– It will be held on 13 and 14 November at CaixaForum València, as a meeting point for industry professionals and the general public with a high level of awareness about the subject.

– The entire programme has been designed under the slogan “From Ideas to Action”, including big names of sustainability activists or sustainability managers in international industry firms, such as the 2000s model and climate activist Lily Cole, or the head of sustainable design at Dior Men, Natalia Culebras.

– The congress is curated by Patricia Moreno, journalist and expert in fashion communication, and celebrates the role of the Valencian Community as the leading region in the textile industry in Spain in terms of its contribution to GDP.

“Future of Fashion” will once again be held in face-to-face format on 13 and 14 November in the city of Valencia, with the aim of being a source of learning and the perfect place to discover new techniques in the fashion sector, always from a sustainable perspective. It will turn into a significant meeting point for professionals, production companies and disseminators, as well as for all kinds of people interested in the industry.

“From Ideas to Action “ is the slogan that has defined the selection of speakers and useful content in this second edition, which takes over the baton after being held in 2022 within the framework of the World Design Capital. The meeting will be spread over two days, with the participation of prominent names such as the British model, actress and activist Lily Cole, who was the muse and great friend of the late Vivienne Westwood; Natalia Culebras, a Spaniard in charge of the sustainability of Dior’s men’s line; and María Fernanda Hernández Franco, who heads the sustainability department at the multi-brand luxury boutique Luisaviaroma. They will be joined by a number of companies and organisations currently inspiring and leading change in one of the most polluting industries, but also one which is most committed to changing the planet.

The Fundació del Disseny de la Comunitat Valenciana – the meeting’s organising body – wanted to focus on the role of design as a positive agent for change, one of the maxims that the organisation applies to various sectors and areas of action. In this way, the entity provides continuity for the “Future of Fashion” congress in a biannual format and highlights the textile industry as one of the historical pillars of the Valencian region. Since 2023 the project has been curated by the journalist and fashion communication expert Patricia Moreno, a native of Valencia with more than ten years’ experience in fashion magazines and international training projects. This year’s edition will also feature journalist Vicente Gallart as master of ceremonies. He is also responsible for the sustainable fashion, beauty and lifestyle website ecolover.life and author of several books on fashion. In addition, Enrica Ponzellini, Italian journalist with experience at Condè Nast Italia and Prada, will lead the closing dialogue with international model and climate activist Lily Cole.

Tickets are now available on the conference website (https://futurefashion.design), in single day or double day format. The organisers have made available to the public a first run of 50 tickets at a reduced price (35€), available while stocks last. Subsequently, they will be priced at €45. It will also be possible to purchase single-day tickets, priced at €25 each day. In all cases, the price includes access to the conferences, lunch as a networking space for attendees, and an editorial gift.

Lectures, live demonstrations and panel discussions

The programme unveiled by the organisation links terms which, at the risk of being seen as opposites, are today closely linked. Thus, this practical vision of the congress will materialise with the business world and activism coming together, with the promotion of conscious luxury, or the identification of waste as a valuable resource in production processes. All these terms are understood as the real revolution and alternative to achieve a more sustainable fashion industry.

MONDAY 13 NOVEMBER

OPENING CONFERENCE — Natalia Culebras, head of sustainable design at Dior Men. “Sustainability as an innovation asset in fashion” / La sostenibilidad como activo de innovación en la moda.

ROUND TABLE — Business & Human Rights, Fashion Revolution, Jeanologia and IVEFA. “Activists and companies: A possible match?” / Activismo y empresa: ¿una combinación posible? Moderated by fashion journalist Vicente Gallart, with the participation of:

• María Prandi, Business and Human Rights
• Mimi Martínez, Fashion Revolution
• Carmen Silla, Jeanologia
• Euri Nácher, IVEFA (Valencian Institute for the Study of Family-Owned Businesses)

WORKSHOP AND LIVE DEMONSTRATION — Regina Polanco, CEO of Pyratex. Supplier of natural performance materials. “Making the tomorrow textiles” / Creando los textiles del mañana. (Including live demonstration).

TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER

CONFERENCE — María Fernanda Hernández Franco, sustainability manager at Luisaviaroma. “Towards a conscious luxury” / Hacia un lujo consciente.

WORKSHOP AND LIVE DEMONSTRATION — Mónica Rodríguez, CEO and founder of Recovo. Company offering circular solutions for the fashion industry using waste as a resource. “Connecting businesses and sustainable textiles” / Conectando empresas y textiles sostenibles. (Including live demonstration).

CLOSING CONFERENCE — Lily Cole, entrepreneur, activist, model and actress. “What I learned as a changemaker in fashion” / Lo que aprendí como agente de cambio en la moda. A conversation with fashion consultant Enrica Poncellini.

The different presentations, demos and panel discussions will be combined with useful moments of relaxation and networking, in which all attendees will be able to participate.

From ideas to action

In the words of the curator herself, Patricia Moreno: “I had a few doubts, but after months of intense work in the preparation of this congress together with the Fundació del Disseny team, I can confirm it: Valencia is set to become the capital of sustainable fashion in the Mediterranean, following in the footsteps of Copenhagen in Northern Europe. Our proposal is bidirectional: that international and national fashion agents recognise the city’s potential and that those who make up the local responsible fashion scene have the opportunity to discover, connect and be inspired by profiles that are making the ethical and aesthetic transformation of global fashion possible.”

Xavi Calvo (director of the Fundació del Disseny) recalls: “The design sector has the great opportunity, once again, to champion the discourse of sustainability based on Mediterranean values and production processes, based on circular manufacturing that is fair to both the natural environment and the professional organisations involved. Celebrating “Future of Fashion” in the Valencian Community is a recognition of historical industries such those in textiles and footwear, and at the same time the confirmation that our region continues to look to the future with principled ambition”.

“Future of Fashion” 2023 is a project promoted by the Fundació del Disseny de la Comunitat Valenciana, with the support of the City Council of Valencia and the Instituto Valenciano de la Competitividad Empresarial (IVACE), and with the collaboration of the “La Caixa” Foundation.