FASHIONPHILE has partnered with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to present Responsible Fashion: Designing for Resale, a five-part digital series examining how resale is shaping the future of fashion.
The series debuted on our YouTube channel and CFDA.com, featuring weekly episodes released throughout October. Hosted by award-winning journalist and environmental advocate Sophia Li, each conversation takes a focused look at a key topic that positions resale as a powerful driver of positive change within the luxury ecosystem.
Haute Talks
The FASHIONPHILE x CFDA series brings together creatives, innovators, and industry leaders for conversations on resale’s role in design, technology, and brand strategy. As luxury resale expands its influence, these talks spotlight how designers can build with circularity in mind and how brands can embrace circularity as a creative and strategic imperative.
By creating pathways for products to live multiple lives, resale addresses some of the fashion industry’s most pressing sustainability challenges, including waste, overproduction, and the environmental impact of constant newness. Its growing role is not limited to the secondary market: it’s influencing how brands design, produce, and position their collections from the outset.
Responsible Fashion: Designing for Resale explores this evolving dynamic, demonstrating how resale complements primary collections, strengthens brand value, and supports a more sustainable future for luxury.
Join the Conversation
EPISODE 1
From Past to Present: The Power of Vintage and Resale
To kick off the series, Nicole Richie and Sarah Davis discuss how vintage fashion influences contemporary design and personal style. They explore how pre-loved pieces preserve fashion’s cultural history while advancing environmental goals. The intimate session underscores why authenticity matters in both creative work and the broader shift towards sustainable consumption.
EPISODE 2
How Resale Complements, Rather Than Competes With New Collections
In this conversation, Sarah Davis joins Maya Penn and Julie Gilhart to discuss the evolving resale market and its impact on luxury brands. They look at how resale can extend the life of products, reach new audiences, and support sustainable practices without compromising the exclusivity of current collections.
EPISODE 3
Positioning Your Brand as a Luxury Label in Both Primary and Secondary Markets
Maintaining brand identity across new and resale channels requires intention. Sarah Davis, Aditi Mayer, and Jhara Valentini examine how pricing strategies, brand narratives, and customer experiences in one market shape perception in the other. Their conversation illustrates why resale should be treated as part of brand identity rather than an afterthought.
EPISODE 4
Resale and Tech: How Tech and Innovation Is Reshaping the Circular Economy
This inspiring conversation takes a forward look a how technology is changing the way fashion approaches resale, repair, and personalization. Nancy Rhodes, Rebecca Maffei, and Natasha Franck share practical ways brands can use technology to make fashion more sustainable at every stage of the product life cycle. Together, they highlight how innovation and collaboration can help the industry create a more responsible future.
EPISODE 5
Brand Value and Integrity: How Resale Can Enhance Your Image
Closing the series, Ben Hemminger, Olivia Cheng, and Rachel Molina address how resale strengthens a brand’s reputation and customer relationships. They reflect on transparency, trust, and longevity as foundational elements of successful resale partnerships. When brands engage with resale authentically, they can protect their heritage while deepening loyalty among conscious consumers.
Fashioning a New Future
Responsible Fashion: Designing for Resale is a natural extension of our long-standing commitment to circular ultra-luxury. Since 1999, we’ve been at the forefront of re-commerce, proving that resale can be a force for good and a force for change, benefiting people, products, and the planet alike. As a Certified B Corp., we’re proud to partner with CFDA to spark meaningful conversations that inspire positive action across the industry.
