About Megan Dawson-Elli
Megan Dawson-Elli graduated from the University of Delaware (UD) in 2016 with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. During her time at UD, she was the winner of the Fashion Scholarship Fund case study, a highly competitive national competition. Early in her academic career, she identified her interest in environmental sustainability within the fashion industry. This inspired Megan to study abroad in Hong Kong in 2014, where she was a Sourcing & Sustainability intern for Under Armour. After graduation, Megan worked in merchandising and sourcing before starting her career in environmental sustainability at PVH in 2018. Presently, Megan holds the position of Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry, where she leads their work on product impact, environmentally preferred materials, and circularity.
In her free time, Megan enjoys reading, running, and traveling. She lives in NYC with her fiancé, also a UD graduate, and likes spending her weekends in Central Park.
Sheng: What does a Product Sustainability Manager do? Can you walk us through your typical day at Tapestry? Also, what makes you love your job?
Megan: As a Product Sustainability Manager, I work as an internal consultant to our brands to support their progress towards our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals and their desire to market and evaluate the environmentally preferred attributes of our products. Many initiatives fall under Product Sustainability, but I would bucket most of the work into several categories: marketing claims substantiation, environmentally preferred materials, product impact, circularity, and packaging. Every day can look different in this role, which keeps it exciting! One day I will be working with teams to craft a marketing claim about a product and the next I will be collecting data from suppliers for a life cycle assessment. My work is very dynamic, with some projects lasting days versus months. I love my job because I get to work with teams across the company that are passionate about sustainability, and even though I no longer work to create products, it’s still the focus of my work.
Sheng: Consumers today, especially our Gen Z students, want to see more “sustainable” fashion products in the market. What does “sustainable product” mean in practice? Can “sustainability” be objectively measured?
Megan: The term “sustainable” has become difficult to define as many initiatives can fit under it, like environmentally preferred materials, responsible sourcing, circularity, etc. It can also be seen as a yes/no question, while sustainability is a journey where progress should grow as new innovations become available. At a product level, the most visible sustainability initiatives that can be seen are environmentally preferred materials or social impact claims being made about the item. There are plenty of initiatives that companies are doing across their supply chain and their operations. Checking out a company’s annual Corporate Responsibility report will show a greater picture of its efforts, commitments, and progress.
Sheng: How can sourcing contribute to a fashion company’s sustainability efforts and make more sustainable products available to consumers?
Megan: At Tapestry, we follow an internal framework known as “Style, Performance and Impact.” This ensures all products meet our high standards of craftsmanship. The framework also guides our decision-making around environmentally preferred materials and material innovation investments.
- Style: Does it meet design needs or the intended design function of the product?
- Performance: Does it meet expectations of quality and cost?
- Impact: Does the material or decision have a measurable reduction in environmental impact?
Additionally, suppliers play a critical role in helping companies realize their environmental and social ambitions. We consistently partner with stakeholders across our value chain to work toward more responsible practices that their businesses can incorporate, especially through increased implementation of environmentally preferred manufacturing practices and using preferred materials.
Sheng: Related to sustainability are the buzzwords “supply chain transparency” and “traceability.” What progress has been made, and what are the key steps for fashion companies in achieving greater transparency and traceability in their supply chains and sourcing?
Megan: To ensure a more responsible and transparent supply chain, it is critical to map supply chains and the relationships between suppliers. At Tapestry, we have begun the process of onboarding suppliers to join TrusTrace, a cloud-based web platform for sustainability, where we intend to conduct more upstream supply chain mapping and the collection of documentation to establish material and product traceability. We envision the platform will help us meet enterprise-wide sustainability commitments and goals, and help us align with upcoming regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
We have also improved downstream traceability by launching a digital product passport program, most notably through Coachtopia products. Customers can hold their smartphones against the cloud emblem on their Coachtopia product until the pop-up appears and then learn the total environmental impact of the product, along with all the potential avenues to extend its useful life under the sub-brand’s circular principles.
Sheng: As legislation related to fashion companies’ sustainability practices continues to be newly implemented or is on the horizon, are there any specific regulations you would recommend our students closely monitor?
Megan: There are many emerging ESG regulations, especially in Europe. Below are some that would be interesting to review.
