About the Podcast
This three-part series unpacks The Upstream Circularity Playbook – exploring the technical innovations, systemic shifts, and real-world solutions shaping the future of textile recycling. Faith Robinson, Head of Content at GFA, hosts in-depth conversations with leading experts, to demystify how waste can be transformed into new resources, offering practical guidance for brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and innovators alike.
Hear expert insights from those operating at the beginning of fashion’s value chain, sharing practical guidance on waste segregation, traceability, and recycling processes. From critical learnings to collaborative solutions, this series serves as an essential guide for anyone looking to contribute to a just, scalable, and more circular fashion industry.
Episode 0 ‘Welcome to Upstream Circularity’
Discover how fashion can lead the way towards circularity with Upstream Circularity, a podcast produced by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), a non-profit organisation that fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to accelerate impact. Across three upcoming episodes, host Faith Robinson speaks with industry experts working at the beginning, or upstream, of the fashion value chain to uncover practical insights for transforming waste into new resources. Rooted in the findings of The Upstream Circularity Playbook, this series breaks down real-world case studies and explores the technical innovations and systemic shifts needed to scale textile-to-textile recycling. In this introductory episode, Federica Marchionni, CEO, GFA, sets the stage for the series, breaking down the current state of circularity, the key challenges preventing large-scale implementation, and the solutions – driven by Global Fashion Agenda – already driving change in the industry. Tune in to explore how we can reimagine waste and accelerate circularity in fashion.
Episode 1 ‘Textile Waste Segregation and Traceability‘
How can fashion move beyond waste and unlock new value in discarded materials? In this episode of Upstream Circularity, we take a deep dive into textile waste segregation and traceability – the first steps in building a circular supply chain. Faith Robinson is joined by Marina Chahboune, Founder of Closed Loop Fashion, and Nin Castle, Co-founder of Reverse Resources, to uncover how post-industrial textile waste can be identified, sorted, and reintegrated into new production cycles. Together, they explore the hidden complexities of textile waste management, from the challenges of tracking waste streams to the opportunities of digital traceability. This episode starts to explore the often-overlooked role of waste handlers and provides an introduction to making circular supply chains a reality. Tune in to discover how small shifts in mindset and infrastructure can significantly advance textile-to-textile recycling.
COMING SOON: Episode 2 ‘Collecting, Sorting and Use Cases‘
The journey to circularity doesn’t end at traceability. Once waste is identified, it needs to be efficiently collected, sorted, and directed to the right recycling streams. In this episode of Upstream Circularity, we explore the pivotal role of textile waste aggregation with Abdur Razzaque, Managing Director of RECYCLE-RAW, and Ebru Özküçük Güler, Chief Sustainability Officer at RE&UP. From the bustling sorting centers of Bangladesh to recycling innovations in Turkey, our guests reveal the complexities of waste collection, the crucial role of social compliance, and how improving sorting efficiency can drastically scale textile-to-textile recycling. Estimates suggest that of all the materials the global textile industry uses, just 0.3% come from recycled sources, despite the fact that existing technologies have the potential to push this to 80% – but how do we get there? Join us as we break down the challenges, the solutions, and the human stories behind circularity’s next big step.
Stay tuned for this episode on 6 April.
COMING SOON: Episode 3 ‘Product and Systems Design‘
In the final episode of the Upstream Circularity podcast, we explore how fashion brands and industry stakeholders can take post-industrial recycling from theory to reality. Host Faith Robinson is joined by Alexander Granberg, Recycling and Innovation Materials Manager at BESTSELLER, and Karla Magruder, Founder and President of Accelerating Circularity, to discuss what it takes to scale more circular systems – from integrating recycled materials into new products to designing policies that incentivise circularity. This episode unpacks key challenges and opportunities in making circularity mainstream, including material innovation and the role of collaboration in accelerating change. What are the biggest barriers to widespread adoption? And how can the global fashion sector work together to drive real impact?
Stay tuned for this episode on 13 April.
About the Playbook
The series builds on the real-world case studies featured in The Upstream Circularity Playbook, a GFA publication designed to support industry stakeholders in garment manufacturing regions with a roadmap for scaling circular solutions. Through these cases, the podcast breaks down the challenges and opportunities within upstream circularity, highlighting the collaboration needed across the industry to drive change – from manufacturers and recyclers to brands and policymakers.
Hear From …
Faith Robinson
Faith Robinson
Head of Content, Global Fashion Agenda
Faith Robinson is Head of Content at Global Fashion Agenda. After working internationally in the creative industries for a decade, she has developed a reputation for carefully mediating different approaches to sustainability in the context of the global fashion industry. Robinson got started in research with London-based trends intelligence business Stylus before moving to Copenhagen in 2018. Alongside a fascinating breadth of cultural consultancy, she has collaborated with Global Fashion Agenda since then and joined her now permanent role in January 2023. Separately, Robinson has worked on special projects as a business, non-profit, education and governmental advisor. Following an Art History BA, she is a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and a member within a number of sustainable fashion industry research networks, editorial boards and mentorship programmes.
