The Power of Conscious Style: Reflections from the Fashion Symposium – FIT New York

 


For several years I had the opportunity to attend a series of fashion conferences culminating in a powerful symposium at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) titled “Sustainable Fashion”. Each year, this event has opened up deeper reflections on the meaning, purpose, and future of fashion.

The first year focused on the philosophy of beauty: What makes something beautiful? How do we define beauty philosophically? And how do we use clothing as a form of non-verbal communication to express our values, priorities, and identity?

The second year explored personal style—how to define it, how to build it, and why it matters. One of the speakers was Patricia Herrera, daughter of the legendary Carolina Herrera, who shared her journey into the fashion world and how she has infused her distinct taste into the family brand. While her mother’s signature piece is the timeless white blouse, Patricia herself loves stripes—she wore a long black-and-white vertical striped skirt that day, effortlessly stylish and flattering.

Another highlight was Robin Sackin, professor in FIT’s MBA Fashion program, who offered a fascinating look at the history of fashion marketing—from 1880s mail-order catalogs and department stores like Bloomingdale’s, to the explosion of e-commerce and today’s digitally driven retail world. According to Sackin, today’s consumer expects to shop 24/7, mostly through mobile devices, guided by social media as the main source of inspiration. Retailers now track our behavior with advanced analytics: where we walk, how long we stay, what we browse. And the next frontier? Smart clothing and accessories that measure everything from our heart rate and steps to stress levels and temperature.

Technology, of course, has its place. I’m grateful for scientific progress—without it, I wouldn’t be writing this article today. But I can’t help but feel that fashion is beginning to own us, rather than the other way around. And that should give us pause.

Less Is More: Fashion with Purpose

The closing talk by Mary Sheehan, founder of It’s So You Fashion and professor of Fashion Marketing at CUA, struck a deep chord. Her message? Fashion can, and must, create positive, lasting social impact—starting in our own closets.

Sheehan shared some sobering statistics: in the U.S. alone, 25 billion pounds of textiles are discarded every year—roughly 82 pounds per person. Only 15% is donated or recycled; the remaining 85% ends up in landfills. That’s 21 billion pounds of clothing and fabric waste annually.

“We all know our consumption rate is unsustainable,” Sheehan said. But how did we get here?

In part, it’s due to the rise of fast fashion—affordable, trendy pieces that mimic runway looks but sacrifice quality. Shopping has become entertainment, not necessity. We walk into stores just to “see what we find.” Online, we're no longer comparing ourselves to our neighbors, but to celebrities and influencers who seem to live unattainable lives of glamour. The result? Overflowing closets… and still nothing to wear.

Sheehan challenged us to become active, socially responsible citizens through our wardrobes. Her advice was simple yet powerful:

  • Space out purchases (do we really need a new t-shirt?)
  • Repair garments instead of replacing them
  • Add secondhand pieces to your wardrobe
  • Donate or repurpose what you no longer use

We’ve all been there—buying something just because it’s trendy or inexpensive, only to wear it once. It’s a cycle we can break. And we must.

Sustainable Fashion Isn’t a Trend—It’s the Future

This year’s symposium also focused on sustainability in fashion. A keynote by Jean-Emmanuel Shein, Global Director of Social Responsibility at UNIQLO, revealed how one major brand is rethinking its role in the world. With a presence in countries like Bangladesh, UNIQLO’s mission is to create long-term, positive change—offering jobs that pay more than the minimum wage, providing employee training, and donating millions to refugee programs worldwide.

At the heart of their work is a simple belief: people are a company’s greatest asset. Their slogan says it all: “The power of sustainable fashion.”

Final Thoughts

This year’s message couldn’t be more timely. We must ask ourselves:

  • Are we dressing to express or to impress?
  • Are we shopping to fill a void or to enrich our lives?
  • Is our style serving us—or are we serving the trends?

True style doesn’t require excess. It requires intention. It requires us to slow down, to buy better, and to rediscover the joy of owning less but loving more.

Fashion can still be beautiful, fun, and expressive. But let’s make sure it’s also ethical, sustainable, and soul-filled.

Comentarios

Publicar un comentario

Entradas más populares de este blog

Why Fashion Should Care About Women's Self-Esteem

Imagen
  We all know that fashion influences how we feel about ourselves. But few of us realize just how deep that influence runs—especially for women. According to a study conducted at the Complutense University of Madrid, self-esteem and body image are profoundly shaped by how women perceive their physical appearance, often through the standards perpetuated by fashion and beauty media. This is something to think about: After 3,000 interview, most women interviewed in the study spoke about their bodies as if they were objects to be fixed, judged, or improved—rarely as integral parts of who they are. For many, feeling good in their skin had less to do with health or comfort, and more to do with how they appeared to others. This perception has serious consequences. Lower self-esteem in women has been directly linked to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even social withdrawal. And what fuels this? A constant, subtle pressure to meet unrealistic standards. But here’s the goo...
Leer más

Finding Meaning in the Ordinary

Imagen
  On the road to San Antonio, after a day filled with adventure—soaring across the canopy on a zipline and exploring over five kilometers of underground caves with the girls from “Teens With Meaning Camp”—we stumbled upon a simple roadside sign that took my breath away. It read: “Not a single act of love is ever wasted.” I don’t know who put it there or why, but its timing was perfect. It echoed something I deeply believe:   Every loving gesture matters—especially the unseen ones. We often think of love as something grand, something dramatic. But most love isn’t loud. It doesn’t get applause or likes or public recognition. It happens in the quiet. In the routine. In the little things. Like making a bed with care. Preparing dinner with someone’s favorite dish in mind. Keeping the house in order—not for show, but because it brings peace. Sending an email to a friend, even when your day is already overflowing. Smiling at the cashier at the grocery store. Answering...
Leer más

Beyond the Mirror: Rethinking the Representation of Women’s Bodies in Fashion Media

Imagen
  In an era saturated with visual noise and glossy perfection, luxury fashion advertising continues to define—and confine—the narrative of the female body. A recent study analyzing 290 advertisements from leading women’s fashion magazines uncovered a striking pattern: The overwhelming portrayal of anglo, young, and extremely thin women as the default standard of beauty. This is not merely a stylistic choice—it is a cultural signal, and its impact is profound. These ads, often void of emotional depth or intellectual engagement, reduce women to ornamental figures. They speak loudly without words, using the language of posture, gaze, and flawless skin to sell a product—but also, perhaps unintentionally, to sell a worldview. In this worldview, a woman’s value is tied not to her achievements, intellect, or inner strength, but to her ability to meet an almost impossible aesthetic ideal. What’s missing from these portrayals? Authenticity. Complexity. Cultural diversity. Mature women...
Leer más