Harlem’s Fashion Row will host its third annual Sustainability Forum sponsored by H&M on Monday.
As consumers continue to demand more environmentally friendly clothing, many fashion brands have already made the shift to integrate sustainable practices and products in their businesses to reduce carbon footprint. Harlem’s Fashion Row seeks to offer a lifeline to designers of color looking to build a sustainable fashion business.
The Sustainability Forum is a partnership between Harlem’s Fashion Row and H&M that educates and empowers designers about sustainable practices to foster change within the fashion industry. The event will take place at the NeueHouse in Madison Square from 1 to 4 p.m.
Several industry leaders will discuss how their companies have effectively incorporated sustainability into their business models. Speakers will include include Lauren Riezman, head of communications at H&M Americas; Sarah Nesbit, 2024 Re/Make ambassador and founder of BlackOak Collective; Sherieka Smallwood-Morgan, director of retail strategy at Macy’s; Dominique Drakeford, founder of Melanin and Sustainable Style; Rohit Burman, vice president of sustainability and inclusion at Calvin Klein, and Victoria Secret’s Lydia Smith, chief diversity officer, and Sarah Moore, associate vice president of ESG strategy.
In addition, this year’s Sustainability Forum will feature a keynote address by fashion designer Heron Preston, who will share insights and experiences from his journey in integrating sustainable practices into his brand.
“H&M is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of HFR’s Sustainability Forum again this year. The forum provides an unparalleled opportunity for diverse designers and fashion creatives to equip themselves with the tools to fully embrace sustainable practices and innovative approaches within their businesses, positioning them for greater relevance and future growth,” said Donna Dozier Gordon, head of inclusion and diversity at H&M Americas.
Brandice Daniel, founder and chief executive officer of Harlem’s Fashion Row, said, “We are thrilled to host this forum for the third year. More customers are becoming more environmentally conscious and are pursuing sustainable fashion brands. We want to help designers of color remain relevant and thrive in a changing industry by equipping them with the information and tools to succeed.”
Last month, H&M Group released its annual sustainability report that showed that the group reached 85 percent recycled or “sustainably sourced” materials in 2023, with the goal of reaching 100 percent by 2030. “Sustainably sourced” includes organic, regenerative and responsible raw materials, including certified responsible wool and cashmere, plus chrome-free tanning for leather. Materials that meet those standards reached 60 percent in 2023, as reported.
