Be A Part Of Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago 2026
Searching for designers, models, and experts for this year’s programming!
What Is Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago?
Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago (SFW Chicago) provides year-round ethical, environmental, and educational fashion programming, leading up to its annual multi-day Sustainable Fashion Week event which unites people, neighborhoods, and industries to reimagine fashion.
SFWC’s mission is to provide sustainable information, resources, and events for Chicago and the wider Illinois community to understand how we can wear, appreciate, and work in fashion with minimal planetary impact.
About The Opportunity
Applicants must be available at least one day between September 20-30, 2026. This application process is open to students and professionals alike, who are eighteen and older. Being a part of Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago’s programming provides an opportunity to showcase environmental priority in fashion, individual creativity, and the vision for a more sustainable fashion industry.
Applications Now Open To Participate In:
Casting Call: Volunteer Models Needed
Sustainable Fashion Week greatly depends on volunteer models of all abilities, who can help showcase sustainable designs on the runway.
This opportunity is open to models of all abilities — including disabled models. Our goal is to help build fashion spaces where all bodies are welcome and where more people have representation.
Selected participants will receive professional, high-quality photos that can be used in their modeling portfolios if desired.
Fashion Show
SFW Chicago is in search of sustainable designers and brands to participate in this year’s fashion show. Click the button below to register your interest and apply for a spot.
Class, Workshop, Or Speciality Event
Through quality education opportunities, resources, and experiences, SFW Chicago cultivates opportunities to learn about environmental practices within the industry and how consumers, leaders, and businesses can make a positive impact.
Apply to lead a workshop, host a class, or a specialty event.
We are particularly interested in applicants who can:
- Lead a sewing or mending class
- Co-host a size-inclusive clothing swap
- Participate in our sustainable fashion careers panel
Don’t see your idea on here? That’s okay, send us your pitch in the application!
Application Deadline: June 1, 2026
Eligibility
All people, teams, and organizations submitting must align with SFWC’s sustainable values by proving any claims to pursue its environmental efforts and commitment.
To Be Considered, Applicants Must Be:
Application Guidelines
All interested applicants must submit their applications by June 1, 2026, through the official submission portal for the respective area of interest (outlined and linked, below). Selected applicants will be notified via email and must confirm their participation by June 5, 2026, at 11:59 pm CT.
Application Area Of Interest:
- Modeling Application: https://forms.gle/mEoNaQGw3AZ3M6TG8
- Fashion Show — Designer Application: https://forms.gle/cC8XGS8T5s6vZB2Y9
- Classes, Workshops, & Specialty Programming Application: https://forms.gle/GrTRqRxpGLTMkjGS7
Required Submission Material:
Criteria
The submission must be directly related to an event or opportunity for sustainable fashion and sustainable fashion in Chicago or the greater Illinois areas. All materials used or concepts must be aligned with the SFWC’s values. All concepts must be original by the applicant or ability to be used with written permission and cannot include third-party logos, copyrighted, or trademarked materials. The applicant’s idea must adhere to professional presentation standards and align with sustainability principles. It must not feature offensive, political, religious, or commercial messaging, and must not promote firearms, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or any illegal content.
Questions?
Please contact info[@]sfwchicago.com with the subject line “Question: Flagship Program”