Anna Kimelman - Sustainability Strategist

Anna Kimelman - Sustainability Strategist

Author: the co-lab January 20, 2026 Duration: 20:21

Anna Kimelman is a sustainability strategist and award-winning designer who pioneered sustainable fashion before it became mainstream. After building brands for Puma, AEO and Bloomingdales, she founded an acclaimed womenswear brand that launched with Shopbop and attracted celebrity fans including Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber. Now, she leads Loopline, a WBENC-certified consultancy, helping fashion retailers and social organizations drive their sustainability communication — through workshops and circular product innovation — to grow their impact and business. Anna also advises for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and MIT Solve, helping scale circular businesses worldwide.

In this episode, Lindy Fox sits down with Anna about her eye-opening journey from working with major fashion brands to launching her own sustainable collection. After experiencing global production firsthand, she now helps companies innovate and communicate sustainability effectively.


Behind every successful brand, collection, or campaign in the worlds of fashion, beauty, and luxury, there are people with stories that rarely make the front page. The co-lab career stories brings those narratives to the forefront, moving past polished resumes to explore the real, often winding journeys of professionals. This isn't about theoretical advice; it's a series of candid conversations hosted by members of the co-lab community themselves. You'll hear from a CEO reflecting on a pivotal early mistake alongside an assistant buyer navigating their first major season, all within the same episode. The dialogue naturally covers the unexpected detours, the jobs that didn't work out, and the moments of mentorship that changed everything. By focusing on personal experience rather than industry abstraction, this podcast reveals the human texture of creative and commercial fields. It serves as a reminder that a career is rarely a straight line, especially in fast-paced sectors driven by art and aesthetics. Tune in for genuine reflections on building a life in these visually compelling industries, where every story adds a new thread to the broader tapestry.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The co-lab career stories
Podcast Episodes
Marisa Glick - Senior UX Designer, Amazon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:24
Marisa brings 15+ years of UX design experience to Amazon, where she helps shoppers leverage Prime benefits across thousands of sites. She co-chairs the Luxury Education Foundation's Alumni Executive Council, supporting…
Advika Aggarwal - Brand and Marketing Consultant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:33
Advika is a marketing and e-commerce leader who drives growth and builds brands across the full product lifecycle from concept to global scale spanning travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s shaped experiences at iconic A…
Kabir Awatramani - Publicist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
From luxury goods to longevity, Kabir has spent 15 years shaping culture at the intersection of fashion, film, wellness, and health innovation. After early stints at VOGUE and ELLE, he spent nearly a decade in fashion PR…
Anne Whiting - Communications and Sustainability Expert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:24
Anne Whiting works across communications and brand marketing, copywriting, journalism, sustainable fashion design, ethical fashion activism, supply chain and product development expertise, anti-greenwashing consulting, a…
Marijo Mena - Global Sourcing & Merchandising Expert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:48
Marijo Mena has 20 years of experience in sourcing, product development, and merchandising, from Blue Man Group and entertainment products for LOST and Grey's Anatomy to 15 years in corporate retail with Williams-Sonoma,…
Natalie Marten - Retail Expert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:01
Natalie Marten brings 25 years of fashion industry experience across luxury brands and mass retailers. She served as Brand President for Tumi Apparel and Kashwere Apparel at David Peyser Sportswear, leading brands within…
Sarah Sclarandis - Founder, SCLARANDIS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:18
Sarah is the founder of SCLARANDIS, a sustainable, high-quality footwear brand. Her passion began in childhood in Torino, Italy, and led her to study shoe design in the UK and train with master shoemakers in Varese. She…
Abbey Rachel Garay - Shoe Designer and Developer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:26
Abbey Rachel Garay (Liebman) is a New York-based shoe designer and developer with a background in both concept and craft. A Cornell Textiles graduate, she’s held design and development roles across startups and major bra…
Julia Schulhof - Digital Product Strategist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:01
I’m a New-York–based digital product strategist who loves turning loosely defined ideas into engaging, high-impact experiences. Over the years I’ve worked across healthtech, digital media, and wellness, guiding products…
Temi Agbede - Fractional Marketing Executive & Advisor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
Temi is a seasoned marketing and eCommerce leader with 15+ years of experience driving growth for DTC brands from $10M to $100M+. Now a Fractional Marketing Executive & Advisor, she helps brands scale through holistic st…