Renay Wells
Sustainable Supply Chain & Impact Strategist · Yearn Swell
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
In My Own Words
Driving Innovation & Sustainability in Global Supply Chains
As a visionary leader in sustainable fashion, impact strategy, and ethical production, I specialize in transforming global supply chains to align with environmental integrity, circular design, and operational excellence.
With over a decade of experience spanning design, manufacturing, and responsible sourcing across Australia, the U.S., and Asia, I bridge creative and technical disciplines to drive measurable sustainability outcomes. My work empowers brands to reduce impact, improve transparency, and lead systemic change across the apparel and textile industry.
Core Expertise:
✅ Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy – Embedding ESG and circular economy principles into business operations through ethical sourcing, impact measurement, and life-cycle thinking.
✅ Textile & Manufacturing Innovation – Advancing cleaner production, material innovation, and factory transformation to reduce emissions and waste.
✅ Transformational Leadership – Building cross-functional alignment between design, production, and sustainability teams to foster innovation and accountability.
✅ Operational Excellence & Risk Mitigation – Enhancing production efficiency and supplier performance while aligning with corporate sustainability objectives.
I thrive in fast-paced, values-driven environments where purpose meets performance. My leadership style is collaborative, creative, and systems-oriented—shaping resilient businesses and a more equitable industry future.
Beyond my professional work, I’m an active sustainability advocate, coordinating community initiatives and coastal conservation projects that connect people, planet, and purpose.
Let’s collaborate to make sustainability the standard.
#SustainableSupplyChains #TextileInnovation #CircularEconomy #EthicalFashion #ESG #CleanerProduction #ImpactStrategy #SustainabilityLeadership #OperationalExcellence #SystemsChange
Work Experience
Fashion Brand Developer
Yearn Swell2008 – Present
Freelance development for fashion brands, from consulting to brand development.
Prototype pattern development, creation of specification sheets for local or offshore supply chain development.
Across all fabrications - knits, wovens, denim, leather/vegan leather, accessories such as bags, belts and hats etc.
First sample fit and comments, to enable your brand to deliver the highest quality product for your brand.
Fashion Impact Specialist
Fashion Impact Specialist2022 – Present
With 27 years of experience in fashion design, garment construction, offshore production, and sustainability, I guide fashion brands integrate truly sustainable practices into design, textile selection, and supply chain management.
Guiding companies toward ethical production practices that not only substantiate their sustainability claims but also position them for long-term success in a conscientious market.
My expertise is built on a foundation of hands-on industry experience and extensive academic research, enabling me to offer innovative, actionable solutions for businesses aiming to reduce their environmental and social impact.
As a global consultant and cleaner production specialist, I work as a change agent within organizations, leading teams to assess and reduce their environmental footprint from product conception to end-of-life disposal.
I specialize in a range of services to optimize supply chains and production processes, including:
Supply Chain Environmental Management (SCEM): Conducting detailed audits and factory reviews to ensure sustainability best practices.
Ethical Sourcing & Transparency: Designing programs to ensure your supply chains meet comprehensive ethical sourcing standards.
Cleaner Production (CP): Providing assessments and strategies to implement low-impact manufacturing methods.
Circular Economy Strategy: Creating tailored strategies for reducing waste and extending product life through redesign, reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycling.
With a strong foundation in garment construction and sustainability, I help brands achieve their sustainability goals and elevate operations, ensuring they lead the way in responsible fashion.
Chief Creative Officer
Miss Maneater Swimwear Australia2015 – 2022
Designing prints, pattern making, cutting, social media, brand development
Creative Director
maneater swimwear2010 – 2022
Designer of swimsuits, social media, pattern making, fabric cutter, sales, marketing
Swimwear Designer
Larimar swimwear2010 – 2022
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/Larimar TWITTER: https://twitter.com/LarimarSwimwear TUMBLR: http://larimarswim.tumblr.com/ INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/larimarswim PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/Larimarswim
Freelance Fashion Designer
Self-Employed Freelance Designer2008 – 2022
Swimwear is my speciality
Employed in the swim/surf industry since 1998, I am passionate about the lifestyle & translating trends into commercial, viable garments for Menswear, Ladieswear, Juniors & childrens.
Global Design/Production Co-ordinator
Hot Tuna (International) plc2008 – 2008
swim/surf designer, production of off-shore mass manufactured swim & surfwear garments
Head of Ladies Design
Cult Industries2005 – 2006
Designing of Ladieswear garments in all fabrications from denim, knitwear, woven, microfibre and stretchwear garments. Designing fashion and accessories for the surf industry. Team leader of 5 team members - Design team & merchandisers.
Assistant Designer
Jets Swimwear2004 – 2005
Assistant Designer roles included graphic illustration of CAD styles in Illustrator, creating yardage prints and embroidery on swimsuit garments, digital pattern creation and alteration in StyleCAD, cutting initial prototype sample patterns & fabric, fabric selection and ordering for production, creating bill of materials in Apparel 21, liasing with production, sample manufacturers and bulk production manufacturers.
Designer - 2Chillies
Sevcoy Pty Ltd2004 – 2004
Fashion design for swimwear, cover ups, boardshorts, rash vest and surf industry related garments. Creating yardage prints and placement prints for fashion garments for womens, juniors, teen and childrens garments. Offshore production of prints, strike-offs, prototype sample garments, sales samples, bulk production.
Production Manager
Hippies Pty Ltd2001 – 2001
Off-shore production of yogawear, underwear and activewear garments
Education
Certificate of Commercial and Office Fundamentals
Brisbane Institute of Training and Further Education1994 – 1994
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Griffith University2021 – 2024
Transitioning from intensive to trimester mode in 2023, my studies in the Master of Business Administration, will culminate early 2024.
Consulting and connecting with new and/or established firms, supply chains and governmental bodies, to enhance sustainability in all forms.
Industry experience within fashion and textiles has seen me expand my knowledge in cleaner production and the circular economy.
Undertaking policy advice, persuasion in policy-making, ignited my determination for chance. End 2023 I will enhance my studies with policy making and planning for climate change.
Over the last year I have become impassioned and petitioned aligned political parties to legislate for microfibre filters to be mandatory within both domestic and commercial laundering.
I look forward to taking that crucial issue to supply chains as a manufacturing requirement to achieve truly sustainable practices.
Degree in Textiles, Clothing & Footwear
Cooloola Sunshine Institute of Training and Further Education2002 – 2003
Certificate in Arts (Visual Art and Design)
Brisbane Institute of Training and Further Education1993 – 1993
Projects
EMS for Sustainable Textiles
https://zenodo.org/records/17103221This research explores the integration of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) into textile manufacturing to mitigate microfibre pollution and strengthen corporate accountability frameworks. It presents a lifecycle-based approach applicable to fashion brands and global supply chains seeking measurable sustainability outcomes.
Fashion Impact Specialist
https://fashionimpactspecialist.com/A professional portfolio showcasing my work in sustainable supply chain strategy, ethical fashion innovation, and global impact research. Includes consulting case studies, academic publications, and sustainability frameworks for the textile industry.
