Over the last 8 years, Giving Women has organised a yearly conference that examines a theme that effects vulnerable girls and women globally.

The Giving Women Annual Conference has become an important platform for convening UN organisations, Civil Society, NGOs, businesses, academia, and private individuals to INFORM, REFLECT AND ACT on what we need to do together to improve the lives fo girls and women globally.

This year we are focussing on the fashion industry in which 95% of the employees are women, providing on the one hand livelihoods for the poorest but often under unacceptable conditions. Giving Women is looking at this vast subject from the viewpoint of production – supply chain and labour rights – and consumption. Women are always at the centre of our discourse.

Fashion is a source of pleasure and self-expression. It is a way we express who we are and our value to the world. Ironically, while the clothes we wear may make us feel proud, beautiful and strong, what they are doing to our environment and to the women who make our clothes is very destructive. Few people are aware that the fashion industry is the second largest polluter after oil. While we may be sensitised to the poor labour practices that are affecting millions of people (95% women) who create our clothes, we do not have the knowledge or opportunity to allow us make better choices.

Today, both people and the environment suffer as a result of the way fashion is made, sourced and consumed. Fashion Revolution

Full Programme Videos

13:30 – OPENING REMARKS AND SETTING THE STAGE 

Setting the stage for the conference giving the history and reasons of the fashion revolution. We will have a brief overview of the systemic problems caused by the fast fashion movement such as a lack of transparency in the destructive and abusive supply chains of major fashion.

Atalanti Moquette, Founder, Giving Women

Anna Brismar, Circular Fashion and Green Strategy / Owner

14:30 PANEL 1: CLEANING THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Deep dive into the structural and systemic issues and solutions for the garment industry supply chain.

PANELISTS:

  • Leslie Johnston, C&A Foundation / Executive Directory
  • Shanaaz Preena, MAS Holding / Head of sustainability
  • Damien Sanfilippo, Better Cotton Initiative / Director of Standards and Assurance

MODERATOR: Catia Cesari, TAU Investment Management / Operating Partner

17:15 – PANEL 3 : SUSTAINABLE FASHION…BEYOND ETHICS / IT’S GOOD BUSINESS!

What is the role of the investor and senior management in transforming the garment industry to make it more transparent, ethical, environmentally responsible and economically viable?

PANELISTS:

  • Catia Cesari, TAU Investment Management / Operating Partner
  • Caroline Chalmer, Global Fashion Agenda / Chief Operating Officer
  • Angela de Wolff, Conser Invest / Founder

MODERATOR: Elianna Sabbag, Giving Women / Executive Committee Member

 

13:40 – OPENING KEYNOTE CONVERSATION

This conversation will highlight some of the issues in the garment industry. While the industry has provided livelihoods to vulnerable women, at what cost and in what conditions.

PANELISTS:

  • Anna Brismar, Circular Fashion and Green Strategy / Owner
  • Musimbi Kanyoro, Global Fund for Women / President and CEO
  • Alexander Kohnnstamm, Fair Wear Foundation / Executive Director
  • Pieter Ventevogel, Sr Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Officer, UNHCR

MODERATOR: Olga Miler, Innovation Architect

15:45 PANEL 2 : ETHICAL FASHION SOLUTIONS

How to go to scale and ensure the viability and scale for ethical fashion solutions? Connecting ethical fashion labels to markets at scale.

PANELISTS:

  • Veronica D’Souza, Carcel / Founder and CEO
  • Martine Jarlgaard, Martine Jarlgaard London / Founder
  • Narmada Ramakrishna, Pink Maharani / Founder and CEO

MODERATOR: Olga Miler, Innovation Architect

18:15 CLOSING CONVERSATION AND CLOSING REMARKS / WHAT CAN THE INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER DO?

What can WE do to change the fashion industry for the good.

PANELISTS:

  • Orsola de Castro, Fashion Revolution / Co-Founder and Creative Director
  • Aruna Kashyap, Human Rights Watch / Senior Council Women’s Rights
  • Frieda de Koninck, Clean Clothes Campaign / European Regional CoordinatoR
  • Sophie Chapuisat, Chairwoman, Giving Women

MODERATOR : Xenya Cherny Scanion, Green Stilettos / Founder

 

 

 

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

- Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness

Philanthropy is the love of humanity