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Design Futurist SM announces the launch of its Sustainable Fashion and Textiles Workshop series hosted by the Pratt Design Incubator, a vibrant and energetic group of creative professionals working to link sustainability to enterprise. These workshops, run by Design Futurist founder Natalia Allen, have been created to drive economic, environmental and social sustainability in the fashion industry. ’Most people aren’t aware that 25% of the world's pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton and that America is the world’s largest exporter,’ notes Natalia.
The Sustainable Fashion & Textile workshops are curated, easy to understand and interactive presentations on sustainability. The events engage diverse audiences in the important facts about sustainable fashion and textiles to drive positive change in the industry and to support healthy lifestyles. Participants from the beta event declared, "The workshop was eye-opening,’ and "The talk . . . was informative and exciting.’
The creative workshops are designed to provide:
- An in-depth review of current practices and innovations
- Clarity around the various sustainability claims being made by companies
- Understanding of new business opportunities
- Education for professional and personal development
Debuting Thursday, July 29th in New York City, Design Futurist’s goals are to provide more workshops online and across the globe as partnerships and interest increases. ’I plan to offer my unique knowledge and experience to a broader audience in order to drive the type of thinking needed to create a more sustainable and innovative fashion industry,’ comments Natalia.
Design Futurist, named one of the 10 Most Creative Small Businesses by Fast Company, is a product design consultancy based in New York City that partners with global companies such as Calvin Klein, Dupont and Donna Karan to launch innovative and sustainable fashion, accessories and textiles. Natalia Allen is the recipient of the highly coveted Parsons ’Designer of the Year Award,’ a title she shares with Marc Jacobs. She frequently lectures around the globe sharing her ideas on sustainable design and consumption with audiences at Wearable Futures, Textiles the Next Horizon and Davos.
This year Fast Company magazine name Natalia Allen one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business, an accolade she shares with fashion designer Tom Ford. In 2009 Natalia was honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader, a distinction given to a remarkable group of entrepreneurs, academics and politicians under 40 who strive to find innovative solutions for current and future global challenges.
Natalia adds, ’90% of consumers prefer to do business with eco-friendly companies. Yet 70% think that many companies use ’green’ as a marketing ploy. Herein lies the opportunity for both business and consumers to win.’
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