From Ideas to Action: Threading Change at Paris’ ChangeNow Summit
Written by: Sara McQuaid, Montreal Events & Content Assistant @Threading Change
15 May 2024
[5-minute read]
Introduction
Paris, a city of lights renowned for sparking imagination, inspiration, and love, experienced a transformative surge over three days—a pulsating energy fueled by a passion to save a burning planet. From March 25th to 27th, changemakers from around the world gathered at the Grand Palais Éphémère, with a collective determination to transcend mere discussions about the planet's future. They set out to share ideas and engage in tangible conversations, seeking to effect real change for the improvement of our world, here and now!
Sophia Yang, the founder of Threading Change, engaged in discussions concerning the circular economy and its implications for the future of fashion. In this article, we delve into the insights of Sophia and fellow visionaries, exploring their ambitious blueprint for fostering a globally-reaching shift towards a more sustainable planet.
What is ChangeNow?
ChangeNow held its first summit in 2017 and has been bringing together innovators ever since. Started by Santiago Lebrevre, it is a conference led by changemakers, for changemakers who aim to forge tangible impacts in their respective industries. The conference was created as a response to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as Lebrevre recognized the importance of the SDGs, yet observed a deficiency in a concrete blueprint for measurable development. The first gathering attracted 2000 participants in 47 countries. By 2024, over 35,000 participants gathered together, burgeoning with infectious optimism. The summit addresses various global environmental challenges such as loss of biodiversity and food and water insecurity, and their solutions such as recycling programs and conservation efforts. Additionally, the conference acknowledges the interconnectedness between culture and the environment, offering panels on art, health, fashion, and inclusion. The summit serves as a platform for investors and innovators to collaborate, fostering the development of businesses that prioritize environmental consciousness.
Threading Change’s Impact at ChangeNow!
At ChangeNow, Sophia shared Threading Change’s ethos to inspire other changemakers to join the fashion revolution. Sophia had the opportunity to present at the session “Let’s Co-Generate, Intergenerational Decision-Making to Advance Climate Justice” on March 27th. This panel discussed the importance of the youth when making key decisions for shaping the earth’s climate future. Sophia underscored in her opening remarks that clothing can be viewed as stories, and the story of Threading Change comes from the aspiration of young activists who wish to overhaul the fashion industry. Moving deeper into the industry, and away from the picket lines, Threading Change uses a tri-impact model that strives to inspire through engaging programming online and in person with events, education and research and policy work. Sophia underscored the goal to make the fashion revolution accessible and reasonable.
There is undeniable demand from youth across the globe to make fashion more accessible. Youth are at the core of Threading Change’s mission. ChangeNow was an opportune arena to present exactly what youth can do to be part of the revolution. Sophia presented viable solutions that anyone, regardless of age can be part of, including holding clothing swaps, writing letters to members of Parliament (MP) for changes in legislation, taking part in meaningful educational conversations about the fashion industry and learning how to extend the life of clothing. In the next part of the article, let’s explore the impact of education and change in legislation as discussed at ChangeNow.
How to Enact Change, Now!
Looking to ChangeNow for inspiration, there are several avenues available to enact real change within your community. For now, we will focus on two primary approaches: education and legislative reform.
Understanding the complex web of environmental and human impact issues within the fashion industry is just the starting point. A multitude of documentaries, articles, books, and other media resources shed light on the dangers inherent in this sector, (keep an eye on the Threading Change blog, we love to share our findings with other changemakers). The next significant step is to educate ourselves on preventing the escalation of these issues and transitioning the industry towards one that prioritizes sustainability. A proactive approach to joining the fashion revolution involves understanding the current gaps in the textile and clothing industries. Sophia seized the opportunity to converse with fashion leaders and shared her insights:
“Design is absolutely critical, when I asked the Sustainability heads of large companies what are the challenges facing the fashion industry today, they said designers are not being taught how to design for circularity.”
Circular designs are a departure from the traditional closed-loop method where clothing is quickly created to be put on shelves for purchase, then potentially only worn a few times before being thrown out. Instead, circularly designed clothing is designed for longevity, fabricated with efficiently used resources and made to be reused, repaired and recycled. This method greatly reduces the amount of waste produced by textile companies and lightens the fashion industry’s harm on the planet. When bridging the gap between design and sustainability, there are more opportunities for a more equitable fashion future.
The clothing industry goes beyond the pages of sketchbooks and designs. Learning about new roles and opportunities in the industry is a fantastic way of infiltrating the industry from within and promoting the fashion revolution from a higher vantage point. Sophia completed her degree in Forestry at the University of British Columbia and began working in corporate responsibility to aid companies in better managing their climate footprint. There are diverse roles including Corporate responsibility managers, Apparel Impact Tester, Supply Chain positions, labor analysts, and material consultants. Threading Change hosts various networking events to give changemakers the opportunity to enter the industry and enact change from within.
