Last night I attended a lecture on sustainable fashion and the implications to the environment of our current production models. Coming from a sister industry (interior design) I wasn’t sure what to expect from the panel, but the depth of knowledge was fantastic and thought provoking. It’s inspired me to look more closely at the supply chains that I work with and what their impact on the environment is. Below is an overview of the program, but I would encourage you to look into The Sustainability Practice Network www.sustainabilitypractice.net and The Brooklyn Fashion & Design Accelerator www.bkaccelerator.com
Moderator: Debera Johnson, Executive Director, Brooklyn Fashion & Design Accelerator; Executive Director, Pratt Center for Sustainable Design;
Panelists:
Kate Daly, Executive Director, Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners
Mara Hoffman, Founder, Mara Hoffman
Megan Meiklejohn, Sustainable Materials & Transparency Manager, Eileen Fisher
Meghan Ryan, Manager, Advisory Services, BSR, Founder of Sourcemap
Sustainable fashion — the alternative to fast fashion — compels us to rethink the way we buy and sell our clothes. Falling under the umbrella, or may we say parasol of sustainable design, this design ethos emphasizes the environmental and social impact of how we choose to dress and furthermore, how these choices are inextricably linked to the present and future well-being of our planet and civil society. The current global clothing supply chain touches all aspects of sourcing, producing and manufacturing, often resulting in multi-national corporations which employ methods that drive prices down but fail to reflect the true costs on society. Now eco-conscious players like Eileen Fisher, Stella McCartney, and Patagonia, are disrupting the fashion market to provide sustainable alternatives — garments with a longer lifespan and a smaller carbon footprint that minimize environmental impact.
Please join our panel of experts to explore how we can support the emergence of sustainable fashion as a stronger sub-sector within the industry.
Co-Sponsored by:
The Sustainability Practice Network (SPN) is a New York based inter-disciplinary community of professionals who seek to learn and share knowledge to advance sustainable development across sectors and disciplines. We mobilize our members to practice sustainability in their lives and work. Our mission is to raise awareness of the importance of individual and corporate sustainability and thereby create a more stable and equitable world.
