UBM Fashion's ReMode has proudly collaborated with the Conscious Fashion Campaign and the United Nations Office for Partnerships to support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, unveiling an activation within COTERIE at the Javits Center, September 15th through 17th. The initiative aims to harness the power of retailers, media and celebrities to embrace impact-driven fashion brands to create positive change and drive conscious consumerism.
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030. Click on any specific Goal below to learn more about each issue.
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CONSCIOUS FASHION CAMPAIGN SHOWCASE
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See below for a list of featured Conscious Fashion Campaign brands showcased on the show floor, and read more about how they are working towards integrating sustainability principles and driving advocacy around a new paradigm in fashion.
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AMUR
@amurofficial
AMUR stands for A MINDFUL USE OF RESOURCES, and has repurposed 5,409 pounds of 100% post consumer plastic waste in the form of recycled yarns.
Philosophy
AMUR was born from the concept that great style does not have to come at the expense of our environment—and that design can strike a balance between beauty and good intentions. It’s an approach that’s woven into their very name: A Mindful Use of Resources. That mindfulness originates with a shift in their thinking—about the way they design, the materials they select, and their impact on the environment.
Design
Each collection is created, first and foremost, to bring something new, special, and lasting into the world—not just fashion as usual. In this era of disposable clothes, they focus on true statement pieces—tailored with strong lines, a feminine personality, and a sense of quality that endures, season after season.
Resources
Their commitment to sustainability goes down to the fiber itself. They work closely with suppliers to source and create one-of-a-kind fabrics that are as luxurious as they are conscientious. Each season, this starts with natural textiles—both for their airy, second-skin feel and their ecological advantages. Within this category, we incorporate certified organic cotton and silk, along with staple fibers like hemp and linen, which require very little water or fertilizer to grow. They also include forest-friendly cellulosic materials like cupro, a soft and silky fabric made from reclaimed cotton linter. The third pillar of their collection is regenerated textiles—waste material spun into fiber, used to form fine fabrics and trims.
Throughout the process, they look at various ecological aspects. Where does the raw material come from? Does a mill implement energy-saving practices? There are many ways to measure a garment’s environmental impact, but if it’s not in some way an improvement on the status quo, it’s not in the collection.
Community
Sustainability is a human issue, too, and AMUR is committed to supporting the work of artisans and empowering their communities. For the debut collection, they partnered with NEST, the nonprofit fair-trade organization, to develop hardware in collaboration with artisans in India and Vietnam; future collections will celebrate the work of makers’ collectives worldwide.
They believe that fashion is a powerful platform for positive global change—that the way they dress influences the way we live, now and in the future. Sustainability is a process, and we’re learning by doing. Knowing it goes beyond the choice of materials, they're committed to doing their best, season after season.
B. Yellowtail
@byellowtail
B. Yellowtail has partnered with the Indigenous Arts Institute (a 501c3 - inarts.org) to create a grant fund for indigenous art-entrepreneurs who are enrolled members tribal citizens. A percentage of their retail sales go to this fund.
“She Represents” is an initiative we launched to support Native Women running for office (58 as of today). The initiative was created to raise visibility and address the need to have Native American representation in elected and appointed offices throughout the country. Profit from the B.YELLOWTAIL “She Represents” merchandise will go to “Advanced Native Political Leadership Action Fund” to support a host of Native Candidates running for office this year.
95% of their garments are manufactured in Los Angeles, or as they prefer to say “Occupied Tongva Territory”
COCOLILI
@cocoliliafrica
COCOLILI is addressing SDG #5 Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women. They have started the CocoLili Scholarship Foundation which is funded through 10% of our annual net sales and is aimed at sponsoring under privileged school girls in secondary school pursuing STEM subjects. They plan to release the first funds at the beginning of the Kenyan school year in January 2019.
CROSBY by Mollie Burch is working on UN goal #10, Reduced Inequalities. Through their partnership with Wellspring Living in Atlanta, GA., they are able to contribute to the "transforming of lives of those at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation." Each year, one of their custom prints is inspired by one of these stories. The proceeds from that print, go directly to Wellspring Living to continue their work and reduce the inequality these people experience every day. They have plans to start an apprenticeship program with Wellspring in the coming year. In their 3 short years of business, they've been able to give $15,000 to this deserving non-profit organization.