Even having conversations with store attendants and asking them questions about a company’s supply chain transparency is a great step in enacting change. Questions like “Where does this company source its materials from? How much are the workers paid and where are their factories?” initiate a ripple effect within the company. The sales associate might not have immediate answers and may need to consult their manager. The manager, in turn, could escalate the inquiry to higher-ups within the corporation. As a result, executives become cognizant of consumer concerns regarding their products and may be inclined to adopt more sustainable practices in the future to align with consumer’s demands. Questions serve as an effective tool for raising awareness, lifting the veil over the industry and compelling companies to operate transparently. However when asking these questions to spark these conversations, it’s important to remain respectful of the employees who do not hold individual responsibility for the practices of the corporation. Keeping the conversation civil and respectful is the best way to maintain open communication with corporations so we can work together for a better future.
Learning about sustainable companies is another impactful way to contribute to the movement. Research indicates that the younger generation is particularly motivated for change and actively seeks more sustainable options. At ChangeNow, numerous fashion companies showcased innovative approaches to industry transformation. For instance, Zahlen, the CEO of Ravel, unveiled the company’s initiative to transition away from fossil fuels and utilize textile waste in clothing production. Additionally, Laurent Bochahut of Pefttrust introduced a compelling strategy for business scalability. Comparable to the nutritional labels on food packaging, Peftrust offers an eco-score for clothing through its Scalable LCA SAAS Platform. This tool assesses the entire lifecycle of a product, from production to disposal, encompassing its manufacturing, distribution, retail, usage, and end-of-life phases.Thami Schweichler of the United Repair Center, wants to extend the life of clothing through their service facilities centers that would offer spaces to repair or upcycle clothing. They have committed to hiring those who have trouble accessing the labor industry. This provides a twofold solution: we can reduce waste while increasing the equity of communities.
Legislation
During the Let’s Co-Generate panel, Sophia addressed the power of policy and emphasized its crucial role in effecting lasting change in the fashion industry. Properly enacted policies wield the ability to boost recycling and collection rates, curtail textile waste, and safeguard the rights and environments of workers. Not only can governments provide legislative frameworks, but they can also monitor efforts and institute incentives to inspire companies to embrace change. Numerous legislations are currently under development in Europe aimed at revamping supply chains. For instance, in March 2024, a coalition comprising France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Austria formally petitioned the European Commission to draft a proposal to amend the Basel Convention and include textile waste items on the list of prohibited transboundary shipments. Writing letters to local and federal government representatives emerges as an excellent means to spur change. Through these letters, we mobilize and contribute to shaping government agendas that prioritize the changes we, the people, genuinely wish to see unfold in our local and global communities.
ChangeNow also took the opportunity to remind young changemakers the power of voting. In the opening ceremony, environmental activist and anti-globalization author Dr. Vandana Shiva was asked during this turning point of consumption, what makes a good law? She responded that there are three basic criteria:
“...a law made according to the laws of the earth that allows the cycles of earth to happen naturally without interference, second, people have to participate, third most important: to be conscious of our surroundings. We cannot make laws that hinder the earth from flourishing as we are all interconnected.”
Similarly, Clover Hogan, another policy activist had a powerful reminder for youth during the Advocating for the End of Fossil Fuels panel:
“...when we look at who is in power today, their job is to represent the everyday citizen, and we now have a decades long history of policy makers representing the interest of corporations and money, but it is their job to protect our future, and policy makers need to remember that and we all need to be politically active.”
It's time to reshape the political landscape to one that allows the Earth to function naturally, free from human interference, rather than prioritizing corporate profits.
Conclusion
In essence, change is not just a concept; it's real, palpable, and most importantly, it's achievable—right now!
While transforming the fashion industry from a linear economy to a circular one may appear daunting, it's entirely within our reach. Consider this: in just sixty years, humanity invented the first aircraft and ventured into space. Our ancestors once relied on bargaining as the primary form of currency; even the concept of currency itself had to be invented. By harnessing gatherings like ChangeNow, individuals, activists, and companies can unite to propel change forward. Education, legislation, and industry innovation stand out as crucial pillars of the fashion revolution, guiding us towards a cleaner future. As we progress, let's persist in amplifying our voices and acknowledging the inherent power within ourselves to drive change.
Edited by: Luiza Giocondo Teixeira, Communications & Engagement Director @Threading Change
Works Cited
AboutUs, ChangeNow, https://www.changenow.world/about-us/
Opening Ceremony. ChangeNow 2024. https://www.changenow.world/replay/
THE 17 GOALS, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development, https://sdgs.un.org/goals
“Reads of the Week Roundup” Threading Change. https://www.threadingchange.org/blog/read-of-the-week-roundup
“What is Circular Fashion?” The Sustainable Fashion Forum Jan 12, 2024: what-is-circular-fashion
Ravel Future: https://www.ravelfuture.com/
Pef Trust: https://peftrust.com/
United Repair Center:https://www.unitedrepaircentre.com
“One man’s trash: EU pitch to tackle textile pollution riles second-hand sellers”. Mariane Gros. Politico. May 3 2024. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-countries-pitch-to-tackle-textile-pollution-some-countries-warn-harm-second-handle-sellers/
About the author:
Sara McQuaid
Sara is a writer and teacher currently working in Montreal, Quebec. She has a Honours Bachelor degree in History from Trent University and a Master's Degree in History from KU Leuven, focusing on women's history. Her passion for understanding contemporary challenges and love of fashion has inspired her to shift into the sustainable industry. She hopes to shape history by helping to change the future of fashion into one that is fossil-free and equitable.
