Good Fashion Fund joins "Missing Middle" panel at Davos Climate Hub
Published: 22 January 2026
On 19 January 2026, Bob Assenberg, Fund Director of the Good Fashion Fund, joined the panel The Missing Middle: Driving the Just Transition within Supply Chains at the Climate Hub in Davos, hosted by the Laudes Foundation.
Bob was joined on the panel by Gauri Sharma, Olivia Villette, and Valerie K., with the discussion moderated by Leslie Johnston.
The conversation highlighted a persistent structural imbalance in global fashion supply chains. While brands often set the pace and direction of sustainability efforts, manufacturers are expected to invest in cleaner production and better working conditions, frequently without long-term offtake certainty, structural brand partnerships, or access to appropriate capital.
The Good Fashion Fund is a blended finance fund providing patient capital and targeted support to apparel manufacturers in India and Bangladesh, enabling them to invest in impactful, fit-for-purpose equipment while strengthening social performance. Initiated by the Laudes Foundation and Fashion for Good, and managed by FOUNT, the fund is now fully invested.
During the panel, Bob shared two practical examples of how this approach works: financing high-quality second-hand equipment to reduce water, energy, and chemical use; and a KPI-linked loan structure that rewards progress on social outcomes, including the training and promotion of female workers, through reduced interest rates.
Looking ahead, the message was clear: compliance alone will not drive transformation. Progress depends on more balanced partnerships between brands and suppliers, and on a just transition that combines decarbonisation with meaningful social and gender outcomes.
FOUNT thanks the Laudes Foundation and GreenUp Switzerland for convening this important discussion.
š„ Watch the conversation here (from 2:05:00).