When Fashion Meets the UN: Can Culture Drive Sustainable Development?

Fashion is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the United Nations. Yet on 17 September 2026, the UN Office for Partnerships will host The Ripple Effect: Lifestyle for Impact at UN Headquarters in New York, alongside New York Fashion Week. The event will bring together people working in fashion, culture, sport and innovation to discuss how these sectors can influence behaviour, connect communities and contribute to sustainable development.

The event will bring together voices from different parts of the creative world, including Omoyemi Akerele, the founder of Lagos Fashion Week, and Daniel Calarco, Director of International Relations for LIESA, São Paulo Fashion Week and Rio Fashion Week. Their participation reflects the international nature of the discussion, connecting creative industries from different regions with the work of the United Nations.

For the UN, the interest in fashion goes beyond the industry itself. Through its Fashion and Lifestyle Network, the organisation brings together businesses, public institutions, cultural actors, academics and media to explore how the sector can contribute to areas such as economic opportunity, social impact, climate action and responsible consumption.

The September event is also an example of how the UN is opening its conversations to sectors that are not traditionally associated with international organisations. Fashion, arts and sport can reach audiences in ways that political discussions often cannot, while creating opportunities for collaboration between people and institutions from different countries.

By bringing these worlds together, the UN is treating culture and creativity as part of the wider conversation about sustainable development. The event in New York will show how industries such as fashion can become spaces for international exchange, while also encouraging new ideas about how everyday cultural activities can contribute to global goals.