Back to All Events

2025 Symposium


  • Yale University New Haven, CT, 06511 U.S.A (map)

Symposium 2025

The 2nd Symposium of the International Research Network on Sustainable Fashion Consumption

Symposium theme: Fair consumption space for fashion

Fashion consumption and production have doubled since the beginning of the 21st century, leading to fundamental changes in how we acquire, use, and dispose of our clothes. Recognized as the fourth most environmentally-pressing consumption domain after food, transport, and energy use, consumption of fashion and textiles and resulting post-consumer textile waste are becoming more evident, especially in urban contexts. With the richest quintiles of the population being responsible for the highest carbon emissions from clothing consumption, conversations around democratization of fashion and access to affordable clothing take place against the backdrop of stark inequalities and what could be considered a fair consumption space for all.

The II Symposium of the International Research Network on Sustainable Fashion Consumption aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, and students to share ongoing research and practice from the field to contribute to a transition towards more sustainable forms of fashion consumption. The following core themes will be discussed at the Symposium:

  • Collaborative fashion consumption and sustainable fashion consumption practices, including second-hand shopping, swaps, and renting, repair and creative re-imagining of clothing

  • Trends of minimalism, downsizing and decluttering, mindful consumption, and slow fashion

  • Wear and use practices, wardrobe studies

  • Price and value of clothing in a fair consumption space for fashion, right to affordable clothing

  • Education for sustainable fashion consumption, including style education, mending and repair skills, post-purchase garment care

  • Communication around sustainable fashion consumption, including social media and the role of labelling

  • Fashion consumption practices in various geographical contexts, transformation potential for fashion consumption in the urban settings

  • Gender dimension of fashion consumption

  • The role of creativity and community in fashion consumption

  • Policies and industry efforts required to achieve more sustainable fashion consumption

Call for contributions

Research sessions

We would like to invite abstracts (max. 500 words) for scientific studies that address one or several of these themes. Papers could be at different stages of completion, research-in-progress is welcome. Abstracts will be peer-reviewed, ranked, and selected for the Symposium on a competitive basis. Some of the accepted contributions will be invited for publication after the Symposium.

Student Colloquium

We would like to invite abstracts (max. 500 words) for a Student Colloquium from students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs and working on the topics of sustainable fashion consumption. The colloquium will offer students an opportunity to present their ongoing work in a supportive environment and receive personalized feedback from at least one senior scholar, as well as their peers.

Practical projects session

We would like to invite abstracts (max. 500 words) for a Practical Projects Session that will showcase ongoing social and institutional initiatives related to sustainable fashion consumption. Specifically, we are interested in projects related to second-hand clothing resale, swapping, renting, repair, and upcycling, information sharing and educational efforts, and local community-building solutions. The session is intended for practitioners and activists who run initiatives that help change consumption practices towards more sustainable alternatives.

Format

The event will take place in person with sessions open to online participation.

Green Fashion Tour

During the third day of the Symposium, participants will be invited to join a Green Fashion Tour, which will bring you through sustainable fashion initiatives in New York (Participants will be required to travel independently to New York City.).

Cost

Thanks to the generous support of the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, attendance at the Symposium is free of charge for all accepted participants (including food and refreshments during the Symposium on-site and the Green Fashion Tour in New York).

However, the number of places is limited. Thus, the Organizing Committee urges all accepted participants to consider carefully their commitment to attendance, to allow as many people to attend as possible, on a fixed budget.

Timeline

  • Deadline for all abstracts: April 1st      2025

  • Decision for abstracts: May 15th      2025

  • Registration closes: October 1st      2025

  • Dates of the event: October 27-29th 2025

Organizing Committee

Cosette Joyner-Martinez, Texas State University (USA) – scientific lead

Katia Dayan Vladimirova, Post Growth Fashion Agency (Switzerland) – communication and partnerships lead

Meital Peleg Mizrachi, Yale University (USA) – Student Colloquium lead

Panayiota Alevizou, Sheffield University (UK) – Practical Session lead

Claudia E. Henninger, Manchester University (UK) – publication lead

Samira Iran, Technical University Berlin (Germany) – inclusion and participation lead

Heather Fitzgerald, Yale University – host

About the Network

The International Research Network for Sustainable Fashion Consumption (www.sustainablefashionconsumption.org) is a voluntary scientific collaboration initiative among researchers working on the nexus between fashion consumption and sustainability. Started in 2019, this community of scholars counts over 120 members across 20 countries. The Network has been instrumental in facilitating scientific collaborations, including joint research projects conference sessions, and outreach activities, bringing research insights closer to policy and advocacy.

SUBMIT YOUR CONTRIBUTION HERE: https://txstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9MGWwbRowLcnTH8

In Partnership with:

Yale Center for Business and the Environment