At the end of January, I had the honor of representing Remake as an ambassador at the “Smart Fashion = Slow Fashion” Event during Madrid Fashion Week. Set inside one of Madrid’s most popular concept stores, El Paracaidista, the event gathered fashion changemakers together to discuss how the fashion industry can contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The event was organized by Mariel Jumpa of Slow Fashion World, El Paracaidista owner and The Circular Project Founder, Paloma Garcia, Moda Sostenible de Madrid MSMAD (Sustainable Fashion of Madrid), and Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España ACME (Association of Fashion Designers of Spain).
Throughout the day, changemakers spoke about diverse topics such as alternative materials (banana fibers, etc.) zero waste, and circular fashion models. I spoke about connecting the dots between women’s empowerment and conscious fashion, referencing item #5 on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality.
According to the United Nations, item #5 on the SDG’s is committed to eliminating discrimination against women and girls. This goal is a call to end all forms of violence, ensure that women have equal opportunities and participation in the political, economical, and public life, and overall, to adopt policies and practices that promote gender equality in all levels of society.
What does this have to do with the fashion industry? As it turns out, everything.