Fabricating the Future

October 6-7, 2022
New York City

According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is responsible for ten per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ranking it in the top 5 most polluting industries.

2022 began with a promise to change that. In February, New York State announced the "Fashion Act," that if passed, would make New York the first US state to hold fashion brands accountable for their climate change impact. This first-of-its-kind law  would force sustainability obligations on all apparel companies profiting more than $100 million in New York. Across the pond, the EU is passing its own legislation to curb unsustainable manufacturing, and designers all over the globe have begun experimenting with eco-friendly fabrics made from algae to pineapples.

This is a moment of decisive change. Governments, companies, and individuals are ready to propel the fashion and textile industry into a more sustainable future. Let's re-envision what it means to get dressed every day.

The FUTURE FORUM: Fabricating the Future brought together German and American scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to tell their stories.