On April 24, 2025, the Gromek Institute for Fashion Business at Parsons School of Design welcomed acclaimed journalist and sustainability advocate Dana Thomas for a compelling keynote event: Rethinking Fashion for a Sustainable Future & Reimagining Business Frameworks. Held in front of a packed room of industry leaders, students, and faculty, the evening offered more than just insight - it sparked meaningful dialogue and reflection.

Dana Thomas, whose groundbreaking books and reporting have redefined how the fashion industry confronts climate and labor realities, led a deeply thoughtful and timely conversation on how business can—and must—evolve. With the global climate crisis and increasing consumer consciousness reshaping the fashion landscape, her message could not have arrived at a more urgent moment.

THE CONVERSATION:
With clarity, urgency, and grace, Thomas challenged attendees to rethink the systems that uphold the fashion industry—from the supply chain to marketing models to how success is measured. She explored how sustainability is not a trend, but a business imperative, and laid out a vision where creativity, ethics, and innovation are interwoven into every stage of the fashion lifecycle.

She shared lessons from her reporting across continents, drawing connections between garment workers’ rights, ecological impact, and the influence of consumer behavior. At the core of her talk was a bold call: reimagine business frameworks from the ground up—not just to reduce harm, but to create lasting, regenerative impact.