Federica Marchionni
Federica Marchionni
Chief Executive Officer, Global Fashion Agenda
Federica Marchionni is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Global Fashion Agenda (GFA). Founded in Denmark, GFA is a non-profit organisation with the ultimate vision to create a net positive fashion industry for the people and the planet across entire eco-system. Before joining GFA, Marchionni attained leadership roles in Europe, USA, and China. During the e-commerce expansion, Marchionni took a role as International CEO of Secoo, a Chinese e-commerce retailer in China. Prior to this, Marchionni was CEO and Board Director at Lands’ End and President of Dolce&Gabbana Inc., based in America. Before moving to the States, Marchionni worked as SVP at Ferrari HQ in Italy. Her career began in the early stage of the telecommunication industry, working for global players such as Samsung, Philips, and Ericsson. She is a guest speaker at high-caliber conferences and top academic institutions including Harvard University and Stanford University, Financial Times, Fortune and COP. Marchionni graduated from La Sapienza University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a thesis in the mobility business.
Marina Chahboune
Marina Chahboune
Founder, Closed Loop Fashion, Circular Economy & Sustainability Specialist
Marina Chahboune is a recognized expert in sustainable textile and apparel production, specializing in circular economy practices and sustainable innovation. Holding an M.A. in Sustainability in Fashion, she has nearly two decades of experience leading sustainability initiatives across global textile and apparel supply chains, Development Cooperation and Public-Private Partnership projects. Her work has impacted over 500 factories across more than 30 countries, collaborating with SMEs, fashion brands, manufacturers, and international organizations, including the UN, EU, and GIZ.
Nin Castle
Nin Castle
Co-Founder and Chief Programme Officer, Reverse Resources
Nin Castle is the Co-Founder of Reverse Resources, an impact-driven company dedicated to revolutionising textile waste management for a circular fashion and textile industry. With extensive experience in designing solutions for pre-consumer and post-industrial textile waste since 2006, Castle is responsible for international multi-stakeholder programmes, partnering with NGOs, development organisations, brands, manufacturers, waste handlers and recyclers across Europe, Asia and North Africa. She leads RR’s T2T recyclers network and the research into matchmaking of textile waste with the best possible recycling solutions.
Abdur Razzaque
Abdur Razzaque
Managing Director, Recycle-raw Limited
Md Abdur Razzaque is a sustainability leader specializing in textile recycling and circular economy solutions. As founder of Recycle-raw Limited, he transformed the company into a global brand, partnering with 27 international recycling firms. A member of the GCFF Steering Committee, he advocates for sustainable practices globally. Razzaque holds an M.A. in Recycled Fashion Design and a B.Sc. in Knitwear Manufacture, driving impactful change in the textile industry.
Ebru Özküçük Güler
Ebru Özküçük Güler
Chief Sustainability Officer, RE&UP Recycling Technologies
Ebru Özküçük Güler is the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at RE&UP Recycling Technologies, where she leads the development and execution of transformative sustainability strategies. She drives circularity, resource efficiency and impact reduction initiatives, shaping RE&UP’s role as a leader in circular textile solutions. With a strong background in finance and corporate sustainability, Güler began her career as a Financial Specialist before joining Sanko Holding, where she has held various leadership roles for over 17 years. Prior to her role at RE&UP, she served as the Head of Sustainability at ISKO Denim, spearheading sustainable material innovations and playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s environmental policies. Her expertise spans circular economy, carbon management, ESG systems adoption, and sustainability regulations. A recognized industry leader, she actively contributes to global discussions on sustainability, driving initiatives that foster positive environmental change in the textile sector. Güler holds sustainability credentials from MIT, Harvard Business School, and Berkeley School of Law, reinforcing her strategic approach to tackling environmental challenges.
Alexander Granberg
Alexander Granberg
Recycling and Innovation Materials Manager, Sustainability team, BESTSELLER
Alexander Granberg is the Recycling and Innovation Materials Manager within the Sustainability team at BESTSELLER. He specializes in fashion and textiles and draws on his background in business economics. With a strong commitment to sustainable practices and innovative solutions, Granberg has been a driving force in his career and has contributed to BESTSELLER’s mission for over nine years.
Karla Magruder
Karla Magruder
Founder and President, Accelerating Circularity
Karla Magruder is a highly respected leader and advocate for sustainability, recognized for her distinguished career in environmental innovation and circular economy practices. As the Founder and President of Accelerating Circularity since 2019, Magruder has been dedicated to transforming the global textile and fashion industries towards more sustainable and circular practices. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing industry-wide change, collaborating with major brands, suppliers, and stakeholders to develop and implement innovative recycling technologies and circular business models.
