Tag Archives: Sustainability Week

Sustainability Awareness Week – Patagonia Worn Wear

FIT’s Sustainability Awareness Week Quick Summary

Here at FIT we dedicate a week every semester to the sustainability of our industry with the sustainability council and club leading the way for events and panel discussions.

I stopped by the Patagonia Worn Wear pop-up to learn a little more about what they do and their journey. Their FIT setup consisted of three sewing machines (one industrial brother machine and two home machines), sewers tools, and a big box of trims and notions. The repair technicians mended several different types of damages such as broken zippers and buttons, busted seams, and patching holes. Patagonia owns the largest repair facility in the US located in Reno, Nevada, which is even more astounding when you realize that they only repair Patagonia products.

Patagonia’s Worn Wear wagon

The Worn Wear team even consisted of an FIT alumn, a TDM (Textiles Development and Marketing) graduate, who is with the materials innovation team at Patagonia. She spoke with me about the Patagonia branch “Tin Shed” which is a corporate venture capitalist fund they use to invest in environmentally and socially responsible start-up companies which they use to further their corporate mission!

What aspects of sustainability are you interested in?

#SustainabilityWeek

Hi Tigers,

Help raise environmental awareness throughout Sustainability Awareness Week!

In 2007, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg set the ambitious goal of reducing the city’s total greenhouse emissions 30% by 2030. He challenged 17 hospitals and universities, including FIT, to achieve this goal as quickly as possible.

In 2011, FIT was the first institution to meet the goal of a 30% reduction in carbon emissions. As of 2016, the college has achieved a 46% reduction, with a goal of a 50% reduction by 2025.

FIT accomplished this by updating the college’s heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation systems. Installing 16,000 energy-efficient light fixtures with occupancy sensors also made a big impact. Efficient hot water heaters, refrigerators, washer/dryers, windows, and even elevator controls reduce the college’s carbon footprint as well.

FIT continues to see improved energy efficiency by investing in cutting-edge climate-control systems for The Museum at FIT, the Gladys Marcus Library, and the residence halls.

Contribute to a greener campus and check out this week’s events, such as the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) info session and a Vegan Designer Panel with PETA. A full list of events can be found here.

Meli B