DefineMe Fragrance
@definemefragrance
Through their DefineMe Dollar program they give $1 for every bottle purchased to She’s The First, a non-profit who provides educational scholarships to girls in low income countries. So far they've provided Champion Scholarships that cover their cost of tuition, mentorship, tutoring and room and board.
Bano eeMee
@bano_eemee
Bano eeMee is the creator of the world's best leather jackets. "Best" because they CARE about every aspect that is involved in the realization of their designs. All leather sourced by Bano eeMee is a by-product of the food industry. They are opposed to the use of exotic hides or furs in our designs. They also use vegetable based dyes and REACH certified chemicals in the tanning and preservation of their leathers. Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union regulation that addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment.
They are small socially conscious business based in Toronto, Canada and use fashion to make a difference by creating fair-work opportunities in disadvantaged communities around the world. Sale of a Bano eeMee jacket translates into fair paid work for two artisans for three days (1 jacket, 2 artisans, 3 days of work)
Bano eeMee leathers are designed as timeless pieces to evolve into wardrobe staples. The quality craftsmanship means that Bano eeMee jackets don't just last for a few seasons but for a lifetime of wear: their answer to fast fashion
They work with and actively support following organizations:
• KIND (Kids in need of Defense) https://supportkind.org/
• Ssubi Foundation http://ssubifoundation.org/
• Fashion with Compassion http://www.fashioncompassion.ca/
• Kids Cancer Care https://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/
• For more information please email us at: info@BanoeeMee.com or call us at 929 385 1330
ELK
@elkthelabel
ELK knows that as a fashion brand the products they create have an impact on the people that make for them, as well as on the environment. They recognize that significant change is required to increase transparency and transform the fashion industry. Their whole team are focused on shaping the way ELK operates to be a more sustainable business on every level. They have been on this journey for several years now, and there is still much work to do. They are constantly seeking out opportunities to improve the way we design, source, manufacture and distribute our products. They are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that our products are made ethically, to reduce our impact on the environment, to create safe, inclusive employment and to give back to the community.
A key UN Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) for ELK is ‘SDG 12 – Responsible production and consumption’, and they are supporting this goal through their design choices and ethical sourcing program. They support circular design principles, including designing for durability, disassembly, repair, recycling and reducing waste. They are focused on increasing our use of recycled materials and materials with credible environmental or ethical certifications. In June 2018 they became members of Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) and are now asking all of their suppliers to register on Sedex and share information on their business practices with ELK, including labour standards, health and safety, the environment and business ethics. This will provide greater transparency and understanding of their supply chain and strengthen relationships with their suppliers.
They are proud to be a UNICEF Platinum Champion for Children. UNICEF supports the 44 child-related indicators within the UN SDGs, which sit mainly within SDGs 1 – 6, with a focus on ending poverty and hunger, ensuring good health and wellbeing, promoting gender equality and providing quality education, clean water and sanitation. In partnership with their customers ELK has raised over $190,000 for UNICEF since 2011 through our donation matching initiative. ELK matches the voluntary donations made by their customers when purchasing online and in their retail stores. These funds support programs globally that protect vulnerable children and promote children’s rights.
They are passionate about protecting the environment and its precious resources and are working towards being a zero-waste business. Their aim is that nothing from our business should go to landfill. To support this commitment they are reducing, reusing and recycling their waste, and eliminating single use plastic from their operations. They have implemented a range of initiatives across our office, stores and warehouses that support the environment focused SGDs, such as ‘SGD 13 – Climate Action’, ‘SDG 14 - Life below water’ and “SDG 15 – Life on land’, including:
- Eliminating all plastic bubble wrap from our warehouse and replacing with paper-based options, including a perforated cardboard wrap which they make in house from their own used cardboard shipper cartons. For more delicate items they use a finer perforated Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified brown kraft paper.
- Converting their smaller ELK shippers to a 100% post-consumer recycled bleach free board. These shippers are fully recyclable and are made and printed locally using biodegradable vegetable-based inks.
- Reducing the number and size of the poly bags they use to transport our products, with an expected overall plastic reduction of between 50%-70%.
- Partnering with the not for profit organisation, Boomerang Bags, to make reusable cloth shopping and produce bags from their remnant and offcut fabrics.
- Installing energy efficient LED lighting in all ELK buildings to reduce their electricity use.
- Establishing worm farms to compost their organic waste, which they estimate will divert 700+ kg of waste from landfill a year.
