Sustainable Fashion, Responsible Supply Chains and New Global Rules: the University of Insubria Hosts an International Conference on the Future of the Fashion System

On Friday, 26 June, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Aula Magna of Sant’Abbondio at the University of Insubria, in Como, will host the international conference «Moda sostenibile | Mode durable | Sustainable Fashion», a day of discussion devoted to the sustainability of the fashion supply chain, exploring the topic through law, business, innovation, environmental responsibility and international perspectives.

The initiative marks the conclusion of three years of activity of Spoke 3 of the NODES – Nord Ovest Digitale Sostenibile project, with the Research Centre on Sustainable Fashion of the University of Insubria and in collaboration with Italian and French scientific and institutional partners, including the Société de législation comparée, SIRD – Italian Society for Research in Comparative Law, Confindustria Como, UFIMH – Union Française des Industries Mode & Habillement, Université Paris-Saclay – Faculté Jean Monnet and IDEP – Institut Droit Éthique Patrimoine.

The conference will bring together scholars, experts and representatives from academia, business, institutions and law firms, with the aim of examining the transformations of sustainable fashion from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective.

The day will open at 10 a.m. with institutional greetings from Umberto Piarulli, Deputy Rector of the University of Insubria, Enrico Colombo, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Como, Barbara Pozzo, President of the Italian Society for Research in Comparative Law and Director of the Research Centre on Sustainable Fashion, François Molinié, President of the Société de législation comparée, Marie Malaurie-Vignal, Agrégée des Facultés de droit at Université Paris-Saclay, and Debora Massari, Councillor for Tourism, Territorial Marketing and Fashion of the Lombardy Region.

At 10:45 a.m., the first session will focus on the European and international framework for sustainable fashion. Speakers include Barbara Pozzo, Full Professor of Comparative Private Law at the University of Insubria, with a presentation on «The European framework for sustainable fashion», Marie Malaurie-Vignal, with «Plateformes numériques et mode durable: les initiatives françaises», Mark Brewer, Dean and Head of School at the University of St Andrews Business School, with «The Fashion Accountability Gap: Toward a General Theory of Global Fashion Regulation», Melina Nunes, lawyer and PhD, on Brazilian initiatives in the field of sustainable fashion, and Fulvio Alvisi, designer and lecturer at Accademia di Como Aldo Galli – IED Network, with «The Challenge: Emotions and Ecodesign».

After the lunch break, at 2:30 p.m., Insubria professors Mauro Fasano and Barbara Pozzo will present the Research Centre on Sustainable Fashion, established to promote scientific and project-based activities on responsible fashion, innovation and sustainability.

At 3 p.m., the roundtable «The sustainability of the fashion supply chain from a business perspective» will take place, chaired by Professor Barbara Pozzo. Participants include Adéline Dargent, General Delegate of the Syndicat de Paris de la Mode féminine – Syndicat de la mode française, Paolo Canonico, President of the Textile Supply Chain Group of Confindustria Como, Laura Sofia Clerici, President of Ufficio Italiano Seta and A.I.U.F.F.A.S.S., Corrado Ferrario, President of For Textile Como, Ivan Parisi, General Director of Como NeXT, Mauro Sampellegrini, Director of Research, Innovation and Sustainability at Confindustria Moda, Niccolò Cipriani, CEO and founder of Rifò, Caterina Tonda, Sustainable Development Manager at Kering, Michele Tronconi, CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors of Tronconi s.r.l., and Vincenzo Guggino, Secretary General of the Istituto di Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria.

After the coffee break at 4:45 p.m., the day will continue at 5:15 p.m. with the roundtable «The sustainability of the fashion supply chain from a law firm perspective», chaired by Professor Valentina Jacometti of the University of Insubria. The discussion will feature Yasemin Cimen of Reed Smith, Rita Tardiolo of Bird & Bird, Annamaria Stein of Eversheds-Sutherland, Pietro Pouché of Herbert, Smith, Freehills, Kramer, Elisabetta Gardini of Gianni Origoni Partners, and Massimo Tavella of Tavella Avvocati Associati.

The conference will close at 6:30 p.m. with a final cocktail.
The event confirms the role of the University of Insubria as a place of international dialogue on sustainability, the responsibility of production chains and legal, economic and cultural innovation applied to one of the most significant sectors of Made in Italy and the global economy.