The fashion industry is in motion - but not fast enough. In the past few years, we’ve seen impressive progress. Brands are trying to get ready, but many are still very uncertain of how to get ready and what for? Technologies are emerging to make data smarter and products cleaner. But let’s be honest: we’re still operating in a system that’s far from sustainable, and change is uneven at best.

It all started in August 2024 with one simple idea: we wanted to push the boundaries and challenge the norms. The fashion industry has always been reluctant to share secrets and collaborate. We wanted that to change, and guide the way by showcasing the technological solutions able to do just that.

We created TechThreads - not as a marketing event, but as a meeting of minds. A place where people who actually shape the industry - ESG consultants, retailers, platform builders, and supply chain specialists - could come together and ask the tough questions:

We're past the tipping point - but not yet past the inaction

On stage that morning, I watched our CEO, Jonas, speak about what many of us are feeling: the pressure is real, but the potential is greater. Regulation is finally catching up with responsibility. From the EU Green Deal to Digital Product Passports, we’re seeing accountability become law. But legislation is just the starting point. What struck me most throughout the day was how clearly the need for systems change came through. As Nigel Salter reminded us, we’ve exhausted the low-hanging fruit. Now we need infrastructure that makes sustainable decisions default - not optional.

And it’s not just about the environment. Julie Bundgaard made us pause and remember the people. Garment workers in Bangladesh - often at the end of the value chain - remain locked in vulnerable systems. Real ESG transformation demands we rethink how we value both materials and human labor.

The smartest brands are already preparing for uncertainly

One thing I’ve learned from working with fashion brands is this: those who wait to act until things are “clear” are already behind. 

That’s why the sessions from Marie Josephine Mustelin from Dansk Erhverv and Michelle van Velthoven Utzon-Frank from DM&T were important at TechThreads. Both pulled back the curtain on what’s coming - legally, structurally, and operationally. Their message was clear: don’t wait for the perfect roadmap. Start building your system of truth now. The DPP may feel ambiguous, but traceability, data orchestration, and product transparency are already mission-critical. 

In other words: if you think this is just about compliance, you’re thinking too small. I was very inspired by Michelle’s point about ensuring that something like a DPP isn’t just to ensure legislative compliance, but also a business opportunity. It requires a lot of work cross-functionally and internally, and a company should benefit from this.

Collaboration is our competitive advantage

One of the proudest moments for me personally was moderating the panel with Gloria Tramontana from Boozt and Clara Walter from Fashion Cloud. Bringing together retailers who often operate in silos and hearing them speak openly about shared challenges and wins - it reinforced what I’ve believed for a long time: collaboration isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s infrastructure.

Getting everyone in the same room isn’t easy. But when you do, and you design for transparency instead of control, something shifts. The data flows better. The decision-making speeds up. The outcomes improve.

At Delogue, we’ve always believed in creating systems that connect - not just store - and this panel proved how critical that mindset is becoming for the future of fashion.

What comes next

TechThreads was never meant to solve everything in a day. But it did something powerful: it created alignment, energy, and urgency. It reminded us that the collaboration between fashion and tech must be a working principle for companies to operationally function. That data isn’t just for reports - it’s for decisions. That real innovation requires human-centered systems, not just new tools.

We ended the event with one clear message:

TechThreads was more than an event. It was a catalyst. And we’re just getting started. We’re already thinking about what Techthreads will become next. But for now, I’ll leave you with this:

If we want the fashion industry to work better, we have to stop working in the ways that broke it in the first place. Let’s not build better habits on top of broken structures. Let’s reimagine the structures together. Connect, collaborate, create - BETTER.