Positive Impact Awards to honour fashion sustainability

Pratt Institute's Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator (BF+DA) will host the 2nd annual Positive Impact Awards (PIA) in Brooklyn, US on November 4. Pioneers in the sustainable fashion industry like Patagonia, American clothing designer Eileen Fisher, technology venture Bolt Threads and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition will be honoured at this ceremony.

PIA is part of the BF+DA celebration of completing two years as a Brooklyn-based social innovation entity that supports over 32 sustainable businesses in various sectors including fashion.

“The time to adopt 21st century strategies is now. Successful businesses need to implement the core values of waste reduction, transparent supply chains, ensuring the use of ethical production methods and exploring new technologies. These are the things that are driving our future. We're here to get the apparel industry on track,” said Deb Johnson founder of BF+DA.

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Tours of the BF+DA's production lab and the sustainable textile library, and demonstrations on the digital knitting machines will also be carried out along with the award ceremony. BF+DA venture fellows will also open their studios for shopping.

“Getting 500 advocates for the environment and society together in one place will be a heady experience. It's a movement that finally has traction,” added Johnson.

From gender neutral clothing for women to 3D printed jewellery, handcrafted shoes and knitwear, the BF+DA designers have collectively increased its revenue by $1.75 million and created over 50 new jobs in Brooklyn.