Asia-focused NGO Redress has partnered with the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network to call on the global fashion brands to work toward attaining UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At a panel discussion held in New York City last week, representatives from both groups discussed the challenges in sustainability and social responsibility that must be addressed by the greater global fashion industry. Those issues include intersectional environmental justice, cultural identity, social inequality, gender inequality, overconsumption and textile waste colonialism.
“Fashion must be more than just creativity and commerce,” said Dr. Christina Dean, founder of Redress. “Fashion needs more of an ethical heart and soul to address our planetary challenges. There are countless inspiring brands globally making more than just clothes; they are making positive impacts at various Sustainable Development Goals. From consumers to investors, we must spotlight and empower these businesses to give them a rightful seat at the global fashion table.”
During the delegation meeting, Redress and the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network called for support of established ethical and responsible fashion and lifestyle brands that already work to achieve multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, often in far-reaching, developing world supply chains.
While supporting those who are doing the work, the groups also pointed to Asia as a market ripe for stronger efforts to improve sustainability and social responsibility. According to Redress and the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network, Asia accounts for some 60 percent of global exports of garments and textiles, and approximately 60 million workers are employed in garment manufacturing across the continent. Asia has been hit hard by climate change, with the region heating faster than the global average.
“The Philippines is awash with a modern textile waste colonialization, from post consumer to industry waste,” said Jann Christian Lim Bungcaras, founder, creative director and designer of Jann Bungcaras Fashion House in the Philippines. “And as a developing country, we should not be seen as a dumping ground for waste.”
Redress—which leads a global network of ethical fashion designers who are alums of its sustainable design competition—marked the event as its official entree into the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network. Individual Redress competition alumni designers Bungcaras, Damini Mittai, Isabella Li Kostrzewa, Aashita Jain, Ruyin Tian, Aarushi Kilawat, Ruwanthi Gajadeera, Livia Aguiar de Castro, Louise Boase, Rachel Clowes, Rose Brown, Magdalena Malbran and Silvia Acién Parrilla also joined the organization.
The UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network was established to enable collaboration between industries and the United Nations system to accelerate innovation and knowledge-sharing, while elevating the contributions of members driving positive impact worldwide that have significant global traction.
“As the United Nations Secretary-General reminded us on the International Day of Zero Waste, fashion must make good sense for both people and planet,” said Kerry Bannigan, co-founder of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network and president of the board, PVBLIC Foundation. “Fashion significantly influences numerous aspects of society, from employment and gender equality to innovation and cultural expression. The choices we make in this sector today profoundly affect the world we live in tomorrow.”
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