Spring 2026 - Yale Sustainable Fashion Colloquium: A Discussion Group on Sustainable Fashion
SEMESTER
Spring 2026
LEVEL OF COMMITMENT
- Please be sure you can attend 5 of the 6 sessions to participate
- All dates are Fridays from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM:
- January 16, 2026
- January 30, 2026
- February 20, 2026
- February 27, 2026
- March 27, 2026
- April 17, 2026
Discussion Group Facilitators
- Dr. Mary Davis of the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
- Dr. Margaret Kerr of the Center for Green Chemistry & Engineering at Yale
- Michelle Gabriel of the Yale School of Environment
Discussion Group Overview
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.
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. 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.
Any questions, please reach out to Michelle Gabriel at michelle.gabriel@yale.edu. Please note: space for the Colloquium in Spring 2026 is limited; interested participants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.