Europe:
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Green Claims Directive
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
USA:
- Updates to the Federal Trade Commission Green Guides
- PFAS state regulations (New York, Maine, Minnesota, California, etc.)
Sheng: Any reflections on your experiences at UD and FASH? What advice would you offer to current students preparing for a career in fashion sustainability after graduation?
Megan: My “lightbulb moment” for wanting to pursue a career in sustainability happened while I was at UD, specifically from taking the ethics and sustainability in the fashion industry class. After identifying environmental sustainability as my focus and passion, I found ways to include it in every project, case study, and internship during school. The great thing about sustainability is that every department in a company can be part of the collective efforts, so even if you aren’t on an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) team, you can make an impact. If you are specifically interested in pursuing a role on an ESG team, I recommend networking with people in the industry that have those roles to learn more about what the job looks like and staying up to date on the latest news, innovations and regulations in the space. Also, there are plenty of college courses and industry certifications in sustainability that can be a great learning resource.
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FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
I love to hear that DPPs are being integrated into businesses! After doing previous research on the EU’s circular economy model for the fashion industry, seeing these ideas/initiatives have real, tangible results is inspiring. Environmental consciousness is a highly important “trend” that we’re aware of, but still a bit away from making a universal reality. Companies that are making strides like Tapestry are ones that we should keep an eye on in the coming years. I personally think that as companies continue to go down the path of sustainability/transparency/etc, it will eventually begin a snowball effect and the industry will eventually follow. Of course, legislation, shareholders and stakeholders, and the general public’s attitudes and needs also are of great importance in reaching the overall goal of sustainable sourcing and supply chains. I also found learning the extent of ESG-oriented job roles, like the position Megan currently holds, to be extremely comforting since I feel as though we sometimes get lost in fast fashion discussions when thinking about sustainability.
Megan’s journey as a Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry was very inspiring to read. She was very successful in her days here at UD and also holds a similar passion for sustainability that I myself have been very interested in since taking a class on Sustainability in Fashion my sophomore year of college, which Megan coincidentally also said was her “lightbulb moment”. Her day to day life as a Product Sustainability Manager seems very exciting. It is constantly changing which allows Megan to learn so much about sustainability in the fashion industry. I enjoyed her definition of sustainability, since it can mean many things in the fashion industry. I typically associate sustainability with using raw materials that are environmentally friendly, along with creating apparel in an environmentally friendly way. But it truly is much more than that. I also never heard of TrusTrace before reading this blog post. It is amazing what technology is allowing us to do in the supply chain industry, and it is making the goal of being fully sustainable that much closer to success. Overall, Megan’s work is very inspiring to me as we both have a passion for sustainability. Her insights about sustainability and her journey are both very enlightening to know that there are steps being taken to create a more sustainable world, and that they are not so far out of reach for students like me.
I found her explanation of sourcing contributing to Tapestry’s sustainability efforts very interesting. She explains that their suppliers play a critical role in their sustainability efforts and they consider an entire framework when making decisions regarding sustainability. I also found her advice for achieving greater transparency and traceability very interesting. The digital product passport program, for example, is a great and interactive way for consumers to learn about the environmental impact of a product. I think a lot of retailers are going to start using technology to improve their sustainability initiatives as well as their transparency with their consumers. I liked when she mentioned that her “light bulb” moment was in the sustainability discussion class at UD, because that was also one of my favorite classes that got me very interested in sustainability!
I found this blog post about Megan Dawson-Elli and her current role as Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry fascinating! Megan says in the interview that every day on the job is different because she oversees many aspects of sustainability management. This position seems refreshing because Megan gets to collaborate with a bunch of teams globally and discuss new sustainable initiatives. I found it very exciting that Tapestry is utilizing the platform TrusTrace for product traceability and supply chain management. This is very important because many manufacturers and retailers have faced issues with transparency and traceability, so this platform is an exciting advancement to see in the industry! Finally, I thought that Megan’s “lightbulb moment” was very inspiring because she was able to identify her passion through her ethics and sustainability class at UD!
