12th Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference

Each year, the Sustainability Council organizes and hosts a the Sustainable Business and Design Conference on the campus of FIT.  The purpose of the event is to inform, involve, and inspire the entire FIT community about sustainability and how to incorporate sustainability as a model into all aspects of what we do. This year’s theme is “From What If … To What’s Next.” We will have speakers, interactive demos of student projects, and keynote speakers, each of whom will address “What’s Next” in their own unique ways:

Tabitha St. Bernard Jacobs is an FIT alumna who will speak about the intersections of fashion, sustainability, and activism. She is co-founder and designer for sustainable labels Tabii Just and LIVARI Clothing. Tabitha is also the Youth and Family Coordinator for the Women’s March where she is directly involved in youth empowerment.

Mark Dorfman will give a talk on “Biomimicry: Tapping into 3.8 Billion Years of Design Success” in which he will discuss innovative solutions to 21st century challenges in textiles, cosmetics, packaging electronics, agriculture, food, and home products that Biomimicry addresses. Biomimicry is the premise that living organisms, by necessity, have developed sophisticated, high-performing, life-friendly chemistries that could inspire provocative, effective, and sustainable technologies for modern society

Xiuhtezcatl (pronounced Shoo-TEHZ-caht) will then give the closing keynote on  “Developing Leaders: Rising Youth for a Sustainable Earth (RYSE).”  He is 17-year-old indigenous climate activist, hip-hop artist, author, and powerful voice on the front lines of a global, youth-led environmental movement. He is truly an example of “what’s next” in leadership.

REGISTRATION:
We’re offering registration options so that participants can either register for the entire conference or just the closing speaker if they have an internship or classes that they cannot miss during the day. In addition, faculty have an option to register an entire class and let us know when they plan to bring them and for how long.  The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register here. 

Visit the conference web page for a full schedule here. 

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here to REGISTER.