Change Fashion Challenge Forum and Workshop

The Change Fashion Challenge (CFC) focuses on creating innovation to pioneer the future of fashion and create a new sustainable ecosystem in the fashion industry.  This means innovation throughout the entire product lifecycle, toward a circular and regenerative model -- changing the way garments are designed and produced, shipped, bought, used and recycled by introducing disruptive science and technology and new business models.

The Change Fashion Forum and Workshop was an invitation-only event bringing together leaders from the fashion industry, academia, and non-profit organizations to begin the development of a prioritized sustainable fashion research agenda and roadmaps for the priority areas identified in the agenda.

Final Report

Blueprint for Change: Five Priorities

Keynote Presentations

Simon Collins

Miroslava Duma

Working Group Sessions

The Working Group Sessions covered five stages in the circular ecosystem of the fashion industry:

Session A: Materials

Spider silk, orange silk, lab and yeast grown leather, textiles and materials made of leather, cork, pineapple, apples, etc… what’s next! We will discuss and debate what is working and where the gaps lie in the world of material science in order to better understand and create new materials which are safe for the environment, affordable, and can be delivered at scale. Where can we apply more science-based solutions for maximum impact?

Working Group Chairs

Pirjo Kääriäinen, Professor, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture & School of Chemical Engineering

Claudia Richardson, Materials Innovation, Patagonia; MIT Materials Engineer

Amanda Johnston, Associate Lecturer, Sustainable Materials Research and Curation, London College of Fashion; Consultant, Sustainable Angle

Group Presentation

Session B: Production/Manufacturing

How can we create a more sustainable production and manufacturing process? What will that look like? How can science and research help provide the answers? Closely aligned with materials and the entire supply chain, this Working Group will look specifically at the process of producing and manufacturing denim and speakers, including how we can create a dye process that is non-toxic and safe for the environment.

Working Group Chairs

Katarina Rimarcikova, Senior Lecturer and Subject Leader, London College of Fashion; Co-Founder, Align Creative Studios; Head of Design, Body Agent

Scott Echols, Programme Director ZDHC Foundation

Laura Hall, Partner, Collective Growth Partners

Group Presentation

Session C: Retail and Consumer

What are the myths surrounding consumer behavior and attitudes towards sustainability? How can we educate consumers to shop more sustainability and be more aware of their purchasing power? Is consumerism the real issue or can brands change their systems approach while driving more profit and changing consumer behavior? This Working Group will focus on myths, education, as well as the overall cost of sustainability both on the consumer and brand side.

Working Group Chairs

Nina Farran, CEO, Fashionkind

Mark Sumner, PhD, Lecturer in Sustainability, Retail & Fashion, School of Design, University of Leeds

Group Presentation

Session D: Supply Chain

The supply chain encompasses the entire life cycle of a product from the sources of raw materials, the factories where those materials are made into garments, and the distribution networks in which those garments are brought to the consumer. This Working Group will focus on how we define the supply chain and what are the economics behind it?  Especially considering what the barriers are to enabling science and technology sustainability in the fashion supply chain.

Working Group Chairs

Hamid Rashid, Chief, Global Economic Monitoring, UN DESA

Martin Smith, COO, Katsu TechStyle

Group Presentation

Session E: Closing the Loop (Re+Upcycling)

With a lens on circularity, we will address current innovations and gaps in closed loop solutions for fashion, apparel and textiles.  What can we do with all forms of waste, what can we create and what scientific solutions should be brought forward to help drive innovative and disruptive closed loop solutions to create a more sustainable future?

Working Group Chairs

Natasha Franck, CEO EON Group

Karen Leonas, PhD, Professor, Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, North Carolina State University

Group Presentation

Each Session is co-chaired by a member of the CFC Advisory Board and a member of the CFC Scientific Advisory Group.

Note: Registrants for the free Workshop will automatically be registered for the evening reception on June 27th at no charge.

This is an invitation-only event. If you have not received a personal invitation and are interested in participating, please submit a request to Chenelle Bonavito Martinez, Director, Policy, Evaluation & Transformation Group (cbonavito@nyas.org). Please indicate your qualifications for favorable consideration as a participant in and contributor to this meeting.