In person / Exhibition / Textile Industry
Young Talent from Sweden Paving the Way for Sustainable Fashion at the United Nations Headquarters in New York
During New York Textile Month, Scandinavia House presents a selection of the new sustainable UN Tour Guide Uniforms, created by students from the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås.
Unveiled at United Nations Headquarters on Earth Day 2025, the collection marks the first time a higher education institution has designed the uniforms worn by UN Tour Guides. Developed with sustainability at the heart of the design process, the collection explores innovative materials, responsible production, and new approaches to fashion.
Four looks from the collection will be displayed in the windows of Scandinavia House, accompanied by a video highlighting the next phase of the project: a collaboration between the Swedish School of Textiles and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, in which students are developing a new generation of sustainable accessories for the UN Tour Guides.
The project is supported by the Paul Frankenius Foundation and developed in collaboration with the United Nations.
September 4 to September 17
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
No registration required!
Young Talent from Sweden Paving the Way for Sustainable Fashion at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Swedish design students are making history by developing a new collection of tour guide uniforms for the United Nations, a prestigious assignment traditionally held by renowned fashion houses like Dior and Benetton. This collaboration between Sweden and the United Nations represents a significant moment for climate-friendly fashion.
Since 1952, tour guides leading visitors through the UN headquarters in New York City—from world leaders to school groups—have worn specially designed uniforms. Fashion houses have traditionally created these iconic designs, with the most recent collection launched in 2017 by the esteemed designer Elie Tahari. Now, Sweden and the Swedish School of Textiles are collaborating with the United Nations to redefine the future of sustainable fashion by developing the first collection of eco-friendly uniforms for UN tour guides.
On Earth Day, April 22, 2025, twenty BFA and MFA Textile and Fashion Design students unveiled a new collection of guide uniforms during a fashion show at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This is the first time a higher education institution has designed and developed tour guide uniforms for the UN Headquarters and the first time there has been a focus on sustainability.
This collaboration was initiated by the United Nations and Sofia Hedström de Leo, an advisory board member of the UN's Fashion and Lifestyle Network and former Head of Sustainability at the Swedish Consulate in New York. The project is funded by the Paul Frankenius Foundation. The Swedish School of Textiles and the Paul Frankenius Foundation leads the project in partnership with the UN Office for Partnerships, the UN Department of Global Communications, and other collaborators.