Fresh Talk Explores Women’s Agency and Sustainability in Fashion
By • November 6, 2025 0 422
By Kalyn Tippett
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the National Museum of Women in the Arts hosted Fresh Talk: Agency in Fashion, a conversation spotlighting women’s leadership in one of the world’s most influential industries. The event brought together designer and Hope for Flowers founder Tracy Reese, textile historian and George Washington University educator Katrina Orsini and moderator Rebecca Ballard, founder of Maven Women and The Fashion Connection.
The discussion explored how women, who make up the majority of the fashion labor force, are reclaiming agency by founding sustainable brands, advocating for fair labor, and reshaping an industry long defined by inequity. Rather than viewing sustainability as a fleeting trend, the speakers positioned it as a foundation for justice, care, and community.
Reese, known for her work that blends craftsmanship with conscience, spoke about her Detroit-based brand Hope for Flowers and its community apprenticeship program. “Sustainability also means sustaining strong communities,” she said. “We build bonds, so people come together and create together in our classroom.” Her initiative offers free classes for children and skill-building workshops for adults in sewing, upcycling, and high-end garment construction, reflecting her belief that creative empowerment fuels both economic and social change.
Orsini spoke about the evolution of the textile industry, as well as ways in which individuals can make more conscious choices with their clothing to support a sustainable future. Ballard guided the dialogue toward the intersection of ethics and entrepreneurship, highlighting how emerging female leaders are driving meaningful change.
Following the conversation, guests gathered for a salon-style cocktail reception to continue discussing sustainability, inclusion, and the future of fashion led by women who are redefining what it means to create with purpose.
