The week-long series will include a pop-up reuse market, upcycling and mending workshops, fashion sustainability panel discussions, and a ReFashion runway show – all focused on reducing textile waste.
From February 22nd to the 28th, the Department of Sanitation’s donateNYC program and the Foundation for New York’s Strongest will host the second annual ReFashion Week NYC, a one-of-kind event celebrating sustainability and reuse in fashion. The week-long celebration will include multiple events, such as a pop-up market, clothing swaps, panel discussions, a mending and upcycling workshop, and a ReFashion runway show – all focused on reducing textile waste and making fashion sustainable.
Every year, New Yorkers send approximately 200,000 tons of clothing, shoes, and accessories to landfill. ReFashion Week NYC is connecting the fashion world, sustainability experts, the re-use industry and consumers to reduce textile waste.
“New Yorkers discard an enormous amount of textiles every year that is equivalent to the entire height of the Empire State Building – and that needs to change. The vast majority of these items can be recycled, donated, or mended and repaired to extend their life-cycle,” said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “ReFashion Week NYC is focused on starting conversations and action between the fashion world, businesses and consumers on how we can make fashion more sustainable and reduce this waste.”
This year’s ReFashion Week NYC is sponsored by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Recycle Track Systems and INTURN, and done in collaboration with members of the donateNYC Partnership, including FABSCRAP, Housing Works, and Goodwill, and fashion industry partners like Eileen Fisher, depop, and Heron Preston. In addition to holding events, ReFashion Week NYC has issued a Lookbook – a sampling of fashionable outfits styled with secondhand clothing from our donateNYC partners.
ReFashion Week NYC officially begins Saturday, February 22nd, with a kick-off event at the Brooklyn Army Terminal that will include a pop-up reuse market, a clothing swap, an interactive art installation, and panel discussions on sustainable fashion with leading experts and designers. The week-long series culminates with a ReFashion Show on Friday, February 28th, at The Canvas in Williamsburg, in which stylists and designers will showcase their thrifted styles and upcycled designs, while experts in fashion and sustainability will judge the looks and pick one winning stylist and one winning designer.
“NYCEDC is thrilled to host New York City’s ReFashion Week Kickoff event at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, the premier affordable hub for modern industrial businesses, entrepreneurs, and working families, to celebrate sustainable fashion across the city,” said NYCEDC Executive Vice President of Industry and Innovation Lindsay Clinton. “Attendees can explore how NYCEDC and BAT are supporting small businesses, the circular economy, and local manufacturing which serve as cornerstones of ReFashion Week. Thank you to our partners at DSNY, donateNYC and the Foundation for NY’S Strongest for their help in facilitating this exciting event.”
“The complexity of the fashion industry requires collaborative solutions from the public and private sectors. ReFashion Week is an exciting and essential step towards making progress in this field more consistent and broadly understood,” said Devin James Gilmartin, President and Creative Director of the Canvas by Querencia Studio. “The Canvas is thrilled to be the host of ReFashion Week and the ReFashion Show, and we look forward to celebrating the emerging talent and creativity of New Yorkers throughout.”
For a full listing of events and to view the ReFashion Week Lookbook, visit refashionweek.nyc.
About the New York City Department of Sanitation
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) promotes a healthy environment through the efficient management of solid waste and the development of environmentally sound long-range planning for handling refuse, including recyclables. The Department operates 59 district garages and manages a fleet of more than 2,000 rear-loading collection trucks, 450 mechanical brooms and 695 salt/sand spreaders. The Department clears litter, snow and ice from approximately 6,500 miles of City streets and removes debris from vacant lots as well as abandoned vehicles from City streets.
About donateNYC
DonateNYC is a program of the NYC Department of Sanitation, helps New Yorkers give goods, find goods, and do good, with tools that make it easy to donate or find used items. DonateNYC also provides vital support for New York City’s reuse community, helping nonprofit reuse organizations increase and promote their reuse efforts. By donating and reusing goods instead of discarding them, New Yorkers can greatly reduce waste, conserve energy and resources, save money, and help provide jobs and human services for New Yorkers in need. DonateNYC is an essential part of NYC’s Zero Waste Goals.
About The Foundation for New York’s Strongest
The Foundation for New York’s Strongest, Inc. is the official nonprofit organization of the New York City Department of Sanitation. Supported by private funding and in-kind donations, the Foundation leverages non-traditional strategies to promote sustainability and advance the essential services of Sanitation employees.
CONTACT: Julie Raskin / 646-885-4928
Photo credit: Courtesy of Albert Chau for DSNY