British Council hosts Sustainable Fashion and Textile Symposium to address climate challenges through creativity and collaboration

By: DailyPakistan

Published: September 20, 2025 | Updated 2 months ago

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Lahore, 20 September 2025 – The British Council brought together designers, makers, policymakers, and sustainability experts for the Sustainable Fashion and Textile Symposium held from 19–21 September at Alhamra Arts Centre, Lahore. The three-day gathering highlighted how Pakistan’s fashion and textile industry — one of the largest in the world — can help lead the response to the climate crisis by embracing sustainability, innovation, and community-driven solutions.

James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan, said:
“We believe creativity connects people, fuels economic opportunity, and strengthens Pakistan’s creative industries, while ensuring that cultural heritage is preserved and protected for future generations.”
This symposium is part of the British Council’s ongoing work in Pakistan to support a more sustainable, regenerative, equitable, and transparent creative economy. It builds on the publication of a comprehensive country report mapping Pakistan’s sustainable fashion ecosystem and the awarding of five innovation grants to projects that advance sustainability in the sector. By convening voices from across industries and regions, the symposium provided a platform to share knowledge, strengthen policy and practice, and showcase ideas that can reduce the impact of climate change on Pakistan’s most diverse and at-risk communities.
Sessions explored a wide range of urgent issues, from labour rights, textile waste, and eco-design, to storytelling around cotton and the ethics of making. Workshops led by master artisans and international experts gave participants hands-on opportunities to learn traditional practices like block printing and weaving while considering how heritage and innovation can work together to build a circular economy.

The symposium underlined Pakistan’s distinct role in shaping a sustainable global fashion ecosystem. By linking traditional craft with new design approaches and by fostering dialogue across government, industry, and civil society, it demonstrated how collective action can strengthen resilience and create opportunities for communities most affected by climate change.
As climate challenges intensify, the British Council will continue working with partners in Pakistan to connect people through arts, education, and dialogue — supporting solutions that are local, inclusive, and future-facing.

About the British Council:
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024–25 we reached 599 million people. For more details, visit https://www.britishcouncil.pk/