Elegant New York displays the taste and elegance of denizens and dressmakers of New York City and upstate through the nineteenth […]

Consumers, and even some fashion professionals, have all but forgotten the link between clothing and agriculture. Any fiber or fabric not made from oil comes from the land. The Netherlands has a rich agricultural history, leading science and innovation institutes, a renowned creative sector and once a thriving textile industry. But driven by globalization and the rise of petrochemicals, fashion supply chains have become increasingly opaque and polluting. Fashion brands and retailers rarely or never produce their products locally, which means that regionally grown raw materials are exported or destroyed. In light of the growing awareness of climate change and the importance of nature conservation, there is a small but growing realization that textiles and fashion should play a role in caring for the land and the animals on which it depends. In their presentation, they will share international examples of different fashion companies working more closely with farmers, the results they have achieved and the key elements needed to do so successfully.