Megan Dawson-Elli’s interview left me feeling deeply inspired by her academic and professional trajectory. Transitioning from studying Fashion Merchandising at UD to assuming the role of Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry, Megan seamlessly integrated sustainability into her educational and career pursuits. Megan’s depiction of her responsibilities at Tapestry sheds light on the complex nature of sustainability efforts in the fashion industry, encompassing tasks ranging from crafting marketing claims to evaluating product impact. As someone who shares Megan’s passion for sustainability, her insights not only resonate but serve as a form of encouragement; offering a glimpse of a tangible, eco-friendly future that I aim to be a part of.
Megan Dawson-Elli’s interview provided invaluable insights into the intricate world of sustainability within the fashion industry. From her transition from studying Fashion Merchandising at UD to becoming Tapestry’s Product Sustainability Manager, her journey exemplifies dedication to environmental stewardship. What stood out was her multifaceted role, which involves collaborating with global teams and implementing innovative solutions like TrusTrace for product traceability. Learning about her “lightbulb moment” during a sustainability discussion class at UD resonated deeply, highlighting the transformative power of education in shaping sustainability champions. Overall, Megan’s interview emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and education in driving meaningful sustainability initiatives within fashion companies like Tapestry.
Megan Dawson-Elli’s journey from UD student to Product Sustainability manager at Tapestry is extremely inspiring, especially as a current student interested in sustainability. This interview really shed light on the importance of sustainability managers, and all the things they do for their companies. I was particularly interested in her statements about digital product passports used by Coachtopia, as I have done some research into that for a previous project. This innovative practice allows for traceability in the supply chain, and also gives consumers full disclosure regarding the impact and journey of their products. Hopefully this technology will be integrated into more fashion brands in the future, so that consumers can get the full scope of their impact. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the interview with Megan, and am inspired by her journey.
Megan Dawson-Elli’s interview was very interesting to learn about. Elli was a former UD student who is now a Product Sustainability manager at Tapestry. The interview taught us about how sustainability officers have a bunch of different roles in what they do for their company. This provided me with more insight into what happens in the Fashion Industry. The interview made it clear that companies have a lot to consider when they make decisions about sustainability. The advice on achieving greater transparency and traceability was also very interesting to me. One term I learned was “The digital product passport program” which is a great and interactive way for consumers to learn about the environmental impact of a product. Lastly, a technology called TrustTrace-“a cloud-based web platform for sustainability, where we intend to conduct more upstream supply chain mapping and the collection of documentation to establish material and product traceability.” This was a wild innovation to me, we can now use technology to help us become more sustainable. Megan’s view and commitment to sustainability was very inspiring to me. I think people don’t think about sustainability as much as we should, there are still many steps that have to be taken to have a more sustainable world.
I really enjoyed learning more about Megan’s job as Product Development Manager at Tapestry. One thing that really caught my attention was Tapestry’s internal framework known as “Style, Performance and Impact”. This is a framework that makes sure that the products being manufactured and sold will meet the consumer standards. Style ensures that the product has an aesthetic appeal. Performance ensures that the quality and material are acceptable. Lastly, impact ensures that the product is created as sustainably as possible. This is important these days, specifically to Gen Z, because there has been an increased amount of awareness created around sustainability. This awareness has caused Gen Z to take this aspect of each product into consideration when purchasing a piece of clothing. Not only does Megan discuss that Tapestry has been trying to be more environmentally conscious about their products, but also that the company has been focusing on their supply chain and how they can make it more socially responsible. I enjoyed this interview because I always find it interesting to hear about what fashion companies are doing to try to become more sustainable.
Being that sustainability can be encompasses many things and is often used as a buzzword, it was very interesting to read this interview with Megan Dawson- Elli as it brought much more insight into the actual role and responsibilities of a product sustainability manager. I enjoyed that Megan acknowledged the breadth of initiatives that sustainability could include as she outlined them in being marketing claims substantiation, environmentally preferred materials, product impact, circularity, and packaging. Megan explained that her role is ever-changing as she provides consulting to their brands and teams as to how to better incorporate ESG goals into products. I also thought it was very interesting to hear that one of her roles is in advising marketing teams on how to craft a marketing claim on a product. This is a very important role as, when done well, can increase brand transparency but also the legitimacy of the brand because thier initiatives are communicated more substantially which leaves little room for consumers to assume that they are being greenwashed.
