Pratt Center
October 29, 2019
Tackling Equity and Sustainability at Made in NYC Week 2019
Made in NYC Week 2019, held from October 3 to 18, celebrated New York City’s vibrant manufacturing community through studio and factory tours, panel discussions, marketplace takeovers, and the first-ever Made in NYC Pop-Up shop and event space on Canal Street. As a Pratt Center for Community Development initiative seeking to advance equitable economic development, Made in NYC (MINYC) gives over 1,300 local manufacturers tools to grow their businesses, tell their stories, and represent the uniqueness and diversity of goods made locally in NYC.
As part of the programming at the MINYC Pop-Up, Made in NYC hosted two inspiring discussions about business models and practices at the frontier of equitable and sustainable innovation in the fashion and food industries.
The Made in NYC Sustainable Fashion and Equity panel explored how businesses that are explicitly driven by equity, environmental sustainability, and great design create synergies that are essential to business growth, the wellbeing of workers and the entire fashion ecosystem. Panelists discussed the future of the workforce for women and communities of color, and redefining sustainability beyond materials to include consideration of workforce -- who is making our clothes and how they are being treated.
The Future of Sustainable Food in NYC panel examined how the development of circular food production and distribution systems could create new products, reduce waste, and improve both food quality and the quality of life for New Yorkers. The panel consisted of four experts on growing, making, and selling food and also explored NYC-based innovations in tech and entrepreneurship in NYC food production and food waste processes.
The discussions were future-facing, insightful, and stimulating. Major thanks to our awesome panelists Lindsay Clinton, Executive VP of NYCEDC, Ngozi Okaro, Executive Director of Custom Collective, Whitney McGuire, founder of Sustainable BK, Jane Porter, Senior Director of Fabric Procurement & Fiber Sustainability for Theory, Sue Rock, owner of Sue Rocks Originals, Michelle Wong of Square Roots, Yara Nagi of Agritecture, Kobla Asamoah of Hot Bread Kitchen, Johanna Greenbaum of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Bertha Jimenez from Rise Products.
Thank you to all who made the event possible, especially the more than 1 million people who saw us on social media and the 1,500 people who came to the Pop-Up and the more than 60 MINYC Member companies who participated!
Made in NYC Week 2019 Photo Gallery >