Why Relationship-Building Is the Real Work of Sustainability in Fashion

That belief isn’t theoretical. It’s shaped by a career lived across the full spectrum of fashion. Nicholas began on the editorial side, working with Condé Nast and Hearst. He then moved into retail, styling, and PR, contributing to major runway shows and editorial shoots in Paris and New York. Along the way, he had the chance to work alongside bold fashion personalities including the late Karl Lagerfeld and André Leon Talley.

But the further he went, the more he was pulled toward the core of the industry—the craft, the people, the purpose. He stepped into the studios of independent designers, finding meaning in the slower, more intentional side of fashion. Eventually, that path brought him into global sustainability work, where the mission became clear: shift the focus from image to impact.

From Covers to Consequence

Nicholas didn’t start in sustainability. He started in stories.

Back in New York, he was fully immersed in the world of editorial, contributing to iconic publications like Nylon, Esquire, and Vanity Fair. “It was all about creativity and collaboration,” he says. “As a market editor, you had to understand the full fashion landscape—what was out there, why it mattered, and how it all connected.”

There were photo shoots, styling sessions, fast-paced productions. “You’d form these little temporary families,” he recalls. “It was exciting—addictive, even.” But beneath the surface glamour, something was missing.

“I started to feel a growing disconnect from how things were actually made—and the impact behind every piece we were showcasing. We were celebrating the beautiful surface, while ignoring the system behind it.” That disconnect became a catalyst.

A move in-house to a major fashion house only sharpened the picture. “I began to see the excess up close,” he says. “The waste was staggering. It was baked into the system.” That’s when the questions started—about materials, supply chains, labor conditions, and the true cost of production.

What began as a creative career gradually evolved into a mission. “I realized I wanted to be part of something more intentional,” he says. “Something that built real value into each piece—so people would want to care for them, keep them, and pass them on.”

The Slow Turn Toward Systems

Nicholas’s next chapter brought him closer to the heart of fashion’s potential—working with smaller, independent designers.

“These were brands that genuinely cared,” he says. “They used higher-quality natural materials, produced in small batches, and prioritized thoughtful craftsmanship. But the impact in the larger sense? It felt like a drop in the bucket.”

So he looked upstream. Toward systemic change.

That led him to the nonprofit space, starting with consumer advocacy and policy work through Fashion Revolution and Beyond the Label, then later working with Textile Exchange. It was here that his work became more structural—supporting brands, suppliers, even farmers, in building industry-wide solutions.

“What really hooked me was the collaboration,” he says. “It was eye-opening to see real people from across the supply chain—often with very different perspectives—sitting down at the same table, working it out together.”

Today, Retraced feels like a natural continuation of that mission. “We’re not simply another tech platform,” he says. “We’re building a connected ecosystem—one where data, relationships, and trust can move freely across the supply chain. I’m genuinely excited to strengthen relationships across the supply chain and help brands transform transparency into meaningful action.”

Bridging the Gap

Even in 2025, most brands still don’t fully understand their supply chains—and Nicholas is the first to call it out. “That’s where it all begins,” he says. “You can’t mitigate risk or source responsibly if you don’t even know who’s involved.”

That’s precisely where Retraced steps in—offering the digital infrastructure to transform opaque systems into transparent, collaborative networks. But for Nicholas, it’s not just about technology. It’s about people. “Retraced gives teams the tools to connect. But someone still has to build the bridge,” he says. “That’s the work I love to do.”

Sometimes that means facilitating relationships between brands and suppliers. Other times, it’s about getting industry competitors to sit at the same table and explore pre-competitive collaboration.

“There’s still this lingering fear,” he explains. “That sharing supply chain data means giving away your edge. But in reality, the opposite is true. The future of fashion is rooted in shared responsibility.”

And that future is already unfolding. “We’re finally moving away from this idea that secrecy is strength,” he says. “It’s not. Strength is in partnership.”

Rooted in Reality

Nicholas’ understanding of supply chains isn’t theoretical. He’s met the factory workers. He’s sat across from executives. “If every C-suite leader actually spent real time with their suppliers, met the workers, saw the conditions—it would change everything,” he says. But most don’t. And the system, as it stands, allows them not to.

