Future Materials and the Next Generation of Creative Leadership
This Climate Week, I had the privilege of serving as a Swarovski Creatives For Our Future Advocate during Future Materials: Creative Solutions for a Sustainable World. The event, hosted by the Swarovski Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and supported by The Conduit, brought together a remarkable group of designers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
From the moment I walked into the room at 5:30, the energy was palpable. Young designers mingled with established fashion houses, biochemists traded ideas with journalists, and community leaders connected with entrepreneurs. The conversation — over welcome drinks and in the Innovation Gallery — reflected a shared commitment: to rethink the very materials that shape our daily lives.
A Panel of Innovators
The panel discussion, moderated by Rosemary Feitelberg of Women’s Wear Daily, showcased the creativity and determination behind sustainable materials innovation.
- Uyen Tran, founder of TômTex, described transforming seafood waste and mushrooms into a leather alternative. Her work demonstrates that what we often see as waste can, with creativity and persistence, become the basis of a more sustainable industry.
- Oliver Shaafat, of Sci-Lume Labs, shared his journey from Caltech to founding a startup focused on scalable, bio-inspired fibers. His vision for apparel made with next-generation materials reveals how science and fashion can align for environmental impact.
Each speaker emphasized that innovation alone is insufficient. Collaboration across science, design, and policy is essential.
The Human Side of Innovation
One of the themes that resonated deeply with me was the connection between systemic transformation and human capital. As Federica Marchionni, CEO of the Global Fashion Agenda, has noted: “You cannot do one without the other. Recycling and circularity must go together with upskilling and reskilling people, so we don’t solve one issue while creating another.” This reminder is timely. Materials innovation is not just about changing inputs; it is about building inclusive systems that support workers, communities, and future generations.
Why This Matters
I left the event with a sense of pride in being part of the Swarovski Creatives For Our Future community. The program exemplifies what it means to link creativity with responsibility — nurturing young talent while challenging industries to think differently about their impact.
Walking through the Innovation Gallery, I was struck by the range of projects on display: textiles grown from natural processes, fibers designed to biodegrade, and ideas that once seemed experimental are now on the path to scale. These efforts remind us that climate solutions do not come from one sector alone. They require imagination, persistence, and support networks like those provided by Swarovski, CFDA, and The Conduit.
Looking Forward
As a climate advocate, educator, and nonprofit leader, I often work in spaces defined by policy and data. Events like Future Materials remind me that art and design are just as vital. They inspire new ways of thinking about resilience and give us the tangible innovations we need to accelerate a just transition. The future of climate leadership will be intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and deeply creative. And it will be built not only on the strength of new materials, but also on the vision and determination of the people who dare to design them.
