Lewis Perkins

Lewis Perkins is the President of the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), a collaboration of brands, manufacturers and industry stakeholders that came together to select, fund and scale high-impact projects that dramatically and measurably improve the sustainability outcomes of the apparel and footwear industry.
Previously Perkins was President of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) a non-profit organization focused on transforming the making and consumption of things into a regenerative force for the planet. At Cradle to Cradle, Perkins led the Institute’s Fashion Positive initiative taking the philosophy and practice of Cradle to Cradle and the circular economy to a whole new level. Prior to joining the C2CPII, Perkins served as Director of Sustainable Strategies for The Mohawk Group with a focus on driving marketing strategy and messaging for the commercial carpet manufacturer’s environmental initiatives.
A 7th generation Floridian, Perkins grew up in Tallahassee, where his family were early pioneers to the Territory, then State. Perkins holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on social responsibility from Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington & Lee University.
Perkins began his career at the High Museum of Art in 1993 working for W&L on a capital campaign. After graduating with a B.A. in art, Perkins became interested in philanthropy. Perkins' passion for sustainability and non-profit work has included strategic roles with organizations such as The Clean Air Campaign, 360i and US Web/CKS.
In 2001, Perkins first worked in the fashion industry, bringing Argentine designers to the United States. He founded the company, Central Business Aires with Argentine business woman, Gisela Tananbaum. Notable designers that were part of their collective include: Cecilia Gadea, Vero Ivaldi, Brandazza de Adurazz, Constanza y Eloisa and Varanasi.
Perkins joined Mohawk Industries as their Director of Sustainable Strategies. In 2012, he became the president of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. While there he launched the Fashion Positive Initiative with funding from Schmidt Philanthropies and the DOEN Foundation (of the Dutch Postcode Lottery). Fashion Positive led the vision, definition and use of safe and circular materials for the fashion industry with leadership and engagement from Kering, Loomstate, Outerknown,Mara Hoffamn, and M&S. 
As part of the project, Lewis Perkins presented artist, producer, musician Pharrell Williams, Head of Imagination at G-Star RAW, with the Cradle to Cradle Gold certification on January 31, 2018 in Los Angeles.
In 2018, Perkins was tapped to join the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) as its new President. Aii was co-founded by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) with significant financial support from Arvind Mills, Target and additional funding from Gap Inc., HSBC and PVH Corp. Aii identifies, funds, scales, and measures the apparel and footwear industry’s proven environment impact solutions. Today, Aii works in the supply chain of the aforementioned brands, as well as, Burberry, Columbia, Levi Strauss, and Puma.
Perkins is producing a docuseries on the future of the fashion industry through the eyes of the next generation of innovators, designers and problem-solvers. The project is in partnership with director and photographer Mark Leibowitz and designer and activist Domenica Leibowitz and was featured at the 2020 Vogue Forces of Fashion Summit and launched in conjunction with the 2020 Teen Vogue Summit.
* He has served as a ‘Fabric of Change’ Ashoka and Laudes Foundation Strategy Business and Industry Thought Leader
* Member of the H&M Global Change Award Expert Panel
* Design Mentor for both the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America)
* Panel member for Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Circular Fibres Initiative
* Perkins has also been a participant of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Consumption.
* In 2018, he was recognized by his undergraduate alma mater, with the Distinguished Alumni award.
* Advisory Board of Chemforward 
* Advisory Council of Fashion Positive
* Vogue Forces of Fashion, November 16-17, 2020 - Vogue's Tonne Goodman, along with the Apparel Impact Institute's President and CEO Lewis Perkins and designer and activist Domenica Leibowitz, talk about the opportunities – and the challenges – of sustainable production.
* Copenhagen Fashion Summit, May 2017, he moderated the Circular Economy panel joined in conversation by Dame Ellen MacArthur and Wendy Schmidt.
* At Copenhagen Fashion Summit, May 2016, Will technology save fashion? With Cyrill Gutsch, Shubhankar Ray, James Carnes, Lewis Perkins and Mira Duma.
* Mainstreaming Sustainability, July 10, 2019 - A Conversation with Changemakers at a Time of Change
Perkins lives in Oakland, California. 
Category:Emory University
Category:Lee University alumni
Category:Presidency of the United States