Moving the Needle: An Exploration of Sustainable Fashion

Program Overview:

Moving the Needle is an interdisciplinary initiative at Yale dedicated to advancing research, dialogue, and innovation in sustainable fashion. Rooted in rigorous inquiry and collaboration, the program examines the intersections of fashion with industries such as renewable energy, sustainable materials, chemicals, consumer behavior, policy, governance structures, economics, supply chain management, innovative business models, sustainable finance, and culture.

Fashion is a universal necessity, integral to daily life across all cultures and societies. The decisions made within the industry ranging from material selection and volume production to the development of innovative business models have the capacity to generate profound and far-reaching impacts, influencing both people and the planet.

The fashion industry, valued at $2.5 trillion and employing over 75 million people globally, represents both a universal cultural touchstone and a significant driver of environmental and social challenges. With 92 million tons of waste generated annually and contributions of 4–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the need for transformative action is urgent.

Our Goals:

Advancing Knowledge and Dialogue

Create a platform for critical discussions and knowledge sharing that deepens understanding of fashion’s environmental, social, and economic impacts. Engage students, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders in meaningful dialogue to shape a more equitable and sustainable global fashion system.

Fostering Transformative Solutions for Sustainable Fashion

Accelerate innovation and adoption of sustainable practices across the fashion industry by driving interdisciplinary research, connecting diverse stakeholders, and exploring strategies in materials, supply chains, and business models.

Empowering Actionable Change Across Sectors

Equip individuals and organizations with the insights, tools, and frameworks needed to transition toward sustainability. Promote circularity, consumption reduction, renewable energy integration, and innovative finance while prioritizing social empowerment and ethical governance within the fashion industry.

How we are working to achieve these goals:

Through speaker series, discussion groups, and interdisciplinary research, Moving the Needle fosters critical dialogue and actionable insights to reimagine fashion’s future. By promoting circularity, low-impact practices, and social empowerment, we aim to create pathways for a more sustainable and equitable global fashion industry.

We are excited to continue building this program and would love ideas on where to go from here!

This Spring we're offering the Yale Sustainable Fashion Colloquium: A Discussion Group on Sustainable Fashion thanks to a collaboration between the Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY), The Center for Green Chemistry & Engineering at Yale and the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. If you are a Yale student and interested in engaging in peer discussions about these critical topics and exploring how this knowledge can drive positive and effective social change in the fashion industry, we encourage you to apply!

The Yale Sustainable Fashion Colloquium investigates fashion as a powerful framework for making sense of interconnected global challenges across social, economic, cultural, and environmental systems. Taking an intentionally interdisciplinary approach, the group examines how fashion’s material practices, symbolic meanings, and industrial operations are shaped by and shape business, policy, governance, geopolitics, industry, global trade, labor, culture, and society. Participants critically engage with readings and discussions while developing a unique perspective and approach grounded in their academic background or interests. Through reflective writing and a sequence of mini deliverables, participants hone a systems-oriented pitch addressing a fashion-related issue, using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a shared framing to connect disciplines, ideologies, and approaches to sustainability.

Led by Dr. Mary Davis of the Jackson School of Global Affairs, Dr. Margaret Kerr of the Center for Green Chemistry & Engineering at Yale, and Michelle Gabriel of Yale School of Environment, this Colloquium welcomes participants to apply from across the Yale ecosystem including students, faculty, fellows, and staff.

Interested applicants are asked to apply by submitting a brief essay describing their interest in the topic and how it may align to your area of interest or study.

2026 Discussion Group Dates
*Before you apply, please check these meeting dates to ensure you can make at least 5 of the 6 sessions. These sessions will run from 10:00 - 11:30am.

January 16, 2026
January 30, 2026
February 20, 2026
February 27, 2026
March 27, 2026
April 17, 2026

Please apply here

The deadline to apply is January 13th at 11:59 pm EST.
*Please note: space for the Colloquium in Spring 2026 is limited; interested participants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

Facilitators for this program are Dr. Mary E. Davis, Dr. Margaret Kerr, Michelle Gabriel.

Questions? Contact Michelle Gabriel at michele.gabriel@yale.edu.

We’re excited to share the 2024–2025 Moving the Needle Year in Review Report—a look at how our Yale-based initiative has expanded and elevated its work to create a thriving community for sustainable fashion.

This past year, we saw what’s possible when passionate students, innovators, and thought-leaders come together. From intimate conversations with industry icons to hands-on workshops and global convenings, we strengthened our role in advancing research, dialogue, and action toward a life-affirming fashion system.

Have a read, get inspired, and then get in touch with us to see how you can engage.

Read and download the report

Moving the Needle started as a speaker series featuring people working across various areas in sustainable fashion. Students hear firsthand what their jobs are like, how they might consider following a similar (or different!) pathway, and engage in conversation with people doing the work.

We are now a platform at Yale hosting critical discussions and knowledge sharing to help deepen understanding of fashion’s environmental, social, and economic impacts. These conversations and events engage students, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders in meaningful dialogue to shape a more equitable and sustainable global fashion system.

Sustainable Fashion Consumption home page

Yale is now the home of the Sustainable Fashion Consumption Network!

Thanks to an Impact! Award from Yale Planetary Solutions, CBEY has become the host of the Sustainable Fashion Consumption Network.

This network brings academic researchers and practitioners together to work on the issues of fashion consumption in the context of sustainability. We exchange ideas and news, collaborate on articles, grants and other projects, organize events and sessions at international scientific conferences, share our knowledge and findings with the public and contribute to the efforts of different stakeholders to advance sustainable forms of fashion consumption.

Visit the SFCN site