FICFF’s special forum at the UNGA

Fashion in a Conscious Future Foundation (FICFF) hosted a special forum at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, focusing on how fashion, sustainability, and leadership can drive global change.

The event’s theme was “Stitching Hope: Empowering Futures through Fashion, Sustainability, and Leadership” and featured speakers including Abigail Posner, Director of US Creative Works at Google; Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office at the United Nations Office for Partnerships; Yitong Qin, Founder and Co-chair of FICFF; Andy Yu, Co-chair of FICFF and fashion artist; Maribel Lieberman, Founder and CEO of MarieBelle, and young designer Max Alexander. Max, FICFF’s newest ambassador, at just eight years old, presented his eco-friendly designs and highlighted the role of youth in sustainable fashion.

The forum discussed how fashion can address global challenges, with speakers emphasizing collaboration across industries and the need for eco-friendly practices.

The forum also spotlighted FICFF’s efforts in underserved areas, particularly with the Stitching Dreams Aesthetic Education Program. Yitong Qin shared the program’s latest journey, where children were involved in designing sustainable winter clothing with cultural elements. This initiative showcased how fashion can be a tool for education, cultural preservation, and empowerment, and it reinforced the forum’s central message that fashion can be a vehicle for change in both environmental and social contexts.

Andy Yu also introduced FICFF’s Green Thread Sustainable Fashion Education Program, a global platform for designers to explore sustainable fashion practices. Yu discussed the importance of utilizing eco-friendly materials and recycling old garments to preserve family stories and cultural traditions.

The program will culminate in a fashion show at FICFF’s annual charity gala this December, showcasing the work of participating designers.

FICFF aims to expand globally, promoting sustainability and social change through fashion.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.