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With 340 members across 125 countries, the United Nations Fashion & Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting drew creatives, Cascale members, and more to the UN in New York City.
Earlier this week, the United Nations Fashion & Lifestyle Network convened many of its 340 members from 125 countries at the UN headquarters in New York City for its annual meeting.
Cascale staff, members, and affiliates were strongly represented in the room. The event’s programming centered on everything from the wealth disparity of the climate crisis to fashion policy’s emergent state to the circular-minded designers zeroing in on waste.
Speakers included fashion designer Abrima Erwiah of Studio 189; Jean and Valerie, the dynamic New York duo behind the Idiosyncratic Fashionistas; Vestiaire Collective’s North America chief executive officer Samina Virk; Michelle Gabrielle, program director, M.S. sustainable fashion IE New York College; Patrick Duffy, founder of the Global Fashion Exchange; Federica Marchionni, CEO of the Global Fashion Agenda; and the Consul General of Sweden to New York, Erik Ullenhag; among others.
The Idiosyncratic Fashionistas made an appearance.
“This network was created as a platform for action,” underscored Annemarie Hou, executive director of the UN office of partnerships, in an opening keynote.
Attendees heard from many voices with one resounding call-to-action on creativity. “Let’s remember something essential – that we are still allowed to dream,” stated Kerry Bannigan, the UNFL network’s founder in an opening address. She urged the attendees that creativity must be met with responsibility.
And true to that, responsibility and accountability were key themes speakers addressed throughout the day. Studio 189’s Erwiah addressed the reality for many apparel suppliers who persistently face canceled orders and cost burdens.
In a separate session, Paul Frankenius of the Paul Frankenius Foundation spoke on futuristic themes while also drawing attention to the visual facelift on one aspect of the tour experience at the UN. His organization, along with the Consulate of Sweden, helped facilitate a more sustainable redesign of the UN tour guide uniform, which debuted at the event. The blue-and-gray uniforms incorporate elements like digital printing and Corozo buttons, as a sustainable alternative to synthetics. The collection is the first tied to the UN’s sustainability goals.
UN tour guide uniform reveal included a catwalk moment.
The SDGs and 2030 goals surfaced in many conversations with decent work for all – and a recommitment to sustainability in challenging times – being one special callout.
“It’s true companies are backing off and canceling sustainability but the industry can’t afford to back off,” said Thomas Matiz, global product sustainability, at Lenzing, a Cascale member.
“That’s when you have to double down on your value and your mission,” added Monica Santos, founder of the New York-based handbag label Santos by Monica, which uses cactus leather in its abstract designs. In a testament to many espoused sustainability values, she urged attendees to remain curious, embrace creativity, and see supplier relationships as longer term.
Cascale celebrates five-year, multi-stakeholder collaboration to shape credible sustainability standards
Cascale was proud to join global apparel and textile leaders in London for the official launch of the manufacturer-led Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI).
Cascale was deeply appreciative of ZDHC for recently having Carolina van Loenen, director of stakeholder engagement at Cascale, participate in ZDHC’s Convention Week event in Amsterdam.