The interview with Megan Dawson-Elli was very thorough and interesting. I love that she got to study abroad in Hong Kong and intern in sourcing and sustainability for Under Armour, that seems like an amazing opportunity. She is a product sustainability manager for Tapestry and is a consultant to their brands to support environmental, social and governance goals. In a way this reminds me of EPR (extended producer responsibility) requirements. It sounds like her job consists of a lot of different schedules and opportunities (marketing claims, substantiation, environmentally preferred materials, product impact, circularity, and packaging). Megan stated that suppliers play a critical role in helping companies realize their environmental and social ambitions, and I totally agree. Through this class, and working on the Macy’s EPR project, I have learned that stakeholders are the most important for an entire organization to make change. Everyone needs to be on the same page for environmental and sustainable change to happen. I am curious to see how Tapestry plans on updating its vendor standards to comply with the upcoming EPR standards and the CSRD.
Hearing about Megan Dawson-Elli’s and Tapestry’s sustainability efforts is interesting. Their internal efforts are extremely innovative specifically the digital product passport program. This makes research much easier for the average consumer, all they have to do is scan a tag and then they can compare the environmental impact of their products. Adding all the potential uses after its natural lifespan is a cherry on top, showing their sub-brand’s commitment to circularity.
I didn’t know there was so much variability in the day of a Product Sustainability Manager. She gets to interact with almost every part of the company and each day faces a new puzzle.
I really appreciate seeing more brands bring accountability into their brand ideals with Trustrace and the digital passport program. With more consumers becoming educated about some of the harmful practices that can be happening abroad it’s a concept thats becoming less of an added bonus of a brand and more of an expectation. However do you think programs like these will allow for more falsified information. While it’s nice to think that each step of the way will be honest with their practices. If a brand were to input an incorrectly traced map or a manufacturer puts in false practices is there anyone to check? I was also really inspired by the part about an ESG team I think this should be an essential part of any team. When i took an entrepreneurship class they told us “don’t think about repercussions, just brainstorm problems and solutions,” so I think having people in the room that will tell you something might not be a good idea and why is necessary.
I thought hearing about Megan Dawson-Elli’s interview was extremely valuable in understanding how her time at UD aided her to become the Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry. I liked learning about her descriptions of her job day-to-day, and the resources she uses in her position. I never fully understood how the initiatives of product sustainability fall under several mentioned categories like marketing claims substantiation and circularity. I thought it was really interesting how she described that sustainability is difficult to define and can be measured at a product level of visible sustainability initiative about how the item is made, and then looking at a company’s annual corporate responsibility report for a greater picture. There are so many aspects to sustainability, so it is logical how to break it down and view it as a journey. The framework of Style, Performance and Impact seems to be an effective step-by-step process to make decisions based on materials and investments needed for the company. I like how she ended by saying that every department can be part of collective sustainable efforts. Even if you don’t end up in this department, there are ways in the industry to make a difference in the fashion industry’s sustainability initiatives.
I really enjoyed learning about Megan Dawson-Eli’s job as a product sustainability manager at Tapestry. I thought it was very interesting that she noted that everyday looks different in the role she is in. One takeaway in specific I learned from the interview was when she described mapping supply chains and relationships between suppliers. We have been learning about transparency and greenwashing for years, so it was very insightful to learn about Tapestry’s platform TrusTrace which is utilized to document material and product traceability. Initiatives like these are what makes a brand stand out to me, because it shows how much effort the company puts into ensuring their sustainable practices are held at a high standard. I think Megan’s job sounded very interesting and especially appealing to me since she claimed she does something different everyday. Sustainability is something I am looking to incorporate in my career post-grad, product sustainability is definitely something I will continue to research after learning from Megan!
It feels like I’m getting a sneak peek into my own potential future as I read about Megan Dawson-Elli’s journey from UD to her current position as a Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry. Her story really speaks to me, especially her early enthusiasm for environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. Megan’s UD experiences, especially her time spent studying abroad in Hong Kong align with my own goal of researching sustainability on a worldwide level. I feel inspired to follow her lead in implementing sustainability into my career and academic pursuits. Her work that entails driving sustainability projects with teams across the team really resonates to me. Megan advises current students to get involved actively when aiming for a career in fashion sustainability, especially by networking and staying engaged. Megan’s story inspires me and provides guidance for how I should approach the connection of sustainability and fashion in my own professional path.
