Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference USA

3rd - 4th June 2026

New York City, USA

Jimmy Summers

Vice President, EHS and Sustainability

Elevate Textiles

Jimmy Summers is the Vice President of Environment, Health, and Safety, and Chief Sustainability Officer at Elevate Textiles, Inc., manufacturer of distinguished fabric brands and thread solutions for automotive, apparel (including denim), interior furnishing, and specialty products. He is responsible for the EHS and Sustainability programs for the company’s 40 manufacturing facilities and support facilities throughout the world.

Jimmy has worked in the textile and apparel industry for over 25 years, both in manufacturing and corporate positions. Summers has significant experience in managing textile wastewater treatment systems around the world, including the design and start-up of new and upgraded systems. He has experience in implementation of corporate energy management programs across manufacturing facilities.He is a member of the ZDHC Board of Directors and the ZDHC Wastewater Council of ZDHC. He is on the Higg FEM Strategic Council of Cascale. Jimmy is currently the Vice Chair of the Environmental Committee of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, and Chairman of the Standards Steering Committee of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.Jimmy earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, and a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Clemson University.

Jimmy Summers 's sessionsView full agenda

Day 0

Time
Session title
Session type
17:00 - 18:00
Day 1

Time
Session title
Session type
11:05 - 11:45
Plenary
11:45 - 12:30
Collapsing the E and S in ESG: Protecting workers’ rights in the push to net-zero 
Sourcing Journal | Global Labor Institute, Cornell University ILR School | Fair Labor Association
Plenary
13:00 - 14:00
14:00 - 14:45
15:15 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:30
16:30 - 17:15
17:15 - 18:15
Day 2

Time
Session title
Session type
10:05 - 11:00
The reality of resale, repair, rental: Can circular business models actually scale to compete with the linear system? 
Nuuly | Tersus Solutions | GUESS inc. | Yale University | Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Plenary
11:00 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:10
T2T targets: Would a fully recycled closed textiles loop truly benefit everyone? 
The Crisis of Stuff | Bank & Vogue | Reju | EILEEN FISHER
Plenary
12:10 - 12:45
Regenerative cotton: If it really is a win-win for all, why is it not more widespread? 
Spruell Farms | Victoria's Secret & Co | COTTON USA™ and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Case study
12:45 - 13:45
13:45 - 15:15
15:15 - 15:45
Key takeaways and closing remarks 
Parsons School of Design