Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network to integrate SDGs

Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network has launched a global partnership with the Conscious Fashion Campaign and the United Nations Office for Partnerships to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into over 50 leading international textile trade fairs, which in all attract more than 22,000 companies and over half a million trade visitors annually.

In January 2019, the Sustainable Development Goals were introduced to a Messe Frankfurt event for the first time during the world’s leading platform for sustainable fashion, Neonyt, in Berlin as part of Berlin Fashion Week, where the Conscious Fashion Campaign was presented.

The initiative, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, unites the fashion industry to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and champions fashion as an influential sector to address the world’s most pressing issues. The campaign is dedicated to driving change through advocacy, education and engagement of industry innovators to create a sustainable future for all.

The collaboration continued throughout the July 2019 show edition. The Conscious Fashion Campaign highlighted the Sustainable Development Goals via the engagement of attendees and exhibiting brands as well as in panel talks on the stage of the Neonyt conference Fashion sustain with representatives from industry and NGOs.

“The international fashion and textile industry has a massive influence on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, both in terms of climate protection measures; ensuring environmental protection; promoting circularity; and enabling fair working conditions. Thanks to the more than 50 textile events that Messe Frankfurt organises across the globe, we can reach a broad, professional audience, raise awareness of the goals and galvanise support,” says Robert Skinner, executive director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships.

Detlef Braun, member of the Executive Board at Messe Frankfurt, adds: “The Texpertise Network fulfils a role as a communication facilitator for all our global textile activities. We will gradually start to present the Sustainable Development Goals to this network at our events and encourage them to exchange ideas with one another. We’re very proud to support the Conscious Fashion Campaign and the United Nations Office for Partnerships in the activation and implementation of the goals.”