From t-shirts and blazers to accessories, what we wear speaks volumes about the lifestyle we embrace and the values we embody. The visual imagery of fashion embeds itself into our daily routines, whether we find ourselves in the office, at home, or outdoors. While often considered a matter of individual taste, fashion in fact serves as more than a medium of communication and lends itself as a potentially powerful vehicle for social and cultural change.

Fashion labels Loomstate and Edun stand at the forefront of stylish, sustainable clothing, while companies like Patagonia and Nike integrate sustainability into their active and sportswear. From organic cotton to local factories, the apparel industry is witnessing an increasing awareness of the potential for sustainability at all levels of production. Yet is sustainable clothing merely a trend or the future of fashion? What role does apparel play in the movement toward a more sustainable future? This series aims to address these questions and more by examining current industry practices and approaches to sustainable clothing.

We invite industry professionals and experts to participate in this series to discuss the intersecting roles of business, design, and technology in the context of fashion.

Among invited guests are representatives of Patagonia, Nike, and Loomstate as well as the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

The conference will be held in New Haven, CT - see right column for times and directions.

This series is sponsored by the Yale Student Environmental Coalition, the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, YCouture, and Wishlist.

Photo credit: Alexandra Cavoulacos