Fashion for the Earth Ambassadors

Fashion for the Earth Ambassadors are industry insiders and young professionals around the world who have pledged to responsible clothing consumption and are working to educate others on how they can make sustainable changes in their lives. 

Meet the FASHION FOR THE EARTH Ambassadors

Kerry Bannigan

Fashion Impact Fund

Kerry Bannigan is a social entrepreneur pioneering global fashion and media initiatives to advance sustainable development. Kerry is the Executive Director of the Fashion Impact Fund, Co-Founder of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network and President of the Board at PVBLIC Foundation. Under Kerry's leadership, the Fashion Impact Fund provides grants to fashion skills and training programs for women to achieve decent employment and financial independence. The fund supports female founded non-profit fashion workforce development solutions as a driver for women’s economic inclusion.

Over the last 16 years, Kerry has led high-impact campaigns, convenings and programs with governments, private sector and United Nations agencies to promote the creative economy as a driver for sustainable change; including Fashion is GREAT for the British Consulate General Istanbul and UK Department for International Trade, SDG Media Zone and G8 Young Leaders Summit. Kerry was honored by Rivet50 as one of the most influential agents of change in advancing the business of denim. She serves as an Advocate for the Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future program and a steering committee member of CFDA’s Sustainability by Design: Rethinking New York Fashion Week.

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La Rhea Pepper

Textile Exchange

La Rhea Pepper is the chief executive officer and co-founder of the global non-profit Textile Exchange and a life-long advocate for more sustainable practices in the apparel and textile industry.

Being a fifth-generation farmer, the co-founder of two successful organic cotton businesses, and a teacher at heart, La Rhea’s unique perspective helps her lead Textile Exchange along with its pioneering members to create preferred fiber and material strategies, strengthen integrity in the marketplace through the adoption of standards, and drive the industry toward reaching the Climate+ goal of a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions from the pre-spinning stage of textile fiber and material production by 2030.  

In addition to being the Textile Exchange CEO, La Rhea is currently serving on the board of directors for CottonConnect and the Regenerative Organic Alliance.  

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Melissa Tan

Host and producer, actress, climate activist, and zero waste advocate

Melissa is a TV host and producer, actress, climate activist, and zero waste advocate. She regularly works with major brands and NGOs on environmental projects and leads Fashion Revolution Malaysia as the country coordinator.

Melissa connects to a wide, mainstream audience through her social media and website, creating digital content in sustainable living and fashion, climate action and other areas of the circular economy. A passionate environmental speaker, she produces events like The Conscious Market and Clothes Swaps to engage the public in sustainable living. Melissa represented Malaysia in Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 and The Apartment Season 7. She hosts and produces on Tech360.tv, a regional online tech channel.

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Maxine Bédat

New Standard Institute

Maxine Bédat is the founder and director of New Standard Institute, a think and do tank using data to drive accountability in industry. She is also the author of the book, UNRAVELED: The Life and Death of a Garment, which has been longlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year 2021.

Prior to New Standard Institute, Maxine co-founded and was the CEO of Zady, a fashion brand and lifestyle destination creating a transparent and sustainable future for the apparel industry. For its work in sustainability, Zady was named one of the world’s “Most Innovative Companies” in retail by Fast Company. Bédat has been recognized by Oprah, in her Super Soul 100, for leaders elevating humanity. She has been regularly featured as an expert by Bloomberg, the Financial Times, The New York Times, Vogue, Forbes, Business of Fashion, and CNN.

Bédat began her career in international law working at the Rwandan Criminal Tribunal and Allen & Overy, and received a Juris Doctor with distinction from Columbia Law School. She lives with her husband and daughter in Minneapolis.