Shanghai Hub Host, Sophie Ruane, speaks at Shan Future (Forum): Learning from the Frontier, discussing sustainable futures with industry leaders at SFW.

October 12th saw Trash Club Shanghai host, Sophie Ruane, join a panel discussion at the Shan Future: Learning from the Frontier, sustainable fashion forum hosted at The Sukhothai Shanghai. Organised by yehyehyeh agency, the forum gathered nearly 400 on-site guests and more than 52,000 viewers online via livestream. All connected by rethinking sustainable development.

The event brought together global experts, scholars and leaders re-examining the growth path of the fashion industry under the circumstance of the climate crisis and resource scarcity.

Learning from the frontier poses the question, are there different models and perspectives to learn from? Through innovative digital technologies and experimental narratives, the forum aims to reimagine a fashion system situated within both planetary and social wellbeing boundaries by presenting alternative practices, design methods and ecological cultures on verge of prosperity. 

Other core themes explored were ESG trends leading supply chain and material innovation, inspiration from the Southern perspective, and the contribution of young communities to cultural sustainability and creativity. It’s here that Ruane introduced our Trash Club global community, highlighting our C-R-A-P values, previewing our upcoming Trash Club film, and sharing how the younger generation is integrating sustainability, creative practice and cultural expression in an inclusive and collaborative way to unlock the present and explore the future.

“For Trash Club to participate in the Shan Future Forum event was enlightening,” comments Ruane. “Having industry professionals from different parts of the world come to Shanghai and speak about the important and innovating work they are doing to promote sustainable innovation was inspiring,” she adds. “I have enjoyed sharing my personal ideas and practices while living in Shanghai with peers, so it was exciting to have other brands and people given the opportunity to come to Shanghai and tell their stories and ideologies.” Alongside Ruane, guests saw economist Kate Raworth introduce her ‘Doughnut Economics’ model, with Andrew Wu (LVMH Group President of Greater China) and Professor Zhu Dajian (Director of the Institute of Sustainable Development and Management at Tongi University) discussing how this model can be applied not only to fashion, but also urban culture.

Sustainable R&D specialist, Rong Xije from JNBY, shared its ambitions to achieving transparent and traceable supply chain management in yak wool production, launching the world’s first ‘Farm Animal Welfare Requirements - Yak’ group. Chitra Subyakto, founder of Sejauh Mata Memandang emphasised balancing tradition with innovation for business growth, with young consumers drawn to sustainable practices like recycling yarn. Tana Dai of Erdos group offered the adoption of new technologies for long-term corporate growth, Andrea Rosso (Sustainability Ambassador of Diesel) discussed the process of redesigning, reproducing and reusing denim while empowering suppliers, and State of Fashion director Iris Ruisch showcased a selection of projects from the State of Fashion Biennale, and alternatives to the current fashion system. Connecting fashion — explicitly and honestly — with pressing societal questions and challenges of our time, including inclusivity and fair practice, as well as the impact of globalisation and climate change.

The event gave prominence to a spectrum of industry trailblazers that will no doubt enrich and progress the future of sustainable practice. We’re glad that Trash Club could be part of a wider global conversation to ensure a more just and sustainable future.