Fabrics of Consumption: Ethics and Sustainability of Fast Fashion

When platforms like Temu and Shein can expeditiously ship cheap clothes around the world and to our doorsteps, fast fashion appeals to many as an affordable way to participate in popular trends. But what happens to these clothes when trends just as rapidly fade and consumers move on? Weaving together academic experts, textile industry leaders, and policymakers, we will discuss the effects of fast fashion on our lives and climate and examine how we can do better.

This panel features Dr. Meital Peleg Mizrachi (Yale University), Alon Rotem (Chief Strategy Officer, ThredUp), Mina Le (Creator & Video Essayist), and Zoe Heller (Director of CalRecycle). Moderated by Richard Thompson Ford (Stanford University), this event will illuminate how fashion trends contribute to textile waste and labor exploitation and will explore sustainable alternatives for sourcing and producing clothes.

Please note that this event is in-person only, and RSVPs are requested to attend. Walk-ins are welcome.

Speakers:

Dr. Meital Peleg Mizrachi is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Economics at Yale University and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut’s School of Public Policy. Her work focuses on environmental regulation and sustainable fashion, with particular attention to the intersection of environmental and social justice and the global trade in second-hand clothing, especially in Ghana. She serves on the Executive Board of the International Sustainable Fashion Consumption Research Network, where she leads education initiatives. In 2021, TheMarker magazine named her one of 40 promising leaders under 40 for her contributions to fashion and environmental sustainability.

As ThredUp's Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Legal Officer, Alon Rotem oversees the company's strategic direction and legal affairs, including its public policy and sustainability efforts. He is a vocal advocate for advancing textile recycling through legislative engagement and is actively involved in shaping public policy via coalitions such as ACT and Politically in Fashion. Alon also spearheads ThredUp's innovative Resale-as-a-Service (RaaS) program, which has led to partnerships with dozens of retailers such as Athleta, Madewell, Reformation, and J.Crew, enabling them to build scalable resale solutions and sustainable offerings to their customers.

Originally from Maryland and American of Vietnamese descent, Mina Le launched her YouTube channel in 2020, spotting a gap in the fashion and culture space she knew she could fill. With just a few videos, most notably “Rating Disney Princess Dresses on Historical Accuracy,” her channel took off, becoming a trusted voice where fashion meets culture. Whether breaking down fashion in film, unpacking cultural trends, or going viral with her witty takes on history, Mina blends intellect and humor in a way distinctly her own. Today, with 2M subscribers and 150M+ views, Mina continues to shape conversations across platforms.

Zoe Heller has served as Director of CalRecycle since May 2024. She previously led the Division of Circular Economy as CalRecycle’s first deputy director and oversaw the Division of Materials Management and Local Assistance. Earlier, she served as deputy director for the Office of Policy, advancing statewide recycling and waste reduction strategies. Before joining CalRecycle, Heller spent more than a decade at the U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office, including roles as manager of the Zero Waste section, special assistant to the Regional Administrator, and environmental protection specialist in the Environmental Justice program.

Moderator:

Richard Thompson Ford is the George E. Osborne Professor of Law at Stanford Law School. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Stanford Law Review, Yale Law Journal, and more. His latest book, Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History (2021), was a New York Times Editors’ Choice, and inspired a 2021 Editors’ Choice TED Talk. Two of his other books, The Race Card (2008) and Rights Gone Wrong (2011), were selected as Notable Books by the New York Times. He has appeared on national television and radio programs including The Colbert Report, the Rachel Maddow Show, The New Yorker Radio Hour and All Things Considered and co-hosted Stanford Legal on Sirius XM Radio with Joe Bankman from 2020-2022.

This event will have a photographer present to document the event. No personal recordings (audio or visual) are allowed. By attending, you consent for your image to be used for Stanford-related promotions and materials. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

If you require disability-related accommodation, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible or at least 7 business days in advance of the event.

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