The Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network is committed to accelerate innovation and change within the textile and fashion sector to advance the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Supported by the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, we educate and mobilise the fashion sector to action solutions for social, economic, and environmental change.
Left to right: Robert Skinner, Detlef Braun, Lucie Brigham, Kerry Bannigan and Jürgen Schulz (Photo: Rich Dodge)
Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network commits to the Sustainable Development Goals in global collaboration with the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network and the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Our aim is to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into our about 60 leading international textile trade fairs attracting more than 23,000 companies and over half a million trade visitors annually.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
More important than ever, the goals provide a critical framework for COVID-19 recovery. The Sustainable Development Goals are vital for a recovery that leads to greener, more inclusive economies, and stronger, more resilient societies.
‘Along with digitalisation, sustainability is a topic exerting a significant influence on the global textile industry. Messe Frankfurt has been accompanying this development with its worldwide textile events under the umbrella of the Texpertise Network for more than ten years. It is therefore a logical conclusion that the SDGs are being integrated in our worldwide textile events to generate acute awareness of the importance of sustainability in the industry.’
Do you know all 17 SDGs?
Texpertise Network events on the SDGs
Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network is promoting the SDGs internationally in the framework of panel talks, press conferences, SDG lounges and more. For all those who have missed the talks, our podcasts provide the opportunity to listen to some of the talks.
Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Annual Meeting
Comprising representatives of the fashion and lifestyle sector, the media, governments and UN agencies, the international network came together for its first annual meeting at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on 2 June. Among the participants: the Texpertise Network of Messe Frankfurt.
Mode braucht den Wandel: Der erste Frankfurt Fashion SDG Summit zur Frankfurt Fashion Week sendete im Juli 2021 ein starkes Signal für mehr Nachhaltigkeit in der Modewelt. Designer*innen, Politiker*innen, Wissenschaftler*innen und Klimaaktivist*innen sprachen mit einer Stimme für die dringend erforderliche Transformation der Mode- und Textilindustrie.
The Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network is an online platform for industry stakeholders, Governments and NGOs to showcase actions, report progress and share solutions accelerating the sectors contribution to advance the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs by 2030. The collaborative community of practice aims to inspire innovative ideas, connect industry leaders, enable new partnerships, and enact sustainable change.
The network is managed by the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSDG/DESA), the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Conscious Fashion Campaign. It is a dedicated space for the fashion and lifestyle industries on the “Partnerships for SDGs” – the United Nations’ global registry of voluntary commitments and multi-stakeholder partnerships contributing to the advancement of the SDGs.
SDG wall at Neonyt, Global Hub for Fashion, Sustainability and Innovation / Photo: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
Heimtextil 2019 Opening press conference; from left to right: Lucie Brigham (Chief of Office at UNOP), Olaf Schmidt (Vice President Textiles and Textiles Technologies at Messe Frankfurt), Detlef Braun (CEO at Messe Frankfurt), Thimo Schwenzfeier Director Marketing-Communications Textiles at Messe Frankfurt) / Photo: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera
Green Tour at Heimtextil highlighting sustainable producers for home textiles / Photo: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition / Jean-Luc Valentin
SDG Lounge at Heimtextil Green Village informing visitors on the Sustainable Development Goals / Photo: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition / Jean-Luc Valentin
Press conference on the collaboration of Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network, the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Conscious Fashion Campaign at the UN headquarters in New York / Photo: Rich Dodge
Press conference on the collaboration of Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network, the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Conscious Fashion Campaign at the UN headquarters in New York / Photo: Rich Dodge
Sleep! The Future Forum at Heimtextil featuring a discussion on sustainable strategies for retailers and manufacturers / Photo: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition / Jean-Luc Valentin
On the occasion of its premiere and against the backdrop of the UN Decade of Action, Frankfurt Fashion Week has launched the Frankfurt Fashion SDG Summit / Photo: Pietro Sutera
