Forum Topic

"Stitching Hope: Empowering Futures through Fashion, Sustainability, and Leadership"

Introduction

This forum will focus on how fashion can be a force for change—empowering underprivileged children, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering leadership in sustainability. Using the STITCHING DREAMS program in Szechuan as a heartfelt case study, the discussion will dive deep into how sustainability can create real-life impact, not just through innovation, but through human stories of resilience, empowerment, and growth.

9:30 AM - 9:50 AM: Reception and Networking

• Opportunity for attendees to mingle and network before the event.

9:50 AM - 10:10 AM: Opening Remarks and Videos

• Brief introduction to the forum’s theme and objectives by the moderator.

• Introduction video for the STITCHING DREAMS program visit to Szechuan

10:10 AM - 10:40 AM: Panel Discussion - " Stitching Hope: Empowering Futures through Fashion, Sustainability, and Leadership"

Discussion Points:

• Empowering Creativity and Leadership: How leadership and creativity drive sustainability in fashion and inspire the next generation.

• STITCHING DREAMS Program: Real-life impact of providing sustainable clothing to children, blending cultural heritage with education.

• Innovation in Materials: The role of eco-friendly materials in reshaping fashion production and sustainability efforts.

• Amplifying Stories Through Media: The power of media in promoting sustainable fashion and making these stories relatable and impactful to broader audiences.

10:40 AM - 11:00 AM: Q&A Session and

• Closing Remarks

• Open floor for questions from attendees.

• Summary of key insights and closing by the moderator.

On September 25, 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit was held at the UN Headquarters in New York, where all 193 UN member states officially adopted 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).

The Sustainable Development Goals aim to comprehensively address the development challenges in the social, economic, and environmental dimensions from 2015 to 2030, guiding the world toward a sustainable development path.

The SDGs call on all countries—regardless of whether they are poor, wealthy, or middle-income—to take action, promoting economic prosperity while protecting the planet. The goals emphasize that ending poverty must go hand in hand with strategies that promote economic growth, address social needs related to education, health, social protection, and employment opportunities, as well as tackle climate change and protect the environment.

1) No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

2) Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

3) Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

4) Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

5) Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

6) Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

7) Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

8) Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

9) Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

10) Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

11) Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

12) Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

13) Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

14) Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

15) Life on Land: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

17) Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

To promote global cooperation and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, a series of events are held annually during the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on the SDGs.

These events mainly include the High-Level SDG Summit, attended by national leaders and high-ranking officials, as well as the SDG Media Zone, also known as the SDG Forum.

The SDG Media Zone brings together representatives from international organizations, business leaders, non-governmental organizations, media, celebrities, and public figures. As a key event during the United Nations General Assembly, the SDG Forum focuses on the 17 SDGs, aiming to promote the dissemination and implementation of the sustainable development agenda through the participation of organizations, businesses, media, and other stakeholders.

The SDG Forum will host 30 to 40 sub-forums over the course of a week.

Organizations and companies such as the United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, World Health Organization,World Wide Fund for Nature, Google, Microsoft, Colgate, Swarovski, and HSBC have all previously participated in this event.