Responsible Fashion Series

Event 2025: Innovation and Technology - Registration now open!

October 28th – November 7th 2025, West Coast of the United States

The Responsible Fashion Series is a series of events promoting the potential of a responsible approach to fashion studies around the world – past events include: India, China, Netherlands, UK, Italy, Brazil, Belgium, Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. These events have always been free in order to reduce barriers for people to attend and to encourage participation and topics of local significance.

The next Responsible Fashion Series will take place on the West Coast of the United States of America. This region is leading the way in implementing new legislation and research in circularity systems. The event begins with a tour of a sustainable cotton farm in San Joaquin Valley, California, offering a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the various aspects of cotton production. Attendance on this tour will allow participants to meet the farmers and scientists, see cotton being harvested and ginned, and learn about the practices of Cleaner Cotton™.

The next part of the event brings participants to Los Angeles where there is an active sector of professionals and organizations focused on sustainability initiatives. We will hear keynote speakers from the fashion industry and attend two days of papers from colleagues. Our base will be at Arizona State University’s location in the Fashion District, where you will meet faculty from ASU FIDM and tour the fashion studios, textile testing labs, and museum. Visits to factories and designer studios will enhance our experience of this major manufacturing hub. Of course, participants will also have the opportunity to visit other sights in this wondrous city during the time of fall celebrations.

The group will then move to Phoenix, where we will participate in workshops and demonstrations at Arizona State University’s Fashion Studios, Fashion Fabrication Lab, and Wearable Technology Lab, continuing our work on papers and exhibitions. This location will also introduce you to the experience of indigenous crafts and traditions, featuring a workshop on traditional Apache dressmaking and a visit to the Heard Museum, a vibrant museum dedicated to Native American art. Discover the Sonoran Desert’s unique magic at the Desert Botanical Garden and its lure to creatives at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory. At the end of the event, there will be optional visits to Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

The event will explore the future of fashion and textiles at the intersections of biodesign, sustainability, and old and new technologies with original research, reviews, case studies, and critical perspectives that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Innovations in sustainable materials and bio-fabrication
The role of biotechnology in creating biodegradable or regenerative textiles
Smart textiles and wearable technology for enhanced functionality and user experience
Circular economy models and strategies for reducing waste in fashion production
The impact of digital tools, AI, and machine learning on sustainable fashion design
Ethical considerations in the application of technology within the fashion industry
Case studies of companies integrating biodesign with scalable production
Cross-disciplinary collaborations driving sustainable innovations in fashion
The role of education & policy in fostering new thinking, new business models & biodesign practices in fashion.

We want to push the boundaries of traditional fashion practices and offer insights into the evolving landscape where technology and sustainability converge to shape the future of the apparel industry. We want to maximize the learning experience for all (through a variety of modes – from workshops, paper presentations and panel discussions etc).
This event is divided into three parts to maximize flexible attendance and encourage diversity of participation across three principal locations:

PART A: Monday 29th to Friday 30th October 2025 Sustainable Cotton Farm tour

The event starts with a Sustainable Cotton Farm tour on the 30st October that offers a look behind the scenes of cotton production in California. Participants will meet with farmers and scientists who provide insights into the work and processes. They will also be introduced to cotton picking in the field, witness harvesting of cotton, experience a working gin in action and see the USDA bale identification system.

For questions regarding logistics, costs and reservation, please, contact mail@responsible-fashion-series.com

PART B: Friday 31st October to Tuesday 4th November in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is America's West Coast fashion capital. We will arrive just in time for the Dias de los Muertos celebrations. Based at the ASU FIDM campus in the heart of the fashion district, we will tour design studios and manufacturing sites and hear industry leaders discuss California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act that is set to lead the way in addressing the environmental impacts of “fast fashion.” Circular approaches, eco-friendly design and production processes, and strategies for reducing environmental impacts in the textile and fashion industry are the main research focus, here.

PART C: Tuesday 4th to Friday 7th November in Phoenix

For our third location, we travel to Phoenix, Arizona to observe the sublime beauty of the American Southwest where mindful craft methodologies have been embedded in the culture for centuries. Here, we will investigate the creation of environmentally friendly e-textiles, energy-efficient smart clothing, and wearable technology that balances functionality with sustainability. This includes biodegradable sensors, renewable power sources, and sustainable design practices of smart textiles. At Arizona State University, we will experience workshops and demonstrations at the fashion studios, Fashion Fabrication Lab, and Wearable Technology Lab at ASU FIDM. Experience indigenous creativity and traditions with a workshop about traditional dressmaking in the life of the Apache and a visit to the Heard Museum, a vibrant museum dedicated to American Indian art. Discover the Sonoran desert’s unique magic at the Desert Botanical Garden and its lure to creatives at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory. At the end of the event, there will be options to visit Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

We invite you to participate and contribute to our discussion of current developments in responsible fashion from the perspectives of this unique location.

If you would like to join us, please complete the registration document by the 30th September.

The event is free, but there will be charges for participation in some events, including the sustainable cotton farm tour, travel to the farm, and some museum visits.

The full program of the event will be released by the end of September. Please, check this website for the latest updates!

Any questions can be directed to mail@responsible-fashion-series.com.