We all wear clothes, but does what we wear matter? In this sentimentally provocative and entertaining talk, Dr. Jennifer Millspaugh weaves together how fashion shapes our economy, environment and individual identities. As a researcher and entrepreneur in fashion, Millspaugh directly experiences our collective cultural relationship with the fashion industry. In this talk she shares personal stories, behind-the-scenes insight, and inspiration for the future of fashion. Jennifer Millspaugh is the co-founder and CEO of Aesthetic Ventures, a venture production studio for the fashion industry, which accelerates and builds innovative companies in fashion. In this role she applies her academic research to design innovative brands and business models for a new era of fashion. Jennifer completed her Ph.D. in fashion entrepreneurship at the University of the Arts London, London College of Fashion, where she explored the brand development and internationalization strategies of emerging fashion companies based in London and New York.

She is also the founder of the Austin Fashion Initiative, a social impact organization launched to enhance Austin's fashion ecosystem. She serves on the Independent Fashion Advisory Board (IFAB), an international collective of professionals advancing business transformation for fashion, retail and creative technology. Millspaugh is also a visiting scholar at Texas State University. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx