A PANEL ON NEW EARTH DIALOGUES: REDEFINING SYSTEMS

Join us at the VEJA Nolita store for a conversation that examines what it takes to operate differently. We will explore the economic structures that hold the fashion industry back from acting on what it already knows, and how we can re-create systems that work both for the planet and the people. As we examine the revival of “old practices”, the panel reconsiders whether progress might lie in rediscovery rather than reinvention.

Doors 5:30pm

Panel 6:00pm - 6:45pm

The panel features:

Tara Gilson, CEO of VEJA North America, holds a degree in Fashion Merchandising Management and post-graduate studies in International Relations. Tara discovered VEJA while living in Paris, sparking a strong interest in the brand that ultimately led her to join the team in late 2019, establishing the subsidiary organization. Before joining VEJA, Tara began her career working at Bloomingdale’s and Intermix in the early 2000s, gaining firsthand experience in retail operations, product knowledge and customer engagement. She then transitioned to wholesale and merchandising holding positions at Chloé, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alice + Olivia and Outdoor Voices.

Vanessa Barboni Hallik launched Another Tomorrow in 2020, bringing a mission-driven approach to luxury rooted in sustainability and innovation. Formerly a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, she now also invests in early-stage ESG ventures and serves on the Advisory Board for the Harvard Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. While at Morgan Stanley, she served as a trustee on the Board of Morgan Stanley Foundation and chaired the Fixed Income Philanthropy Committee.

Monica Santos Gil is a Puerto Rican designer and founder of Santos by Monica, a New York-based accessories and ready-to-wear brand exploring geometric design, biomaterial innovation, and sustainability. She launched Santos in 2020 after seeing the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry firsthand. The brand works with next-generation materials, including cactus leather, banana fiber, and TENCEL™, while focusing on smaller production runs, longevity, and responsible production. Monica has been recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 and featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Refinery29, and more.

Discussion to be moderated by Summer Dean, aka Climate Diva, an artist, science communicator, storyteller, and environmental creative working at the intersection of environmentalism, culture, art, science, and wellness. Through storytelling, community experiences, and creative media, Summer creates work that reconnects people to the Earth and inspires more regenerative ways of living. Her work explores how the systems that shape modern life, including fashion, media, and consumer culture, can evolve toward greater care, reciprocity, and ecological responsibility. Blending science, spirituality, and storytelling, Summer brings a perspective that makes sustainability feel both expansive and deeply personal. Her work has been featured in Bustle, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, ELLE Japan, Al Jazeera, Atmos, and more.

Discussion to be accompanied with drinks provided by The Sorting Table, followed by a Q&A session.

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Host or Publisher VEJA FAIR TRADE