The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network hosted its annual meeting, co-convened by the Fashion Impact Fund and the United Nations Office for Partnerships, on June 1, on the United Nations Headquarters in Latest York. The event was attended by greater than 150 industry stakeholders, United Nations representatives and members of the media to debate actions, solutions and progress and advance knowledge to strengthen engagement to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.

The meeting began with a temporary but powerful statement from Annemarie Hou, executive director of the United Nations office for partnerships, who addressed the “most trendy crowd on the UN” who she urged to “make a fashion statement today.”

“We wish the world to take notice,” Hou said. “We wish the world to take motion. The presence of so many powerful voices and influencers here gives me huge hope that the industry can change into a part of the answer.”

In a conversation led by Kaley Roshitsh, sustainability editor at WWD, executives from the House of LR&C, including the corporate’s cofounder, Ciara, its chief sustainability officer and chief operation officer, Therese Hayes, and its chief business officer and chief marketing officer, Janelle Shiplett.

Notably, House of LR&C was created in 2020, by Ciara and Russell Wilson who brought a love for design and fashion to retail expert Christine Day. Together the team has fostered an inclusive community with the goals of doing good for the planet while democratizing retail and dealing to redefine the way in which the style industry works. The House of LR&C has quickly earned myriad sustainability credentials including becoming a B Corp.  

Sharing the importance of the corporate’s name which stands for love, respect and care, Ciara stressed the importance of leading with those sentiments as she entered the space saying she and Wilson strongly imagine in the facility of words. To her, love, respect and care go hand in hand with sustainability for a company and, in launching the brand, the team desired to find a way to have a huge impact on the planet and find a way to face firmly in those beliefs.

“Sustainability is at the center of all the things that we did,” Shiplett said. “It’s the aim of the business. We began by saying ‘fashion is implausible’ but everybody on this room knows that what the world needs just isn’t necessarily just one other fashion brand, but a brand that’s really dedicating itself to doing fashion in alternative ways.”

Sustainability goals were set from the very starting with three key actions. First, House of LR&C established itself as a public advantages company in order that regardless of what happens within the administration of the business, the corporate will at all times be dedicated to this bottom line. Second, the corporate put policies in place in the way in which wherein it will work with partners and the community for a way products are made. And last, sustainability was directed at the corporate relatively than a department, giving every one a sustainability goal tied to their performance in the corporate.  

“What this does is attract the kinds of individuals to the corporate who’re dedicated to this,” Shiplett said. “It’s very difficult to do something after which should go redo it to make it sustainable so we began from the start.”

With so many ongoing challenges for brands and consumers in advancing SDGs, Ciara said she’s seen that the journey just isn’t a brief race, it’s a marathon. “I actually encourage you to start the sport. Every little bit makes a difference and each little bit counts. They’re all coming together for what will be a greater place. Have love for yourself, love those around you and the people around you in your community and all the things that you simply do in your process and we’ll all be a significantly better place.”