Smart Materials | Goals Lounge

As part of its Annual Meeting, the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network is convening a series of events at UN Headquarters alongside New York Fashion Week to leverage this global moment for dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals.

As industries seek to move beyond linear models of production and consumption, new approaches are emerging to rethink how value is created, shared, and sustained. This event will focus on the heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation creating new pathways for more responsible production and sustainable design.

The programme will feature perspectives from material experts, designers, and policymakers. From wool in Sweden to pineapple fibres in the Philippines, the conversations will explore how local knowledge, scientific research, and creative approaches can inform more circular and resilient materials systems. Recognizing the people at the heart of these systems, the event will underscore why the transition to a more sustainable fashion industry must also be a just one.

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The Goals Lounge is an innovative platform at the UN Headquarters that brings together dialogue, partnerships and visibility to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Since its launch, it has enabled major announcements, mobilized significant financial commitments and supported high-impact initiatives across areas such as mental health, women's leadership and digital transformation, while engaging diverse stakeholders and audiences worldwide.