August 10, 2022
(BLE) will focus on sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, spotlighting new and diverse brands and voices in order to drive meaningful change.
“Through partnerships with Products of Change,
,
as well as Junk Kouture and many more brands, all aspects of the day three program will aim to educate, inspire and invite action within the brand licensing community,” says Anna Knight, senior vice president, licensing, Informa Markets.
Day Three (Sept. 22) will include the following:
9:30-10:00 a.m.: Sustainability case study with Hasbro, License Global Theater
Presented by Catrina O’Brien, head, retail EurAsia - licensed consumer products,
, and Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and chief executive officer,
.
10:00-10:15 a.m. - Culture & Unity Catwalk
Featuring Black Lives Matter Movement fashion collections and spotlighting Black-owned businesses looking to break into the licensing industry.
10:30 a.m. -12:20 p.m. - Kelvyn Gardner License This! final – Brand & Design and Character & Animation categories
This competition for unlicensed brands has been driving new talent and smaller businesses into the industry for more than a decade. Watch finalists pitch live to a panel of expert judges to be crowned the winners of the License This! 2022 competition. Entries are
until Aug. 26.
12:30-12:45 p.m. - Sustainability Catwalk
Products of Change, together with the United Nations and Junk Kouture, will present an educational and inspiring 15-minute set with presentations and performances centered around the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as a catalyst for change. Within the set, Junk Couture will host an exclusive catwalk show, presenting designs from their worldwide competition where 13–18-year-old students are empowered to embrace the principle of sustainable living creating apparel and couture from recycled materials.
1:00-1:45 p.m.- Day 3 Keynote: Panel Discussion: The Good Fight:
How Purpose Breeds Success:
A panel of industry change makers will debate how leading with purpose can create a competitive advantage for licensors, retailers and licensees alike.
- Moderator: Will Stewart, founder and chief executive officer,
- Nicolas Loufrani, founder and chief executive officer,
- Veronica Hart, executive vice president, global franchise planning and consumer product marketing,
- Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and chief executive officer, Products of Change
- Kingston Myles, head of commercial development, English Heritage
These timed events are in addition to the following sustainability, purpose-driven and DE&I initiatives, which will take place throughout all three days of the show:
BLE & POC Sustainability Café
Products of Change Lounge
Meet the entire POC team. Helena, Rob and POC ambassadors will run sustainability clinics (available to all attendees) and member meetups. This is the perfect place to receive advice, education and best practice on creating, progressing or optimizing a business’s sustainability action plan.
Black Lives Matter Licensing
Meet the Black Lives Matter Licensing team to learn more about how they amplify Black voices across the consumer products sector while generating revenue to benefit the Black community. Saphia Maxamed and other members of the team will be available for pre-arranged and drop-in meetings.
Supporting Ukrainian Businesses
BLE 22 has offered free of charge exhibiting space to Ukrainian business owners looking to continue their work within the licensing industry. Exhibitors include Ukrainian Association of Football and ReadyMadeLicense.
Wellness Lounge
The Wellness Lounge returns for attendees to enjoy some quiet space to work or take a break from the show floor.
Charity Discount
BLE is offering a discount to charitable and non-profit organizations who would like to exhibit for the first time.
Licensing International's Diversity & Inclusion Accelerator
This program provides benefits valued at more than $100,000 to underrepresented, diverse brand licensing entrepreneurs around the globe to help them build profitable, high-growth companies within the industry. BLE will showcase some of the companies involved in the program in a dedicated space on the show floor.
"Sustainability is not a limitation to fashion, but rather a trigger for bringing real creativity and passion into the industry," says Caroline Petit, deputy director, United Nations Regional Information Center for Europe.
“
At Junk Kouture, we’re honored to have our efforts recognized by the United Nations, Products of Change and Informa and are looking forward to showcasing our sustainable fashion show led by young students," says Katie Brill, senior vice president, public relations and communications, Junk Kouture. "We aim to drive change through youth creative expression and by reaching our goal of delivering against 6 of the 17 United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals across a range of activities led by the world’s youth – ‘the circular engineers of tomorrow’ who hope to inspire the audience on day three of BLE to drive meaningful change through creativity."
“As consumers continue to expect more from the brands they love and the products they buy, it’s essential that we provide a platform as organizers to inspire, share ideas and educate, which is why we’ve framed the last day of the event around driving purpose and change,” says Knight. There is so much great innovation going on in this space, it’s essential to learn from one another as we strive for a cleaner, better future.”
BLE is the leading European event for licensing and brand extension, taking place Sept. 20-22 at ExCeL London and visitors can
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