Daria Shepetko has a long time being involved in Fashion Industry. She started to study at SSE Riga in order to give her contribution to change the fashion industry less polluting.

Conventional fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting industries with 10% of global CO2 emissions, 20% of the world’s industrial waste water and nearly 13 million tons of clothing sent to landfills annually. Upcycling is an approach where “waste” is used to create products with a higher retail value than traditional recycled products. Upcycling could be the next big thing in circular fashion as 50%-80% of material can be upcycled into new garments using the same facilities. UpDesign software that bridges the information gap between designers and manufacturers with AI analytics and design platform. The business model includes SaaS for designers/creators and licensing for manufacturers.
 


With UpDesign start-up idea Daria will certainly give her input into a needed change of fashion industry. Initial focus will be jeans (very polluting and easily disposable fabric, versatile and strong), cotton (easily upcycled). Making the green shift by reducing the CO2 emissions to reach the global climate goals is one of the biggest challenges for all countries and businesses in the coming 30 years. As fashion industry is currently a big polluter, then Daria’s business idea to start a business UpDesign is a very hot topic today and in the future. And even if it is hard to change the whole industry, it is still possible to start from small and grow it bigger.

Daria has been working in VC Industry in Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia during her studies. She has also been involved in SSE Riga student organisation – SSE Riga Investment Fund being a member of the Board. Daria has managed to earn great grades at SSE Riga.

The jury also saw Daria’s personality as being passionate and entrepreneurial. She has a clear vision of what she wants to do and is very committed. Daria is a worthy recipient of the Anders Wall SSE Riga Scholarship.

Scholarship acceptance speech by Daria Shepetko:

 

The Anders Wall Foundation, established in 1981, awards talented young individuals in the fields of natural science research, rural development, young entrepreneurship, international studies and music. Each year, one student from SSE Riga is awarded this generous scholarship.

More information can be found here www.wallstiftelsen.se.