Third UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting is set to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goals in fashion and lifestyle sectors
New York, 31 May 2024– The United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Fashion Impact Fund will hold the third UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting on Monday, 3 June 2024. This event will provide an important platform to highlight collaborative efforts in advancing partnerships and initiatives that foster sustainability within the fashion and lifestyle industries.
The annual meeting serves as a crucial platform to convene advisory committee members, registered partnerships, industry stakeholders, leaders, media representatives, and UN officials to showcase impactful actions and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a focus on increasing sector engagement in implementing the SDGs, this year's meeting will address significant challenges across various sectors, including fashion, apparel, textiles, jewelry, lifestyle, and travel.
The fashion industry is responsible for approximately ten percent of global carbon emissions and nearly 20 percent of wastewater production. The lifestyle sector, encompassing home goods and travel, significantly contributes to resource depletion and environmental degradation. However, these two industries are also taking actions to be a bigger part of the solution.
Among the participants will be Dr. Karin Landahl, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Swedish School of Textiles, who will announce a new and innovative collaboration between the School and the United Nations.
Speaking about this new collaboration, Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships, said: "Partnerships are the driving force behind the Sustainable Development Goals, converting shared goals into transformative action. Our collaboration with the young creatives of the Swedish School of Textiles on sustainable clothing for the UN tour guides is a prime example. It not only raises awareness about global sustainability challenges but also offers tangible solutions, all while putting a premium on partnerships. This is precisely what we need to deliver the promise of the Global Goals.”
Ahead of the Summit of the Future in September and with six years left until 2030 to deliver on the promise of the SDGs, this year's meeting will put a spotlight on sector-specific challenges and opportunities, with discussions on fostering knowledge exchange and strategic collaborations.
Also participating in the event will be representatives from the fashion and lifestyle industries, including Swarovski, Parsons School of Design, Swedish School of Textiles, UNESCO, UNWTO, and United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network 2024 thought partners Calik Denim, Lenzing, Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network, Recover, The LYCRA Company, Theory and U.S Cotton Protocol.
Previous meetings of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting have attracted more than 150 stakeholders, including influential figures and representatives from leading media outlets such as Business of Fashion, Sourcing Journal, Vogue, and WWD. This year's meeting promises to build on this momentum, further amplifying the message of sustainability to a global audience.
For media inquiries and registration details, please contact
Mariana Mellado at mariana@sdgpartnerships.org
About the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network
The United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network is a collaboration between the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Fashion Impact Fund, dedicated to advancing sustainable development goals within the fashion and lifestyle sectors. For more information, visit [https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/action-networks/conscious-fashion-and-lifestyle-network].