Climate Week 2024 has officially wrapped in NYC, and it seems it was a BUSY week! Leading minds behind today’s climate innovations across every industry gathered in the Big Apple to discuss topics ranging across Indigenous leadership and inclusion in the climate conversation, transparency in corporate climate action, nature being a key stakeholder (sounds obvious, but…), the role of AI in climate strategy, financing the transition, and combating misinformation, just to name a few!
Beyond these more broadly discussed topics, we were also pleased to see some events that focused on the impact of the fashion industry, led by key players like Global Fashion Agenda, Vogue, and FIT. From innovations in sustainable textiles to discussions around circular fashion, there’s no doubt that the fashion industry is beginning to claim its place amidst these global conversations.
Among the above-mentioned topics for discussion, here’s a round up of some of the fashion-focused events that stood out:
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (FIT)
The Fusion Fashion Tech Summit was held on Monday, 23 September 2024, at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) as part of Climate Week NYC. The event, aligned with the New York Fashion Act, EU Digital Product Passport, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focused on innovation and circularity in the fashion industry. Speakers from across the industry explored topics like AI, blockchain, Web3, and immersive storytelling as tools for revolutionizing fashion technology and sustainability. Attendees delved into how these advancements are reshaping the future of fashion.
GLOBAL FASHION AGENDA (GFA)
Global Fashion Agenda hosted the GFA Assembly during Climate Week NYC on Wednesday, 25 September 2024, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Nike NY HQ. The invitation-only event featured action-oriented roundtable discussions with fashion executives on key sustainability topics like circularity, regenerative agriculture, and policy. The assembly concluded with a networking lunch. Registration was required in advance for all attendees.
Global Fashion Agenda, in partnership with Climate Group, Ceres, and E.C.O. Equity, hosted a policy masterclass titled Threads of Pre-Election Policy on 25 September 2024, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Combo Office, NYC. The session focused on the California Responsible Textile Recovery bill and how public-private partnerships could help build infrastructure for responsible fashion. Key speakers included Yana Garcia and Eric Liedtke. Registration was required in advance.
Global Fashion Agenda, in partnership with Parsons School of Design and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, hosted an invitation-only roundtable on Responsible Fashion Education during Climate Week NYC on 26 September 2024, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at Parsons’ School of Fashion Hub. The roundtable focused on integrating sustainability into design education and establishing standards to guide responsible practices in fashion schools.
Global Fashion Agenda proudly hosted a ‘Leaders in Purpose’ event with Purpose Collective World to round off #ClimateWeekNYC. The intimate gathering of fashion visionaries and sustainability leaders aimed to build collaborations to drive change.
VOGUE
Fashion Futures, hosted by Vogue Business, took place on Thursday, 26 September at Chelsea Factory, New York, from 1:30 pm to 7 pm. Industry leaders and tech innovators discussed the future of fashion through keynote conversations, panel discussions, and startup showcases focused on AI, sustainability, and circular business models.
SWISSNEX // PARSONS SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN
Swissnex and Parsons’ School of Art and Design History and Theory hosted Round 2 of the Climate Ring on 25 September 2024, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Performance Space New York. The boxing-themed event featured a panel discussion on how the fashion industry can reshape itself in response to climate change, exploring sustainable materials, upcycling, and creative reuse. Speakers included representatives from Parsons School of Design and Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève).
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY // BARNARD COLLEGE // CLIM-EAT
Forward Food & Fashion took place on Thursday, 26 September 2024, at Columbia University’s Forum. Hosted by Columbia University, Barnard College, and Clim-Eat, the event explored the vital intersections between the food and fashion industries and their impact on sustainability in a changing climate. Speakers, including Dhanush Dinesh of Clim-Eat and Jess Fanzo of Columbia Climate School, examined how agricultural practices and textile production present overlapping challenges and opportunities. The event aimed to inspire a movement toward a future where food and fashion are symbols of both style and environmental responsibility.
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While those in the fashion industry understand the many ways that fashion intersects with the conversations and topics being addressed at Climate Week NYC, we can’t help but notice that fashion as a whole seems to be flying under the radar in comparison to other industries.
Despite the fact that fashion is interconnected with just about every aspect of the climate emergency, from global supply chains, water usage & pollution, emissions, circularity & waste management, human rights, toxins & chemical pollution, policy & legislation, etc., it seems to often get overlooked.
For reference, an extremely comprehensive guide by Alec Turnbull, Sonam Velani, and Streetlife Ventures breaks down various Climate Week events into 24 categories; adaptation, aI & data, arts & culture, biodiversity & nature, buildings, carbon dioxide removal, carbon markets & accounting, circular economy & waste management, cities, climate tech & startups, communications, corporate sustainability, energy, environmental justice, fashion, finance, food & agriculture, fun for kids, health, mobile & logistics, policy, philanthropy, social, and water. Of these 24 categories, the one with the lowest number of events listed is fashion – by a lot! While the average number of events listed throughout all other categories landed at roughly 30, fashion had only 2. Of course, there were many events not included in this list, just as we’re sure it didn’t hit every event in other categories – but interesting nonetheless.
In 2023, in fact, Vogue made a point of talking about the under-representation of the fashion industry at Climate Week NYC by saying that ‘if the industry doesn’t pull up a seat at the table, it risks getting left behind’, and we can’t help but agree. So why, a whole year later, are we having the same conversation?
Although Fashion Takes Action wasn’t on the ground in NYC this year, our dedication to pushing the conversation forward is strong. We’re energized by the work being done, are using our platform to amplify it, and are committed to ensuring that fashion plays a bigger role in future climate discussions.
We’d like to propose a few possible reasons to prioritize this growth in 2025:
- It’s a great opportunity to Connect.
In a review of our 2023 WEAR Conference, Alden Wicker of EcoCult.com wrote that ‘the dirty secret of sustainable fashion conferences is that most of their value is in the cocktail hour afterward, when people are tipsy and honest and connections are made’. And, ‘with the exception of WEAR’, we think there’s some truth to this. There are very few opportunities, especially given the context of this very blog piece, for people in the sustainable fashion space to get together and discuss – and Climate Week NYC could be one of those opportunities.
- It’s a great opportunity to Learn.
Contrary to the above, Climate Week NYC provides a unique, cross-sector learning opportunity. And, with fashion-specific events, having people from across industries come together can really accelerate the change we need to see in fashion. From incoming legislative changes and financial reporting, to regenerative agriculture practices in the supply chain, designing for circularity, and so much more, this is an amazing opportunity to work together to make change.
- It’s a great opportunity to Innovate, and get ahead.
Here at Fashion Takes Action, we are big believers in not duplicating efforts (see our Canadian Circular Textiles Consortium (CCTC), for example). There are so many innovative solutions that already exist or are in the works, and it is often much more efficient and cost-effective to collaborate, and take advantage of that innovation to get ahead. Climate Week NYC could act as that bridge. Whether it be material innovation, existing textile waste management solutions, take-back & mending programs, etc., – there is no need to reinvent the wheel.
Climate Week NYC offers fashion the unique opportunity to focus in and get specific about the changes it needs, while taking advantage of cross-industry expertise, insight, connections, and innovation.
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If you are interested in learning more about our initiatives here at FTA, or collaborating to bring fashion to the forefront of the conversation – we’d love to chat! Please give us a shout at info@fashiontakesaction.com.
