How to Get Involved with Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago
Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago offers multiple ways for individuals, groups, and organizations to get involved.
Attend an Event
Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago provides year-round events leading up to its twice annual Sustainable Fashion Show. Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago debuted in 2024 with the Fall/Winter program and offers this every September. Meanwhile, Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago’s Spring/Summer programming is offered during April of each year, starting in 2026.
Volunteer
Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago welcomes new volunteers on a rolling basis. Volunteers can select the project team they’re interested in or pitch a project of their own after 3-months of regular volunteering.
Sign-Up for Beginner Sewing Classes
Join Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago’s 6-week Sustainable Sewing Course to keep garments out of landfills, while learning or improvising basic mending and machine sewing skills! Attendees are encouraged to bring their own sewing machine if they already own one. However, if they need one for class, they can borrow one at no extra cost.
Enroll in the Sustainable Fashion Leadership Training Certification
Join Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago’s 8-week Leadership Training course for a digestible overview of the fashion industry and its impact across Chicagoland. Get resources, tools, & support to make a difference!
The Sustainable Fashion Leadership Training is an 8-week course that breaks down the harmful impact of the fashion industry at a local level, while helping attendees understand how to approach making a change and how they can leverage their interests, lifestyle, and different abilities. Each week a guest speaker will join the training to share their expertise, build community, and spotlight the work they’re doing — plus how attendees can get involved. Copies of weekly lessons and in-class resources are provided to attendees for future reference.
Join Sustainable Fashion Week
Whether you’re a designer, maker, model, small business owner, fashion journalist, or sustainable fashion professional, contact the SFWC team to learn about upcoming opportunities to participate in the Spring or Fall programming.
Donate
Your generosity fuels our mission to unite communities and industries in reimagining fashion for a more sustainable future! As such, Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago strategically manages each donation to ensure its maximum impact. Here’s how we manage every penny from the dollars you donate.
For every one dollar donated, 5 cents restores local waterways and protects animal habitats. 10 Cents covers operational and administrative costs. 30 cents provides staff salary and benefits. 55 Cents develops two annual sustainable fashion shows, year-round programming, supports local designers, and provides free community events.
Partner with SFWC
To pitch a project, campaign, or collaborate, please get in touch with SFWC using the contact form. Please be sure to detail your idea, the budget, and timeline. However, please know, SFWC is not open to pitches or inquiries that require SFWC to pay to participate.
