Faculty
Supply Chain Management Field Trip to Eileen Fisher
Students in Rebecca Eliason’s Supply Chain Management class participated in a field trip to the Eileen Fisher retail location on Robertson yesterday afternoon, where they learned about the Fisher Found project.
As far as companies who spearhead sustainable supply chain initiatives, Rebecca teaches her students about the programs in place at companies including Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, North Face, and Levi’s.
This week, to coincide with Earth Day celebrations, select Eileen Fisher locations are bringing attention to their upcycled garments collection known as Fisher Found, from April 20-25, so it was the perfect opportunity to take students on a field trip to learn more.
Robin Sponseller, the store manager, welcomed the students with a spread of cookies, brownies, and fresh carrot ginger juice served in stemware.
He then gave them a tour of the store as he provided an overview of Eileen Fisher—the person and brand—and her philosophy on sustainability and social responsibility. It is the company’s goal to be 100% sustainable by 2020.
What started as Green Eileen, a garment recycling program, has evolved into Fisher Found, a “take-back” upcycling program and a new product line for the missy brand. Fans of the brand are invited to bring in their worn Eileen Fisher garments they are discarding, to receive a $5 rewards card and the promise that their garment will be repurposed to take on a new life.
There are three categories: Reworn, Renewed, and Remade.
Reworn identifies Eileen Fisher garments that have been previously owned, and professionally cleaned, ready for a new closet.
Renewed means garments that have been mended and treated to look new again. In some cases, they overdye the clothes using botanical dyes, for a new look.
And finally, the Remade line is one-of-a-kind designs made from fabric of discarded Eileen Fisher garments—a linen top cut from the fabric of 2 ½ pairs of pants, for example.
Four seamstresses work on the Remade line, operating out of the Eileen Fisher Lab in Irvington, New York. The lab is constantly designing new products made from the recycled Eileen Fisher clothing, including rugs, baby blankets, and toys. In some cases, the knits have been unraveled and knit into something new.
At the end of the presentation, Robin handed information to all of the students about a paid internship position they are looking to fill this summer. Any interested students should contact Robin Sponseller at ef068mgr@eileenfisher.com.
Supply Chain Management is a required course in the Bachelor of Science, Apparel Technical Design program. Technical Design offers careers where pay, growth and travel opportunities are among the highest of any career in the fashion industry.
Categories: Apparel Technical Design Merchandise Product Development Faculty
