Sustainability is a key pillar for the CFDA, and today, we’re proud to announce a focused study on the environmental impact of New York Fashion Week with Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

From printed invites and show notes to water served in plastic bottles and backstage appliances, lighting equipment and so much more, we felt an urgency to address the impact of shows on the environment and ways that we can improve the carbon footprint of fashion week. Some designers and houses – Gabriela Hearst and Gucci, for example – have begun to address climate change in both their collections and operations, and more fashion brands are looking to do the same.

To that end, the research project that CFDA and BCG launched this week aims to help the industry via an Impact Report assessing NYFW’s current ecosystem, including event production, logistics, transportation, and public relations, and its impact on the environment. The report will present actionable priorities and opportunities for change with a Playbook for Positive Change. The study will serve as a guide to designers and brands, show producers, public relations, editors and other fashion week stakeholders.

“It is imperative that the global fashion industry addresses climate change and the impact of fashion week on the environment,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “Fashion shows are vital to the creative process of a designer. Given New York Fashion Week is global fashion’s largest ecosystem, the CFDA felt it was important to lead and supportively guide the fashion industry towards positive change.”

Sarah Willersdorf, a Managing Director and Partner and Global Head of Luxury at BCG, added, “Sustainability is finally at the top of the fashion industry’s agenda, and a priority topic for BCG. We are thrilled to partner with the CFDA to better understand the environmental impact of NYFW and develop a path forward. We look forward to helping the CFDA become an industry leader on this topic, delivering innovative, impactful guidelines to all stakeholders in the NYFW ecosystem on how to integrate sustainability practices into their strategies and activations.”

The project is the latest in CFDA’s ongoing sustainability efforts. In 2019, we released the CFDA Guide to Sustainable Strategies and Sustainable Strategies Toolkit.

The United Nations Office of Partnerships (UNOP) and Conscious Fashion Campaign, a not-for-profit SDG awareness initiative supported by the UN, are collaborating on the CFDA and BCG study.

“Given its global reach, fashion provides a unique platform to drive education and engagement around the Sustainable Development Goals, including issues such as responsible consumption and production and climate action,” said Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office for the United Nations Office for Partnerships. “While some industry leaders have taken steps towards sustainability and responsible practices, there is an urgent need for large-scale action. The United Nations Office for Partnerships welcomes the leadership of the CFDA to drive sustainability within the fashion industry events and looks forward to working with CFDA and the Conscious Fashion Campaign on making the industry more knowledgeable and impactful.”

Kerry Bannigan, Founder of Conscious Fashion Campaign, noted, “The NYFW Impact Report sets an exemplary precedent for fashion events globally to implement responsible marketing, operations and logistics that are mindful of social, economic and environmental impact. The Conscious Fashion Campaign champions the CFDA for being at the forefront of this effort.”

We will reveal the NYFW Impact Report and Playbook for Positive Change this April – just in time for Earth Month’s 50th anniversary. Stay tuned!

Pictured: Looks from Gabriela Hearst’s pioneering carbon neutral show for Spring-Summer 2020.