Panel Discussion: From Forest to Fashion – Rethinking Value in the Amazon
Coal Drops Yard Stable St, London N1C 4LW, United Kingdom
About this Event
This conversation delves into how Indigenous knowledge, local materials, and regenerative economies are reshaping the fashion and design landscape. Panelists will explore the cultural, ecological, and economic value embedded in Amazonian biodiversity and craftsmanship — and how these can be protected and scaled through ethical collaboration. Expect insights on biomaterials, community-led innovation, and how the Amazon’s creative ecosystem can influence global practices.
Topics include:
Indigenous and community-based sourcing of materials
Reviving ancestral dyeing techniques with roots in biodiversity
Value chains that prioritize biodiversity and fair compensation
How locally grounded innovation can inform global sustainability models
This session brings together visionaries who are redefining the meaning of value — not through mass production, but through care, cultural continuity, and ecological stewardship.
Mediator: Camila Villas – Co-Curator, BCFT & Programme Officer, International Trade Centre
Speakers:
Carry Somers – D.Litt (Hon), C.F Activist, Speaker, Author
Junior Costa – Head of Research, Sustainability and Innovation, Flavia Aranha
Marco Normando – Creative Director, Normando
Invite only.
Brazil Creating Fashion for Tomorrow (BCFT)
BCFT is an initiative by Camila Villas, Lilian Pacce, and Marilia Biasi, launched in 2023 in London with the support of the Brazilian Embassy.
Each edition of the event takes a curatorial approach to highlight Brazilian creators and innovators guided by social and environmental values. BCFT 2025 aims to take a leading role in this conversation, particularly in light of COP 30 in Belém, where the exhibition may also
tour.
This year, the curatorial focus will highlight the creative processes of professionals from the Amazon region, including both Indigenous peoples and diasporic communities, across fashion, accessories, beauty, and innovation. The exhibition will feature everything from original Ashaninka garments to contemporary designs by names such as Mauricio Duarte, Normando, and Sioduhi Lima, as well as local materials used in fashion such as rubber, pirarucu (a native fish), açaí, and others.
This edition is a flagship of London Climate Action Week, taking place from June 21 to 29, and will be held at Coal Drops Yard — a complex located near Central Saint Martins and King's Cross and St Pancras stations.
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