Global Fashion Summit 2025: From Barriers to Tech Bridges
The fashion industry is evolving, as well as technology. But with every step forward, we face barriers: legacy systems, fragmented data, and the complexity of global operations.
We believe in turning these barriers into bridges— using data, smart architecture, and cloud solutions to help brands move faster, make better decisions, and grow sustainably.
Many challenges require effective data solutions.
Benefits?
✔️ 30% decision-making time cut
✔️ 14,2% operational cost cut
✔️ 8,4% sales increase
✔️ Smart forecasting and personalised user experience
🔗 More about real use cases in the article
One of the most significant events in the Fashion industry is the Global Fashion Summit, organized by Global Fashion Agenda. The 2025 edition focused on exploring how various forces, including technology, can transform barriers into bridges for tangible change.
Our teammates, CBDO Julia Stoliarchuk and Co-founder and Chief Data Officer Volodymyr Yarymovych, attended a conference featuring speakers from industry leaders such as Vogue, Nike, H&M, among others, along with representatives from the European Parliament, Environmental protection organisations, and Tech giants.
Her Majesty, the Danish Queen, also visited the Summit and the Innovation Forum.
Here are the panels of the Summit that stood out to us:
1. Beyond Compliance: Empowering Data Solutions
Speakers: Lukas Puender (CEO & Co-Founder, Retraced ), Joycelyn Longdon (Environmental Justice Researcher), Güneri Tugcu (Global Director Partnerships & Business Development, r-pac), Tara St James (Senior Director, Sustainable Development & Sourcing, Moose Knuckles Canada ), Vince Beaman (VP Sourcing and Supply Chain, Décor Global)
This panel highlighted the key data sharing problems, regulatory policy issues, and other complexities. At the same time, speakers presented a wide range of opportunities that data provides to retailers and manufacturers.
2. Tracking Progress: Operationalising Circularity
Speakers: Christiane Dolva Törnberg (H&M Foundation), Diane Holdorf (Executive Vice President, Pathways, WBCSD), Krishna Manda (he/him) (VP Corporate Sustainability, Lenzing Group), Thijs M. (VP Global Sustainability, Tommy Hilfiger)
The panel emphasized the urgency of digitizing product flows and adopting tools like Circular Transition Indicators.
3. The Power of Pre-Loved: Resale’s Digital Revolution
Speakers: Emily Chan (Vogue Business), Jemma Tadd (eBay), Katharine Beacham (M&S), Michele Casucci (Certilogo)
The most interesting part was how the right digital infrastructure, from RFID to AI verification, can make the customer experience seamless and scalable.
The spirit of the Global Fashion Summit was about still shaping a better future, despite the current circumstances.
Or, as our CBDO, Julia Stoliarchuk, aptly put it: Instead of seeing these rules as just a burden, perhaps we should ask, how can we turn these obligations into opportunities for innovation and growth?
Key Speakers & Takeaways
Circularity: From Intent to Infrastructure
“Only 0.3% of textile materials are recycled,” reminded Christiane Dolva Törnberg (H&M Foundation). The message was clear: we need data-driven systems — from Circular Transition Indicators to traceable material flows — to turn circularity into actionable business.
Insight from Reenbit: implementing analytics for sustainability built on trust and transparency.
Shift Spendings from Ads to Supply Chain
SEBASTIEN KOPP (co-founder, VEJA) urged a shift: “What if, instead of paying for advertising, we paid our supply chain?” It’s a call for deeper integration — shift budget and tech focus toward supply resilience.
Insight from Reenbit: using payment platforms and ERP integrations for smarter procurement workflows.
Resale Is a Digital Revolution
Emily Chan and panelists from eBay & M&S showed resale is shifting from niche to norm. When coupled with AI-powered authentication (QR/RFID), the friction fades.
Insight from Reenbit: developing resale integrations and authentication pipelines that scale.
Compliance Is Just the Launchpad
On the “Beyond Compliance” panel, experts shared how compliance can become a competitive edge. With smart data platforms, brands can turn supply chain rules into automated value flows.
Insight from Reenbit: integrating compliance into dashboards and alert systems for seamless operations.
These conversations reaffirmed our mission at Reenbit: to empower businesses with reliable digital tools that support circularity, transparency, and operational efficiency.
Truly, the summit emphasized:
- Sustainability needs actionable data, not just strategy.
- Resilience begins with embedding tech in every bridge we build.
- Collaboration across value chains and systems is now non‑optional.
The fashion industry doesn’t lack ambition. It lacks structured, shareable, scalable data systems.
If we want to bridge the gap between promises and progress, data engineers need a seat at the table, from sustainability teams to investor boardrooms.
The summit started many conversations. Our task now is to translate those insights into informed decisions.
Thank you for reading. See you next time!