Hearing Megan’s story about career journey was really informative. I really appreciate her belief that sustainability can be achieved at all levels and that you do not have to be exclusively on an environmental safety and sustainability team. It really resonated with me when Megan talked about her time at UD at the end, specifically how she found a way to incorporate sustainability into majority of her work at school. I often joke that I feel I write about sustainability or fast fashion constantly in my classes, and that is true. Similar to Megan I think that is something that I have found a way to incorporate into all of my work. Proposing sustainability initiatives is important work and can be done in every branch of the industry. Traceability and transparency are two of the most important aspects of being considered environmentally conscious and I loved reading about what Megan does to stay involved and up to date on this topic.
This blog post was an interview-style report. The interview was conducted with Megan Dawson-Elli who graduated from the University of Delaware with a fashion merchandising degree and is now a Product Sustainability Manager at Tapestry. She has had a passion for sustainability throughout her life and career and that has helped shape her career. Megan helps with guiding Tapestry’s brands towards their environmental goals, such as improving their transparency and traceability in the supply chain. Megan’s advice to us students is to stay up to date with the latest news and constantly network.
I found this interview with Megan Dawson-Elli incredibly inspiring! Interning in Hong Kong in 2014 seems like such a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that opened so many doors for Megan during her career! What interested me most about Megan’s rule is that each day is a little bit different, keeping her on her toes! That is a quality that I hope to look for in my future career, so hearing more about how much Megan enjoys her role in Product Sustainability is truly an eye-opener for me in terms of what positions may interest me most. I also found is fascinating all the aspects of sustainability Megan works with such as sustainable materials, responsible sourcing, implementing circular initiatives, sustainable marketing practices, sustainable packaging, and beyond. It seems there is always something new for Megan to introduce to Tapestry to help them achieve more sustainability. I feel this role would be incredibly rewarding as well, knowing that your impact is helping the environment, or helping certain individuals working conditions.
It was great to hear about Megan’s experience with sustainability in fashion at her company as well as at UD. Megan brought up the importance of traceability for transparency in the world of sustainable fashion. It was quite interesting to learn that her company was encouraging suppliers to be a part of a network for better traceability. As we have learned about in class, it is very difficult to have full transparency in the supply chain because of just how much a garment moves around while it is being created. We know that even though it is tough, it is still very important to be transparent in the supply chain because of issues like forced labor but also qualification for free trade agreements. Especially now, with the ban of cotton from the XUAR region, brands need to be more clear about their supply chain to ensure they are not using banned cotton. A cloud based network for supplier may be a good way to do so. It does make me wonder what solutions other companies are using.
It was very interesting being able to learn about Megan’s role as a product sustainability manager at Tapestry. Prior to the interview, I did not know what the day-to-day tasks were for a product sustainability manager, and it was great getting to learn just how much goes into this job and how rewarding it seems to be. I thought it was interesting to hear her take on the definition of sustainability and how she thinks it is a journey and should grow as new innovations become available which I thought was a great viewpoint. It was insightful to hear about Megan’s journey and her “lightbulb” moment as I have also taken an interest in sustainability after certain classes in my academic journey. Overall, this interview was informative, and it gave me good tips on preparing for a career in fashion sustainability after graduation.
Megan and Abby Edge both talked about the importance of traceability. Megan also talked about the importance of achieving sustainability commitments and goals, as well as following regulatory requirements. This relates to how brands are diversifying their supply chain to ensure sustainability requirements are being enforced and traceability is possible. I liked reading about the program TrusTace as well as digital product passports. These applications are effective ways for brands to increase their environmentalism and traceability efforts. I am particularly happy about DPP’s being used by Tapestry because they will make product information easily accessible to consumers. In class we talked about how manufacturers in Asia are integrating sustainability in its production processes more often to appease western consumers and brands. The emerging sustainability regulations, programs, and practices that Megan mentioned are a reflection of how lots of companies in the fashion industry are integrating and prioritizing sustainability more. Overall, I enjoyed reading Megan’s interview and learning more about sourcing and sustainability.