In this very special episode of Ellie.Talks, our CEO and founder Julie Lietaer sits down with someone you may already know from behind the scenes: our community manager Amélie. This time, she’s switching sides of the microphone to share exclusive insights into what’s next for Ellie.Connect.
From reflections on the first half of the year to exciting platform updates and a look ahead to Fall 2025, this episode is all about future-proofing the textile and fashion industry together.
Why Amélie is in the spotlight
Amélie kicks off by explaining why she’s our guest this time:
- As community manager, she’s usually the first point of contact for members, explaining tools, helping solve challenges, and connecting people.
- After a busy summer behind the scenes, it’s the perfect moment to recap the insights we’ve gathered from across the industry.
- And most importantly: she’s here to reveal what’s coming next for the Ellie.Connect platform.
What shaped Ellie’s roadmap this year
Over the summer, the Ellie team went on a “listening tour”, interviewing stakeholders across the textile value chain, from waste managers to CEOs. The goal? To better understand their daily challenges, needs, and missing links.
What became clear: many of Ellie’s existing tools already hit the right notes, but needed more focus and development. Together with our partner Datascouts, we’ve now turned those insights into a concrete roadmap.
Fall 2025: New tools & communities
Here’s what you can expect in the coming months:
- Smarter matchmaking: Challenges posted on the platform will now come with a shortlist of the 3–5 most relevant partners, making collaboration faster and easier.
- Communities 2.0: Beyond the main Ellie community, we’ve launched topic-focused spaces (like Belgium & The Netherlands and Effective Communication) where members can connect, exchange challenges, and access expert-led content.
- A better knowledge base: Our information hub is getting a full redesign, with more structure, expert-verified content, and easier navigation.
Sustainability as our North Star
Amélie also reflects on how Ellie defines sustainability: not just as compliance, but as resilience and future-proofing.
“For us, sustainability is the North Star of the industry. A sustainable company is one that is ready for the future, resilient, innovative, and collaborative.”
Through tools, knowledge, and connections, Ellie aims to help members navigate economic, legislative, and operational challenges while staying focused on long-term impact.
What’s next: Autumn events & beyond
Besides digital updates, Ellie is also preparing a strong lineup of in-person events this autumn, with a focus on:
- Technology and efficiency (AI, data, and innovative tools)
- Strategic insights to strengthen future-proof business models
And Amélie’s dream for the future? That Ellie.Connect becomes the first platform textile professionals open each morning, their go-to place for challenges, inspiration, and collaboration.
👉 Listen to the full episode on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube.
👉 Want to explore the updated platform? Visit ellieconnect.com.