FIT’s Climate Week NYC programming brought global brand leaders, textile technology innovators, and design practitioners to campus the week of September 20 to address the climate transition.
Here are three standout events and exhibitions:
Next-Generation Transitional Materials Forum
Co-organized with communications consultancy Eco Age and materials innovation firm Spinnova, this September 22 panel addressed the opportunities, roadblocks, and regulatory frameworks governing fashion’s shift to sustainable materials. “Having the opportunity to be part of Climate Week in New York is a really exciting moment for FIT,” said Science and Mathematics Professor Karen Pearson, PhD, as she introduced the panel.
The panel touched on numerous challenges for scaling up sustainability efforts globally:
Eco Age’s executive director Marwa Zamaray and account director Amie Tran addressed how consumer demand drives policy, and that eco-conscious consumers have the power to ensure brand accountability. They also pointed out that regulatory shifts are slowing the momentum of positive change as CEOs push 2030 sustainability goals back to 2050.
Kari Stoever, head of impact for Canopy Planet, introduced the Hot Button Report 2026 to protect ancient forests. She also lamented that textile recycling remains under 1% efficiency.
Offering technological solutions, Pedro Brito presented Spinnova’s mechanical, chemical-free fiber-production process that promises to incorporate 100% recycled fibers by 2030, and Jeffrey Thimm, fibres lead of Global Standards, which oversees the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, detailed the new Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) certification. GRTS focuses on supply chain traceability and recycled fibers.
Soil to Surface Exhibition
(September 24–November 1)
A collaborative exhibition between FIT and the MILKist Social Design Center, Soil to Surface features 26 Turkish women farmers and cooperatives who create and dye textiles from agricultural waste. The exhibition juxtaposes their work with that of international designers, FIT students, faculty, and alumni. Presented as part of the “Second Harvest” project with Anadolu Efes and UNDP Türkiye, the project establishes a circular, sustainable framework that brings together farmers, craftspeople, and designers as equal creative partners. Read the media alert here.
The Conscious Closet Dinner
(September 24)
Held at the FIT Art and Design Gallery, this intimate event co-hosted by jewelry brand Kendra Scott, Public Inc., and the FIT Foundation convened fashion and lifestyle executives around the prompt: “What does it mean to be a conscious company in fashion?” The evening brought together impact leaders and Kendra Scott executives for a discussion on brand accountability, concluding with a private, artist-guided tour of the Soil to Surface exhibition.