Sustainability
Sustainability is a fundamental pillar of Associação ModaLisboa’s activity, structuring its role in the development of the Fashion system through the articulation of creation, industry and knowledge.
Since 2017, this commitment has progressively consolidated an integrated approach that considers the environmental, social and economic impacts associated with the Fashion industry and the cultural context in which it operates.
TRANSVERSAL ACTION
Associação ModaLisboa’s strategic approach to Sustainability is developed through the connection between different agents within the sector. As an aggregating platform, it brings together Designers, industry, specialists, institutions, stakeholders and decision-makers, promoting the circulation of knowledge and the construction of responses to the contemporary challenges facing Fashion.
Through Lisboa Fashion Week, awareness initiatives, educational programmes and the various projects it develops, the Association also contributes to expanding access to information, stimulating critical thinking and providing tools that support the sector’s transformation.
CREATION AND DESIGNERS
Associação ModaLisboa understands Designers as central agents in the transformation of the Fashion system, developing initiatives focused on valuing local production, creative continuity and the relationship between creation and production. By supporting independent Designers and connecting manufacturers, artisans and other sector professionals, it contributes to strengthening more responsible and sustainable working models.
As a platform for capacity-building and professional integration, ModaLisboa promotes programmes that create concrete conditions for access, experimentation and continuity within the sector. Initiatives such as the SANGUE NOVO competition and the WORKSTATION platform connect new generations of Designers with professional structures, specialised technical teams and real working environments, contributing to more sustainable conditions for the continuity and development of contemporary creation in Portugal.
In 2023, Associação ModaLisboa drafted a Charter of Principles addressed to the Designers included in the Lisboa Fashion Week calendar, establishing a set of guidelines for an ethical and responsible Fashion practice aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Charter proposes:
– recognising Sustainability as a transversal principle across all brand operations, from business planning to communication;
– integrating the environmental, economic and social dimensions of Sustainability into the business model;
– respecting international standards for Human Rights and Climate Crisis mitigation across all stages of operation;
– informing suppliers, collaborators, partners and clients about the brand’s values and commitments;
– encouraging ethical conduct throughout the production chain;
– promoting the continuous adaptation of processes towards solutions with lower environmental and social impact.
KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH
Initiatives such as FAST TALKS regularly bring together Designers, specialists, researchers, companies and institutions to discuss Sustainability, innovation, technology, production and social responsibility within the sector, expanding the debate surrounding the transformation of the Fashion industry.
As a founding member of the European Fashion Alliance (EFA) and a partner of FashionKIC, ModaLisboa is part of European collaborative platforms dedicated to research, education and the development of strategies for the sustainable and digital transition of the textile and Fashion industry.
The work developed alongside sector associations such as APICCAPS and CENIT/ANIVEC further reinforces a network-based logic of transformation, bringing ongoing industrial innovation closer to the general public. Through exhibitions, performative presentations, artistic installations and other immersive formats, ModaLisboa seeks to make themes related to innovation, Sustainability, technology and contemporary production more accessible.
Between 2023 and 2025, ModaLisboa was also a partner of beat by be@t, a programme led by CITEVE and BCSD Portugal that promoted synergies between textile companies and Fashion Designers, encouraging collaborative models oriented towards more circular and sustainable practices.
PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS
The production of Lisboa Fashion Week and the remaining projects developed by Associação ModaLisboa integrates principles of environmental, social and operational responsibility, seeking to involve partners, sponsors, suppliers, technical teams and other stakeholders in a continuous process of adaptation and improvement of practices.
With this objective, ModaLisboa developed a Best Practices Guide addressed to the different agents involved in the production of its events, gathering guidelines for reducing the environmental and social impact associated with operations.
In 2025, ModaLisboa also initiated a process for monitoring operational consumption and resources, reinforcing its ability to evaluate and continuously adapt production processes. This work will allow the implementation of progressive strategies for impact reduction and resource optimisation throughout future editions.
AN EVOLVING JOURNEY
2020
Signing of the European Green Capital Lisbon 2020 Commitment – Lisbon Climate Action 2030, assuming the implementation of measures aligned with environmental and Sustainability goals in areas such as mobility, energy efficiency, water efficiency and circular economy.
2021
Partnership with the Sustainable Brand Platform by IDEE Brand Platform, enabling Lisboa Fashion Week Designers to assess their brands’ Sustainability performance through digital monitoring and diagnostic tools.
2022
Integration as a founding member of the European Fashion Alliance (EFA), the first transnational alliance of European Fashion institutions dedicated to accelerating the sector’s sustainable, digital and social transition at a European level.
2023–2025
Participation in beat by be@t, a programme led by CITEVE and BCSD Portugal focused on more circular and collaborative practices between the textile industry and Fashion Designers.
2026
Integration into the European FashionKIC consortium (Knowledge Innovation Community for Sustainable Fashion), a project dedicated to creating educational, innovation and collaborative programmes to accelerate the sustainable and digital transition of the European Fashion system.
Signing of the Pact for Bioeconomy in the Textile and Clothing Sector promoted by CITEVE, in close collaboration with APA – Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente and sector associations ANIL, ANIT-LAR, ANIVEC/APIV and ATP.
FUTURE
The legislative changes currently underway at a European level will have a profound impact on the Fashion industry, introducing new demands related to transparency, traceability, circularity and environmental and social responsibility. Regulations such as the Digital Product Passport will structurally transform the ways brands produce, communicate and operate.
Within this context, ModaLisboa seeks to position itself as an active agent in supporting the sector’s adaptation to these new challenges, helping Designers and stakeholders implement processes that are more prepared, transparent and sustainable.
