cI\u2019m really grateful that there\u2019s now more and more focus on supply chain and manufacturing, and the hands that are making the clothes \u2013 not just the people that are designing them.\u201d

[08.43] The two key \u2018a-ha!\u2019 moments in Tara\u2019s career that pushed her towards a passion for sustainability and a more ethical supply chain.

\u201cI had to either leave the industry altogether and stop polluting unknowingly, as I had been, or try to make change. That was the first pivot towards sustainability.\u201d

[13.28] How and why Tara established her own sustainable womenswear brand, Study NY, as well as her consultancy, Re:Source(d), and what she learned along the way.

\u201cSustainability isn\u2019t a series of checkboxes, you can\u2019t do everything.\u201d

[20.34] How packaging and technology ties into sustainability.

\u201cI see packaging as low hanging fruit for brands who want to start on their sustainability story\u2026 it\u2019s the first touchpoint that most customers have with their product.\u201d

[26.25] The damaging impact of fast fashion, and why change is on the way.

\u201cGovernment and industry are starting to take the fashion industry more seriously. It\u2019s flown under the radar for a while because people think its frivolous \u2013 but it's not!\u201d

[30.00] How Tara manages her busy schedule and multiple roles and responsibilities.

[32.19] The increasingly inclusive and collaborative mindset that Tara has experienced as a woman working across the worlds of fashion, supply chain and sustainability.

[34.36] Tara\u2019s ongoing journey of finding her voice.

[36.56] What the future holds for Tara.

[39.46] Tara\u2019s words of advice to all of the women following in her footsteps.

You can connect with Tara over on LinkedIn.

Head over to Re:Source(d)\u2019s website to find out more, or connect and keep up to date with the latest over on Instagram.

Discover Study NY over on their website, or connect and keep up to date with the latest over on Instagram.

Discover Another Tomorrow over on their website, or connect and keep up to date with the latest over on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Find out more about Eleven Radius over on their website, or connect and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn.

Check out our other podcasts HERE.