Conscious Fashion Campaign features female entrepreneurs in US

The Conscious Fashion Campaign, an initiative of the Fashion Impact Fund in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the PVBLIC Foundation, has launched a digital billboard campaign promoting ten women-led social entrepreneurs that will be featured during New York Fashion Week.

The Conscious Fashion Campaign highlighted female fashion entrepreneurs that are making a social and environmental impact by presenting their work on billboards and digital marketing.

The inaugural campaign premiered on digital billboards throughout New York City in numerous locations around Times Square including the NASDAQ screen and Link NYC stations near the United Nations and Spring Studios, home of New York Fashion Week, according to a press release from Fashion Impact Fund.

The Conscious Fashion Campaign, which lasted from February 11 to 16, expanded media visibility of women social entrepreneurs reinventing fashion to scale their influence in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, a global agenda endorsed by United Nations Member States in 2015. Given its global reach, the fashion industry is uniquely positioned to be a driving force in the fulfillment of the SDGs, notably in terms of climate action, gender equality, and responsible consumption and production.

With women receiving only 25% of news features globally (6th Global Media Monitoring Project, 2021), the Conscious Fashion Campaign has increased the visibility of fashion-focused women, social entrepreneurs, in order to educate, inform, and inspire as they lead the industry toward a more inclusive and responsible future.

The campaign is a key initiative of the Fashion Impact Fund, which supports female entrepreneurs who are leading educational initiatives to accelerate the fashion industry’s transition to a more equitable, inclusive, and regenerative sector, with a focus on knowledge, media, and skill-based learning programs.

The first version of the initiative, Conscious Fashion Campaign: New York, got over 100 applications from 25 countries. The Advisory Committee chose the women and their organizations based on factors such as their support for at least one Sustainable Development Goal, the innovations, solutions, or sustainable business practices they have implemented to support social, environmental, and/or economic impact within the industry, and their contribution as a driving force for sustainable development in the fashion ecosystem.

The first bi-annual Conscious Fashion Campaign recipients are Abhilasha Bahuguna, co-founder of Looms of Ladakh; Ayesha Barenblat, founder and CEO of Remake; Stephanie Benedetto, co-founder and CEO of Queen of Raw; Jessica Schreiber, founder and CEO, Fabscrap; Mariama Camara, founder and CEO of Mariama Fashion Production; Cyndi Rhoades, founder, Worn Again Technologies; Hilary Jochmans, founder of PoliticallyInFashion; Anyango Mpinga, founder of Free As A Human Foundation; Ngozi Okaro, executive director, Custom Collaborative; and Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro, co-founders, Fashion Revolution.

Kerry Bannigan, executive director, Fashion Impact Fund, said congratulations to the Conscious Fashion Campaign: New York Edition honorees. So often, these agents of change advocate for communities disadvantaged by the fashion industry’s unsustainable methods. It is critical to support their leadership and foster a diversified media environment as they determine the industry’s future with creative solutions.

Sergio Fernández de Córdova, executive chairman, PVBLIC Foundation, said that they’re honored to be a part of the celebration of these trailblazing women who are altering the face of fashion. Their Conscious Fashion Campaign: New York collaboration demonstrates the critical role of media in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as its ability to empower the diverse voices of women social entrepreneurs transforming fashion.

Lucie Brigham, chief of office, UN Office for Partnerships, said that they’re honored to be a part of the Conscious Fashion Campaign is highlighting the work of these remarkable women social entrepreneurs. They challenge the status quo, effect positive change, and fulfill the promise of the SDGs.