Teen Vogue Partners with SFF to Engage GenZ and Reimagine the Future of Sustainable Fashion
GenZ has never known a world without fast fashion.
Coined in 1989 by the New York Times, the term ‘fast fashion’ was first used about Zara boasting that it only took them 15 days to ideate a new design and get it into its stores.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, fast fashion took off in the US, with retailers like Zara, H&M, Topshop, and Forever21 dominating the market. By the mid-2000s, shoppers were addicted to the cheap prices and ability to dress stylishly at a fraction of the previous cost. By the end of the 2010s, fast fashion evolved to ultra-fast fashion, which turned social media trends into products at record speeds. Online brands like Fashion Nova, PrettyLittleThing, and Shein dominate the market reaching millions of young shoppers through social media and digital platforms, blurring the boundaries between commerce, entertainment, and connection.
For GenZers, it's hard to imagine a world without fast fashion. They’ve been conditioned to view clothes as disposable and expect low prices for the trendy clothes they see on social media.
At the same time, having grown up during times of great uncertainty facing issues like climate change, racial inequalities, and discrimination, Gen Z has strong beliefs and values and an even stronger voice than previous generations who didn’t have the megaphone of social media.
Older generations may not have been aware of issues like garment worker exploitation, textile pollution and waste, and microplastics; however, younger generations are taking note and are leading the charge when it comes to demanding sustainability and transparency. Gen Z’s concern for the environment has pushed the fashion industry to respond by championing causes and integrating social and environmental values into its products and services.
This is a generation that wants to see actionable plans and measurable progress from their favorite brands and isn’t afraid to voice their desire to align with brands that reflect their values.
However, despite leading the change in demanding sustainability, transparency, and diversity from brands, GenZ’s relationship with fast fashion and sustainability is nuanced, often creating tension between their needs and their values. While secondhand, repurposed, and recycled fashion is popular among GenZ, fast fashion is hard to resist, even for a generation aware of its environmental and social implications.
As current consumers and future business leaders, the fashion industry must engage with younger generations to respect and combine their unique POV’s with existing solutions to drive industry-wide change that will disrupt traditional systems.
With this in mind, SFF is partnering with Teen Vogue for SFF’s 2022 digital conference to engage the GenZ and young millennial audience to ignite conversations and inspire change.
“I'm incredibly excited for Teen Vogue to partner with the Sustainable Fashion Forum for this event,” said Versha Sharma, Teen Vogue editor-in-chief. “I've been an avid follower of the community discussions and am always impressed with the thoughtfulness and emphasis on real solutions. Teen Vogue is all about impact, and there is no greater or more urgent conversation than how the climate crisis affects all of us — and in turn, how we affect, contribute to, and ideally mitigate it, both in the short and long term. It's past time for these conversations to go mainstream, and we're ready to help speed it up and build on the great work that SFF has already been doing."
On April 22-23th, we’re gathering the next generation of sustainability advocates, industry experts, leaders, and dynamic change-makers on the URL to spark cross-industry conversations, cultivate collaboration, and accelerate the action-based solutions that will shape the future of fashion.
Known for asking tough questions that ignite conversation and inspire change, we’re thrilled to bring the SFF community back together for a weekend of unparalleled discovery, learning, and networking with curious minds from around the world — all from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you have Wi-Fi!).
Event Overview
Conference | April 22-23
Our virtual conference programming will feature 20+ sessions across our 2022 themes and will unpack the multifaceted and nuanced layers of the sustainability conversation at the intersections of fashion, ethics, climate change, and culture.
From brand-led firesides and engaging keynotes to panel sessions and collaborative roundtables, the SFF conference is a highly anticipated experience attended by sustainability enthusiasts and advocates of all industry levels. Attendees will leave the weekend with the knowledge and tools to make a tangible impact in their community and beyond.
Pop-Up Networking Tour | PDX, LA & NYC
The relationships built and fostered at SFF IRL are unmatched. From attendees landing internships and job opportunities to participants gaining new clients/customers and meeting collaborative business partners, the SFF conference is unique in that our highly engaged community spans across the fashion value chain. The networking opportunities are truly endless at SFF.
While this year’s conference is taking place on the URL, we’re gathering SFF attendees and participants IRL for a multi-city pop-up tour and networking series leading up to the conference. Attracting attendees from all over the world, our Pop-Up Networking Tour is a safe, no-pressure, fun way to connect, seek out inspiration, and find collaboration opportunities.
Watch this space for tour announcements and updates on our pop-ups throughout the season. Join us April 22-23 – register now to save your spot!
