LS&Co.’s Bart Sights Named a 2016 Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow

When it comes to seeking individuals who are driving innovations within their companies while positively impacting the lives of consumers, employees and communities, Levi Strauss & Co.’s Bart Sights’ title says it all.
As the Vice President of Technical Innovation for LS&Co., Bart leads the Eureka Innovation Lab where he oversees research and development efforts around apparel fiber, fabric, fit and finish. His revolutionary work is what drew the attention of the Aspen Institute’s First Movers Fellowship Program, which just named him as one of this year’s Fellows.
The First Movers Fellowship Program – housed within the Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC – is comprised of intrapreneurs who are working within companies to help solve the world’s most challenging social and environmental problems. This year’s class represents a diverse set of companies and functional responsibilities, such as finance, public affairs, business development and talent management.
The first year of the program includes three seminars built around the core themes of innovation, leadership, reflection and community.
This isn’t the first recognition for Levi Strauss & Co. Last year, Anna Walker, senior director of global policy and advocacy, was selected, and in 2012, Paul Dillinger, head of global product innovation for Levi Strauss & Co., was chosen.
“We are excited to welcome Bart into the First Movers community,” says Nancy McGaw, creator and director of the First Movers Fellowship Program. “Levi Strauss & Co. is a leading company in sustainable design and innovation, and we are proud to have another Fellow from the company represented in this year’s class.”
Bart is a native of Henderson, Kentucky, where he worked in a family denim business for 22 years. He has lived and worked in Bangalore, India and Istanbul, Turkey. As a life long denim buff, Sights draws inspiration from the unique heritage and authenticity of his company and its legendary brands. He is motivated by the challenge of reinterpreting that heritage into new products that still have consumer relevance today and in the future.