Sarah Ratty

Sarah Ratty FRSA is recognised as a leading voice in sustainability, design and regenerative innovation. Her career spans more than three decades and continues to influence how organisations think about materials, culture and long term environmental responsibility. As the Founder of Conscious Earthwear and Ciel, she has shaped the global conversation on sustainable fashion by proving that creativity, ethics and commercial success can sit comfortably together. Her approach blends clarity with intuition, using nature, technology and cultural insight to help audiences understand how design can guide meaningful climate action.

Sarah began her journey at Cambridge University, UAL Chelsea College of Art and the University of Bristol, grounding her work in both academic depth and artistic experimentation. In the 1990s she launched Conscious Earthwear, one of the earliest nature led fashion houses, using innovative fibres and repurposed materials long before they became industry staples. Its influence remains strong, with original pieces still loved for their distinct identity. In 2003 she founded Ciel, an award winning womenswear and lifestyle brand that placed ecological design at the heart of its collections. Sarah’s work sold internationally through Harrods, Anthropologie, Browns and Nordstrom, and was worn by well known figures such as Cate Blanchett and Cher.

Her design leadership extends into standards development, public engagement and institutional collaboration. Sarah contributed to the Global Organic Textile Standard as part of the Soil Association’s Working Textiles Committee, helping to shape a certification framework now used worldwide. Her work has been showcased in the V&A’s Fashioned from Nature exhibition and highlighted during the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. Sarah’s influence also runs through the wider sustainability movement. As Co-Founder and Chair of the Ethical Fashion Forum, now Common Objective, she supported emerging designers and partnered with organisations focused on environmental justice. Her awards include the Ethical Fashion Award presented by HRH Princess Anne and the British Chamber Award for Sustainable Business.

Today Sarah is a sought after keynote speaker and advisor who brings a clear and creative perspective to sustainability challenges. She has spoken at the Tate, COP26 and the United Nations, and recently captivated audiences at the Founders Games Future Forum 2024. Sarah uses real world examples to help organisations reimagine materials, rethink systems and build confidence in regenerative thinking. Her sessions encourage leaders to be curious, act with purpose and connect nature, culture and technology in ways that shape resilient futures.