Speakers

Jo Black is CEO of bbase Design Group, a leading fashion eyewear production and design studio. As CEO, Black brings her expertise across manufacturing and distribution of market-targeted and bespoke eyewear programs for lifestyle, fashion brands and multi-door retailers across more than 65 countries. Since taking on the CEO role in 2021, Black has spearheaded fundamental changes in bbase’s vendor supply model. The initiatives that Black has set forth with her team aim at driving sustainability and innovation in the fashion eyewear industry as well as bring to life the world of bbase through the stories and insights shared. Creative content drives multiple efforts to amplify and digitally share the bbase experience. This includes their annual trend forecast, the State of the Vision, the bow Index; an industry-first tool that provides comparative analysis into select certified recycled and biodegradable materials for eyewear and which provides data for their first NFT collection, bb20. incubbase mentors the next generation of designers and anchors them into sustainable design for eyewear, providing the opportunity to learn through bbase’s innovation space and with opportunities to connect with global changemakers, trailblazers and industry experts. Most recently, Black has introduced orbb studio to the business, which opens the door to walk retailers and brands into the world of Web3. With Black at the helm, bbase’s ethos and vision is communicated through the content narratives of each strategic initiative launched and introduced. Black is focused on continuing to advance on bbase’s environmental responsibility journey to 2025, making a positive impact on people, planet, and partners.