Forum das Americas supports Eco-friendly Fashion

Garnero believes that "projects may offer benchmarks that can be replicated as best practices around the globe". At the Rio+20 and Sao Paulo Fashion Week Junctures, Garnero helped devise an innovative cooperation program in alliance with the Government of Italy and Instituto e, the not-for-profit arm of Osklen, one of Brazil's top high-end fashion brands.

The program is developing cutting-edge, environment-friendly technologies aimed at eco-friendly textiles. These are to bring about sustainable raw materials in the fashion industry through extended research on new organic and recycled fabrics. Another element in the program is the pilot assessment of the carbon footprint of Osklen's products, and developing tools for the purpose of neutralizing the accounted carbon footprint.

The great international environmental leader, Corrado Clini, heads the project on behalf of the Italian Government, and steers this program in sectors with such strong public appeal that it will certainly become a hallmark for best practices in the vibrant fashion industry.

Instituto e leads several projects such as e-fabrics, e-board and other environmental management projects, as well as protecting coastal native vegetation and designing sustainable furniture for public libraries. This cooperation certainly helps strengthen the image around the world of Brazil's fashion design applied to sustainability.

For Mario Garnero, Forum das Americas, an independent think-tank concentrating on issues of international cooperation and development, this initiative adds an important layer of contribution for sustainable products. "We were pioneers as the entrepreneurial force behind Brazil's biofuels program. This new cooperation will not only produce late technology textiles, but also help raise awareness for environmental causes", says Garnero.

The President of Forum das Americas takes pride in his long-standing tradition in building a greener economy, especially as he led the industrial programs for the production of alcohol-fueled engines that helped the country offset the effects of the 1970s oil crises.

Garnero asserts that "this is why for Forum das Americas this initiative will reach out beyond the borders of the fashion world. It will bring a new dimension to Brazil's efforts towards sustainable development".

Forum das Americas