-
World Water Day
"We have the ability to provide clean water for every man, woman and child on the Earth. What has been lacking is the collective will to accomplish this. What are we waiting for? This is the commitment we need to make to the world, now."
-Jean-Michel Cousteau
Find out more about World Water Day and how you can make a difference:
UNW World Water Day | Water.org | Charity Water (photo credit!)
The Future of Fashion
Last night, Dave joined a panel of amazing and inspirational champions of fashion and social change at the Be Social Change New York Meetup at Green Spaces. The panel came together to discuss the question Can fashion be a catalyst for social change? And, if so, how can style and sustainable social impact merge to dictate a new future of fashion? This is a subject that is integral to the work that we do at Holstee, as we seek to create a more sustainable world through conscious design that makes a positive social impact. Here were some take aways of the goals in looking toward the future of fashion:
1. Raise awareness of what is happening in the fashion industry and where it is headed: We want to rethink why and how we are producing and work to create an environment of mindful consumerism. The goal is to use fashion as a tool to create awareness and social change. We want to create a conversation where our values extend from the aesthetics of fashion to the whole production circle and how our decisions contribute to the larger world around us.2. Address the current efforts being made by brands: A significant number of big brands are showing more and more support for social change, which is an encouraging reflection on the shift in consumer demand for positive social impacts. The more authentically these efforts increase within the mainstream, the stronger it allows our impact to be.3. Explain how people within the fashion industry are developing innovative ways to create sustainable impact: Accountability needs to increase on the production end throughout the fashion industry. The goal is to create awareness through education, dialogue, and visibility to the supply chain so that we are more conscious of our impact. The more this knowledge is conveyed to consumers, the more you can hold us (the producers) accountable. As designers our greatest challenge is to create products that enable people to consume less. We can do this by designing products that last longer, that can be "tuned up" and/or in other ways easily upcycled and reused.4. Show how people’s responsible choices can create a positive impact: We vote with our money! Each decision that we make on an individual level has the ability to make an impact. It takes only one drop to cause a ripple in the ocean :)Thanks to Be Social Change and Green Spaces for hosting the event! And many thanks to such a great panel: NOW Showcase, Source4Style, INDEGO AFRICA, Save the Garment Center, and moderator Carmen Artigas.Investments for Social Good- REC Conference 2011
Our friends at the Responsible Endowments Coalition are hosting their annual conference this weekend in New York! Focused on educating universities to invest responsibly and create a positive impact, the REC is a powerhouse for fostering the social and environmental change needed to drive the world forward. If you are a student looking to find ways to direct your university's money for causes you believe in, definitely register for this conference- it is sure to be unmissable!What? REC's 8th National Conference: Community, Sustainability and Money: Colleges Investing for ChangeWhen? Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23Where? Pace University, New York City, NY
Why? Because people working on creating more responsible investment in higher ed need a place to connect, educate each other, and meet other students working on these issues! The conference will be 1.5 days of everything you need to know about the various ways people across the country are getting their schools to use or move their money for social and environmental good. Students, activists, and industry professionals will be presenting and there will be multiple levels of content for both total beginners and seasoned activists. It's an excellent opportunity to educate anyone who is interested in getting involved in these issues!Registration plus all details here. Questions? Email organize@endowmentethics.org- October 21, 2011
-
Written by: Mary Shouvlin
- Views
Brian
