By PAGE Editor

The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network hosted its annual meeting, co-convened by the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Fashion Impact Fund, on June 1, 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

The meeting, with supporting partners Calik Denim, Lenzing, Renewcell, and The LYCRA Company, brought together more than 150 media, industry stakeholders, and United Nations representatives to highlight actions, solutions, and progress from the fashion and lifestyle sectors to advance knowledge and strengthen engagement to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ciara, the Grammy Award-winning music icon, entrepreneur and philanthropist, discussed how her B Corp fashion brand ‘The House of LR&C’ has built sustainability, give back, and gender equity in from the beginning. 

Kerry Bannigan, Co-Founder, United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network and Executive Director, Fashion Impact Fund, shared in the welcome remarks: “To date, the Network has over 200 members in 64 countries who have pledged over 1200 commitments to the SDGs. Today's meeting provides a platform for global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to share their insights and experiences towards creating a more equitable and just sector, that in turn will transform communities for people and planet.”

In her opening remarks, Annemarie Hou, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Partnerships commented, “The presence of so many powerful voices and influencers here gives me huge hope that the industry can become part of the solution.”

Given the significant impact of the fashion and lifestyle sectors on society and the environment, the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network 2023 annual meeting reviewed how the platform is dedicated to fostering transparent, inclusive, and transformative engagement of global stakeholders to drive urgent action for sustainability. 

Industry advocates, changemakers and voices at the annual meeting included Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist, ABC News; Steven Kolb, Chief Executive Officer, Council of Fashion Designers of America; Camilla Mellander, Consul General of Sweden in New York; Isabella Marras, Senior Programme Management Officer – Interagency Affairs, United Nations Environment Programme; Beate Andrees, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director, International Labour Organization Office for the United Nations; Ursula Wynhoven, Representative to the United Nations, ITU; Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO, Copenhagen Fashion Week;  Saad Amer, Founder and CEO, Justice Environment;  and Ngozi Okaro, Executive Director, Custom Collaborative; Madhu Vaishnav, Founder and Director, Saheli Women; Nkwo Onwuka, Founder and Creative Director, NKWO; Omar Salam, Founder, Designer and Creative Director, SUKEINA; Omoyemi Akerele, Founder and CEO, Lagos Fashion Week; Niccolò Sbaraglia, Head of Commercial Development, Polimoda; Laurence Carr, CEO and Creative Director, Laurence Carr, Inc.

The annual meeting reception, supported by Seedlip, included a Solutions Showcase highlighting network members sustainable best practices and innovations from Avocado, Calik Denim, Global Fashion Exchange, Lenzing, Made Trade, Nuba Arts x The Canvas, The House of LR&C and The LYCRA Company.
For more information about the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network please visit https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/action-networks/conscious-fashion-and-lifestyle-network

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