Legami
@legami_jewelry
#5 Gender Equality: The whole ideology behind the brand is about people and the bond that they share with no gender discrimination. Legami's brand designs have no gender affiliation and they encourage others to recognize them as unisex.
#8 Decent Work and Economics: Legami is using innovative handmade manufacturing here in US, as it’s important for them to keep the labor within the country and support our economy and local community.
#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Legami is the first and only brand that created an original process of setting Uncut Diamonds in their natural state in precious metal. Legami is the only brand that uses genuine, unpolished, uncut diamonds and sets them in a special innovative technique that leaves them in their natural state, untouched, just as mother nature created them.
#12 Responsible production and Consumption: It is one of Legami’s core values to set only conflict free Uncut Diamonds which are all ethically and responsibly sourced. Setting the diamonds in their natural state, untouched and unpolished, is a fundamental objective for them to cherish the treasures mother nature has to offer for humanity in the most graceful way.
In a time in which people communicate their bonds through the virtual world of social media channels,
Legami is making their bonds visible in the real world.
Liverpool Jeans
@liverpooljeans
Liverpool Jeans is introducing 2 new fabrics that are focused around sustainability to their Spring 2019 collection:
BCI Certified = They use BCI certified organic cotton to support responsible cotton production by using less water and reducing the environmental impact. BCI makes global cotton production better for the people who product it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.
Oeko Tex Approved = They test for harmful substances which are prohibited or regulated by law and chemicals which are known to be harmful to health. They also test for color fading and acidity as a precautionary measure to safeguard health at every stage of production. The intended use of the textiles determines the stringency of the tests – the more prolonged and direct contact the textile will have with skin, the more demanding the requirements. All components of the product, without exception, must comply with these standards, including the sewing thread, lining, buttons, etc. This process surpasses all other existing criterion in safety and environmental protection.
◦ FCS Certified = FSC certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits (trees used for Rayon fibers are immediately replanted).
Mar y Sol
@marysolbags
Mar Y Sol has been working with artisans in Madagascar since their start 15 years ago. All of their products are completely handmade there using mostly sustainable/renewable materials sourced locally. Since their launch, Mar Y Sol has created fair trade employment opportunities for hundreds of artisans, worked to support local raffia farms, invested in education and clean water projects and helped reduce poverty.
Orlando Vintage
@orlandovintage
Orlando Vintage prides themselves in the quality, condition, style and elegance of every item they sell. Orlando Vintage Clothing & Costumes has achieved renown as a provider of quality vintage clothing to many feature films, television series and stage productions. they have provided vintage clothing and accessories for the following productions: Mad Men seasons 2 to 7, Boardwalk Empire seasons 2, 3 and 5, Men In Black III, American Gangster, Across The Universe, Magic City, Revolutionary Road, The Butler, Grudge Match, Masters of Sex, and Black Mass, just to name a few.
They are committed to responsible consumption and production.
R&R Luxury
@randrluxury
R&R is a luxury beauty brand founded on the philosophy of transforming one of nature’s purest and richest gifts - Shea - into the most enriching beauty products.
Founded by Beauty Entrepreneur Valerie Obaze in 2010, just after the birth of her daughter Rebecca Rose from whom the brand takes its name, R&R has since garnered international recognition in the world of luxury beauty and has won several awards for the excellence of it’s range of beauty products.
Through an unwavering commitment to using the purest natural ingredients and a devotion to excellence in quality, Valerie Obaze has led R&R Luxury to create a range of luscious beauty formulations from Shea butter and other natural ingredients including essential oils for face, body and hair; liquid and bar soaps; scented candles and home fragrance; and lip balm. They are as good for women as for men, children and babies.
Guided by the core values of ethical sourcing and nature preservation, R&R uses 100% natural Shea butter and other unrefined natural ingredients in all its formulations, sourced directly from the Shea countryside of Ghana, West Africa, the only region in the world where the mythical Shea tree has been growing for thousands of years.
Each R&R product is an invitation to a voyage of discovery of the most beautiful versions of ourselves through the immeasurable benefits of Shea and other natural ingredients that make up nature’s gift to Africa and Africa’s gift to the world.
SGBG
@sgbgatelier
#1 No Poverty: SGBG always pays their weavers & atelier team more than current market value. They are able to do this because they cut out middlemen brokers & long-term relationships with their weavers. By employing and
re-skilling the team constantly to revive long-lost designs, they ensure weavers’ families preserve and
pass on savoir-faire to the next generations.