The current system is built to insulate decision-makers from that reality. And most choose to stay at a distance. “The power dynamics are completely imbalanced,” Nicholas explains. “Brands hold all the leverage. Suppliers are afraid to speak up. The conversation is always about lowering costs—never about the true cost of doing things right. Of protecting people. Of protecting the planet.”

He’s witnessed it up close: brands distancing themselves from the responsibility of production, despite their public commitments to sustainability. “They’ll say, ‘Running a factory? That’s not our business.’ But maybe—if you really care about impact—it should be,” Nicholas says.

For him, the issue isn’t just structural; it’s deeply relational. “The system is designed to keep executives at arm’s length. If they actually had to meet the workers behind their products, things would look very different. But they don’t. They’re removed. And when you’re disconnected, it’s easy to pretend it’s not your problem.”

Which brings Nicholas back to what he believes matters most: relationships. “We need to make space for real, human dialogue,” he says. “When brands talk directly to suppliers, and suppliers to manufacturers, something shifts. People build empathy. They start seeing each other’s challenges—and goals. But none of that can happen if they’re not even in the same room.”

It’s a Marathon. (Literally.)

His professional ethos has a surprising parallel in his personal life. Nicholas recently ran his first half marathon—no small feat for someone who never considered himself a runner. “My partner’s a runner and convinced me to join,” he says. “They showed me an app that builds a personalized training plan, which took the guesswork out of starting. I just followed it—step by step.”

What once felt impossible became manageable—simply by breaking it down. That same lesson—one step at a time—applies just as much to supply chains as it does to long-distance running.

“Mapping a supply chain can feel just as daunting as running a marathon,” he explains. “But when you approach it with steady, consistent effort, one step at a time, you realize it’s not just doable—it’s transformative.”

The Dinner Party Dream

If Nicholas could host a dream dinner with leaders in sustainability, two guests from the world of sustainable fashion make the list: Linda Greer and Lynda Grose. “They’re both absolute powerhouses,” he says.

Linda Greer, a renowned environmental scientist and founder of the Clean by Design program, brings a rigorous scientific perspective, combining sharp data analysis with a deep understanding of industrial systems and environmental impact.

Lynda Grose, a pioneering designer, educator, and co-founder of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion, offers the systems-thinking and bold creativity needed to radically reshape the fashion industry. Her work challenges the status quo and calls for a profound shift in the sector’s values, priorities, and purpose—always advocating for collective change over individual gain.

For the third guest? Robin Wall Kimmerer. A botanist, professor, and celebrated author of Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer weaves together Indigenous wisdom and Western science to inspire a more reciprocal relationship with the Earth. Her teachings emphasize the interconnectedness of all living things and the regenerative power of traditional ecological knowledge.

This dinner party reflects Nicholas in every way—equal parts rigor and reverence, grounded in science, vision, and deep respect for the natural world.

Where We Go from Here

What makes Nicholas Brown an important voice in this space isn’t just his experience—it’s his refusal to look away. Whether it’s industry inertia, consumer detachment, or systemic imbalance, he keeps asking the question: What can we do about it?

For Nicholas, it’s not about perfect answers. It’s about taking real action, together.

“We’re not going to fix the system overnight,” he says. “But if we keep showing up, build relationships, and take it one step at a time—we can absolutely change it.”

That mindset is what drives the industry meetups he hosts in Los Angeles—spaces designed to cultivate a thriving, sustainable, and regenerative fashion ecosystem. At the heart of every gathering is one goal: to build community.

These events connect a diverse cross-section of LA’s fashion landscape—brands, manufacturers, nonprofits, startups, academics, and activists—creating room for collaboration, honest dialogue, and new paths forward.

And the momentum is real. What began as local meetups has grown into a regional magnet, regularly drawing participants from as far as San Diego and San Francisco, all eager to be part of a movement grounded in purpose and powered by people. It’s a powerful reminder that true progress doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in spaces filled with people ready to roll up their sleeves and drive change together.