Berkeley College students and alumni recently joined government, business, education, and youth representatives at a United Nations forum focused on advancing sustainability in the fashion industry.
The college participated in a July 14 side event held at the United Nations Church Center in New York City as part of the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum. The event, titled “Fashioning Transformative, Equitable and Innovative Actions for a Sustainable Future for All,” examined how innovation and collaboration can address environmental and social challenges.
Berkeley College student Monserrat Miranda, of Englewood, and alumna Keiara Lewis, of Paterson, participated in an interactive youth segment focused on the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals and their application to the fashion industry. Andrea Kennedy, faculty lead for fashion at the Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business, moderated the discussion.
“Innovation is not just about creating new products,” Miranda said. “It is also about redesigning the systems that we already have. We have an opportunity to rethink how clothing is made from the ground up.”
The panel discussed ways to make fashion more sustainable, including reducing wastewater, upcycling “deadstock” fabrics (unused leftover materials from textile and clothing production) and reusing materials. Berkeley College also highlighted initiatives aimed at reducing waste and reusing fabrics.
Lewis said progress will require cooperation among consumers, fashion brands, and government.
“I believe that collaboration from everyone is going to be needed in order for us to move into a more sustainable future,” she said. “Not just from us, but also from the brands, also from the government – from everyone.”
The panel also highlighted the Global Peace Flag, an initiative of Fashioning for Social and Environmental Justice that Berkeley College helped create using sustainable and repurposed fabrics. The flag is scheduled to be displayed at the United Nations in August 2026.
“Creativity linked with education brings about inclusive economies that can be better supportive of our social systems and communities as a whole,” said Runa Ray, founder and executive director of Fashioning for Social and Environmental Justice.
“I feel both inspired and empowered by our Berkeley College participants at this panel,” said Patricia Greer, JD, provost of Berkeley College. “It is critical that the United Nations listen to the voices of our youth as they are the future of sustainability and sustainable fashion.
“Their ideas will mold the fashion industry tomorrow, and the more proactive we are about breaking unsustainable cycles today, the better off we will be in the future,” Greer said.
The forum was jointly co-organized by United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC), and the United Nations Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI).
Photo Caption: (L-R) Event moderator Nicola Dyer of NJDyer Global Advisory; Berkeley College student Gabriel Pereira; Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice Founder Runa Ray; Berkeley College alumna Keiara Lewis; Berkeley College student Monserrat Miranda; Berkeley College Faculty Lead for Fashion Andrea Kennedy; Berkeley College alumna Yi Fan; Berkeley College student Sramble Kpeye; and Berkeley College Provost Patricia Greer. – Photo credit: Robert Duffy.