#3 Good Health & Well Being: SGBG is building a Skill Development Program for Women Weavers in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu that will bring more women to the handloom cluster, & ensure an inclusive space is created for upward trajectories & personal growth. During the floods & typhoon, they provided over a hundred kilos of food, water, medical supplies, and hygiene amenities to ensure the team’s safety & well-being.
#5 Gender Equality: 64% of their weavers across the hand-looms in India are women, and their statistics show that artisan families with a female primary breadwinner make better investments, are more financially secure, have children that go onto higher levels of education. They want to help elevate women to grow up the value chain in all verticals.
#8 Decent Work & Economic Growth: Ethical Practices - SGBG institutes various schemes to ensure their workers enjoy a comfortable and rewarding working life. Elimination of middlemen is the first step — the weavers receive the entire fruit of their labour. Secondly, pit-looms are set up in their respective homes in villages across India so as to help them improve their lifestyle, mitigate cost of living, ensure their children are being educated, all the while under flexible work hours — this encourages more women to come to the forefront of the skill pool. Encouraging and providing children with education subsidies has also been instituted.
#9 Industry, Innovation, & Infrastructure: Powerloom costs to the environment are large & not sustainable in the long term. Handloom production is highly environmentally friendly, as there are no electrical costs associated with the operation of the loom. SGBG is attempting to slowly integrate new technologies & knowledge-based-training to further extend environmental efficiencies across the supply chain.
#10 Reduced Inequalities: SGBG's work is predominantly in rural areas. We need to save this savoir-faire, knowledge, talent, and prevent talent drain towards urban locales. Based on this livelihood, their weavers can support their local communities and grow their hyper-local economies. By paying their weavers highly & ensuring that they are fully able to work from within their homes if they wish (thereby reducing travel costs, allowing mothers to work while sending their children to school), we can help retain this dying savoir-faire.
#12 Responsible Consumption & Production: Sustainable production is a core focus of their practice. The brand procures their 100% pure yarns from the Central Silk Board and furthermore uses natural dyeing in the process. By entirely in-sourcing the production, they can directly control volumes (dramatically reduced wastage) and ensure the highest possible quality for their hand-woven garments. They partner with ethical and OEKO-certified suppliers for all non-handwoven (satin, crepe, etc) textiles and trims. Their leather supplier undergoes strict audit & is the same supplier for Saint Laurent’s. Pattern technology & re-weaving waste fabric allows for minimized fabric wastage.
Skazi
@skazioficial
Skazi – is currently constructing a new factory! This new factory that will be ready in October is going to be sustainable in two ways: having a 100% renewable energy through a photovoltaic solar system, and having a rainwater reuse system.
Soko
@shopsoko
#5 Gender Equality: Soko is a female founded company, that is dedicated first and foremost to creating sustainable income for artisans in Africa. They all work on many initiatives to empower their female artisans, from training them to learn new skills such as wire-work, or sand casting that so that they can get earn more money for their time, to empowering them to become workshop leaders.
#10 Reduced Inequalities: They have created a unique technology that allows them to work with artisans by connecting to them through their mobile phone. Soko works with a network of 3,000 artisans who receive orders to make their jewelry, and payment from the brand all through their mobile phone. With Soko, artisans lift themselves out of poverty and increase their revenue. The ripple effects that working with Soko has on artisans’ communities is incredible, from sending family members to school, to being able to buy a stove, something that greatly improves the health of a family in the developing world.
#12 Responsible Consumption and Production: Soko's jewelry is both ethically made and sustainably sourced. Their artisans used reclaimed materials to make the jewelry, working with reclaimed brass and wood, as well as upcycled cow horn and bone.
White + Warren
@whiteandwarren
White + Warren is launching an 100% organic cotton group in lounge pant, sweatshirt and belted cardigan. The cotton is BCI certified-The BCI cotton program educates farmers to grow cotton in the most environmentally aware way, to support them and to protect the ecosystem.
COTERIE
September 15-17, 2018
Jacob Javits Center, NYC
NEW SHOW HOURS!
Saturday, September 15th: 11AM - 7PM
Sunday, September 16th: 9AM - 6PM
Monday, September 17th: 9AM - 5PM