About the Author
Maxine Bédat is the founder and director of New Standard Institute, a think and do tank using data
to drive systems change. Maxine is a central drafter of the New York Fashion Act and a leader of the
coalition championing it. She is also the author of the book, UNRAVELED: The Life and Death of a
Garment, a Financial Times Book of the Year, which has been translated into several languages.
Prior to NSI, Maxine co-founded and was the CEO of Zady, a fashion brand and lifestyle destination
creating a transparent and sustainable future for the apparel industry. Bédat has been recognized
by Fast Company in its Most Creative in Business, Vogue Business in its 100 Innovators, and
Business of Fashion’s BoF 500, the definitive index of people shaping the global fashion industry,
and Oprah’s Super Soul 100, for leaders elevating humanity. Bédat began her career in international
law working at the Rwandan Criminal Tribunal and Allen & Overy, and received a Juris Doctor with
honors from Columbia Law School.