Safia Minney

Safia Minney, MBE, is recognized as a leading social entrepreneur and a pioneer in sustainable and ethical fashion. Minney is the founder of Global Village, established as a non-governmental trading organization in Japan, which began by publishing a free leaflet offering consumers information on environmental and organic products and later expanded to selling fair trade goods. She is also the founder and former global CEO of People Tree, a sustainable and fair trade fashion label, a role she held for 24 years.

Minney launched People Tree in London to promote fair trade fashion in Europe. Under her leadership, People Tree developed the first fair trade and organic cotton supply chain in the developing world and became the first company to receive Soil Association certification for a fully organic product, from field to manufacture. The company also became the first to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organisation Fair Trade product label, achieving significant international sales turnover. During her tenure, Minney collaborated with designers, celebrities, and influencers, including Emma Watson, Dame Zandra Rhodes, and Bora Aksu. She led the first fair trade designer collaboration with Vogue magazine and initiated World Fair Trade Day. Minney is a founder member of the Ethical Fashion Forum, Fashion Revolution, and Strawberry Earth Academy, promoting eco design and sustainable business practices.

Minney is the author of nine books, including "Slave to Fashion," which campaigns against modern-day slavery in the fashion industry, "Slow Fashion: Aesthetics Meets Ethics," "Naked Fashion: The New Sustainable Fashion Revolution," and "Regenerative Fashion." Her work has been featured in the documentary film "The True Cost," and she has contributed to other documentaries and short films. Through her writing and on-screen presence, Minney has raised global awareness of the human and environmental impacts of fast fashion, establishing her as a prominent voice in sustainability and ethical supply chains.

Minney's contributions to the fair trade movement and sustainable fashion have been recognized with honors such as Outstanding Social Entrepreneur by the World Economic Forum's Schwab Foundation, an MBE for her work in fair trade and the fashion industry, and Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the Edge Upstart Awards in Britain. After her tenure at People Tree, Minney launched Fashion Declares, an industry-wide movement advocating for a just transition and regenerative fashion futures. She continues to coach senior leaders in sustainability and consults on sustainable business, ethical supply chains, and marketing for clients in fashion, beauty, and construction. Minney's extensive experience in building ethical supply chains positions her as an authoritative voice in sustainable business and ethical fashion.