There was a lot of buzz about sustainability at Fashion 4 Development’s 10th Annual First Ladies Luncheon on Tuesday.

Beyond the glitz of hosting His Royal Highnesses and luminaries, there was a line-up of speakers and honorees committed to a greener fashion future. Fashion 4 Development (F4D) is a global platform founded by Evie Evangelou and is committed to supporting the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The idea is that if fashion works at its best angle, it can have a tremendous impact on sustainability and development around the world.

At a luncheon with local leaders hosted by 583 Park, New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, who drafted and introduced the Fashion Act, spoke about the state of fashion and where it’s headed.

“The fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to global climate change. The industry will account for more than a quarter of the world’s global carbon budget by 2050. It is largely unregulated.”

According to Biaggi, the purpose of the “fashion law” is to force companies to do “mandatory due diligence to improve their labor practices and reduce their impact on the planet.”

“This bill is an invitation,” she added. “Governments, businesses, manufacturers and activists have come together to call for the fashion industry to do better by setting and meeting science-based environmental standards and improving labor practices. Not only in this country, but on the planet and around the world, the first as an example to set the bar incredibly high and make sure we all understand the role we play. I sincerely hope to become

Katla is one company that didn’t need an invitation to operate on a different standard. That’s why the conscious loungewear brand won this year’s Fashion 4 Development Awards, and the organization’s goodwill ambassador was named one.

In accepting the award and new position, Aslaug Magnusdottir, founder and CEO of Katla and co-founder of Moda Operandi, took the opportunity to bring up a few facts about the realities of fashion.

“Of the 100 billion garments produced each year in the world, more than 50 billion end up in landfills within a year. A trillion new clothes will end up in landfills,” she said. “This doesn’t have to be real.”

The tote bag with customary conference memorabilia was provided by Katla and is made with a zero-waste design and a QR that provides complete transparency as to where the product came from and how it was made. Comes with a code patch. Catra’s goal is to “reinvent the way the fashion business is done,” she said.

This is one of Magnusdottir’s first orders as an F4D Global Ambassador.

“Katla and Fashion 4 Development are joining forces as part of a large-scale research project by the International Trade Center of Geneva, the United Nations trade body. It’s about inventing new models of fashion,” she said. “What we are looking for is a business that is actually more profitable, but at the same time, one that significantly reduces unnecessary overproduction and empowers women in the industry. I encourage everyone to join this movement to make it possible.”

One of the goals of the project, Magnusdottir told WWD, is to “accelerate access to data science that doesn’t exist in the ‘upstream’ supplier community. The fashion sector is the sector with the greatest potential to make life better for women around the world. From buyers to makers, women multiply the good in their communities. ”

The day’s themes include women’s empowerment, philanthropy and sustainable fashion, with ‘1920 to 2020’ curated by New York Vintage founder Shannon Hoey and BY designer Bonnie Young. 10 Years of Fashion” runway show. Bonnie Young. The show will combine Young’s collection with the designer’s vintage creations to showcase the idea of ​​zero waste and using locally-sourced, upcycled materials to bring the past fresh to modern fashion. I was.

But here’s the overarching message of the day and the point founder Evangelo tried to drive home. “Education of consumers on how to live a more sustainable daily life is very important.” needs to change demand.”