The fashion industry's linear model of take, make, and dispose is facing increasing scrutiny, and a recent New York Fashion Week event put a spotlight on the women offering alternatives. On September 10, 2026, Sutton Stracke, star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and founder of circular fashion house Sutton Brands, hosted the 5th Annual Women Pioneers of Circular Fashion at the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance. The event honored Susan Rockefeller, Julia O'Mara, and Kristy Caylor for their contributions to circular fashion, and it underscored how entrepreneurship and innovation are reshaping how clothing is consumed and discarded.
The honorees represent different facets of the circular economy. Susan Rockefeller, an entrepreneur, conservationist, and founder of Musings Magazine, uses storytelling to encourage a more thoughtful relationship with what we make and consume. Julia O'Mara, co-founder and COO of Pickle, is transforming fashion ownership through a shared closet model. Kristy Caylor, founder and CEO of Trashie, has made clothing take-back more accessible by creating systems that move unwanted garments out of closets and back into circulation. Together, they address the critical problem of getting clothing moving again instead of sitting unworn. As Stracke noted, "This industry has no shortage of conversation. These three have volume." Their work matters because the fashion industry is a major contributor to landfill waste, and scalable solutions are needed to shift consumer behavior and industry infrastructure.
The event also marked the opening of the Name'Em City Pop-Up Tour, a five-city retail experience bringing Sutton Brands' circular-fashion concept to New York, Nashville, Dallas, Charleston, and Chicago through spring 2027. This expansion signals that circular fashion is moving from niche to mainstream, with retail experiences designed to engage consumers directly. The evening featured a preview of Sutton Brands' Green Label and circular-fashion retail experience, a live performance by the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance, and was filmed for Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, giving the message a broad television audience. Attendees included Erika Jayne, Tracy Tutor, designer Brian Atwood, and others, highlighting the intersection of entertainment and sustainability.
The implications of this event extend beyond a single evening. By honoring women who are building practical solutions—resale platforms, take-back systems, and shared ownership models—the event legitimizes circular fashion as a viable business approach. It also connects designers, consumers, and the reverse-logistics infrastructure necessary to keep garments in use. For an industry often criticized for greenwashing, these honorees offer tangible models. Previous honorees include Rachel Kibbe, Sarah Barnes, and Dana Thomas, indicating a sustained effort to recognize and amplify such work.
Sutton Brands, co-founded by Sutton Brown (formerly known as Sutton Stracke), emphasizes longevity, reuse, repurposing, and more conscious consumption. The company's sustainability philosophy offers an alternative to the traditional linear model. As consumers increasingly demand eco-friendly options, initiatives like this could pressure more brands to adopt circular practices. The pop-up tour will bring these concepts directly to consumers in five cities, potentially accelerating adoption. For those interested in learning more about the company's approach, Sutton Brands Sustainability provides details, and the main site is SuttonBrands.com. The event demonstrates that circular fashion is not just a trend but a growing movement with real momentum.
