Lead Strategist & Founder

Katia Dayan Vladimirova, PhD

My work is built on a single, powerful premise: that fashion's future must be designed beyond the paradigm of resource-intensive growth. I am a strategist and researcher who pioneered the application of Degrowth and Sufficiency frameworks to the fashion industry, providing a new logic for its transformation. My journey from foundational climate ethics to on-the-ground practice has equipped me with a unique ability to translate groundbreaking theory into actionable strategy.

The 'Why' (Theoretical Foundation)

It began with a master’s degree from London School of Economics (2010) and a double PhD in Climate Ethics & Politics from LUISS Guido Carli University (2014), followed by roles at the UN Division for Sustainable Development (2013) and UNESCO (2015). This provided a deep, systemic understanding of global sustainability challenges and policy-making, forming the intellectual bedrock from which I first forged the critical connection between Degrowth and fashion.

The 'Who' (Ecosystem & Influence)

To validate and amplify these ideas, I built the International Research Network on Sustainable Fashion Consumption, growing it from 5 to 140+ experts, becoming a community of reference in the field and settling in its institutional home at Yale University in 2025. Simultaneously, I became a trusted advisor to the ecosystem of actors shaping the industry's future through policy, including the European Commission, G7, and UNECE.

The 'How' (Ground-Truth Practice)

To pressure-test these theories in the most direct way, I founded and built an award-winning startup, Well Rounded (2022), creating a pioneering line of plastic-free children's underwear. This provided a brutal and invaluable education in the real-world constraints and opportunities of circular design and innovation, supply chain building, and product development.

When you work with me, you are not just hiring a consultant. You are gaining a strategist who sees the entire board—the academic theories, the policy levers, the business realities, and the global network of players—and can help you navigate it all to build a resilient, post-growth future.