Celebrating Sustainable Innovation: Launch of the New United Nations Tour Guide Uniform Collection

Above: Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of the PVBLIC Foundation; UN Tour Guide Staff; Sofia Hedström de Leo (Right), UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network Advisory Board Member and Former Head of Sustainability and Strategic Communications at the Swedish Consulate in NYC.

New York City, New York - On April 22, 2025, the United Nations Headquarters in New York City hosted a landmark event to celebrate the unveiling of a new sustainable uniform collection for United Nations Tour Guides. In a historic first, the United Nations commissioned a higher education institution—the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås— to design and produce the collection. The uniforms, co-created by twenty textile and fashion design students, were showcased through a fashion show and reception, highlighting a commitment to sustainability, functionality, and global cooperation.

The initiative was enabled by the United Nations Department of Global Communications and the United Nations Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with Sofia Hedström de Leo, Advisory Board member of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network and former Head of Sustainability at the Swedish Consulate in New York. The project received support from the Swedish Government and was funded by the University of Borås and the Paul Frankenius Foundation for the Swedish University of Fashion & Textiles. Ambassador Nicola Clase, Sweden's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Melissa Fleming, the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations, and Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, provided remarks to attendees of the historic unveiling.

Above: Annemarie Hou (Left), Executive Director, UN Office for Partnerships; Melissa Fleming (Middle), Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at United Nations; and Nicola Clase (Right), Sweden's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.

Designed to reflect the core values of the United Nations while embracing innovative sustainable fashion practices, the collection emphasizes excellence in design, functionality, and environmental stewardship. The launch underscored the power of international collaboration and education in driving positive change in the global fashion industry.

Above: Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation and Co-Founder of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network (Middle); Yvonne Watson, Executive Dean of Parsons School of Design (Left), and Jennie Rosén, CEO of the Swedish Fashion Council (Right)

Following the fashion showcase at the United Nations, a celebratory reception took place on April 23, 2025, at the Swedish Residence in New York City, hosted by Erik Ullenhag, Consul General of Sweden in New York. The evening brought together leaders in fashion, education, and international affairs to honor the student designers and celebrate the project’s success. Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation and Co-Founder of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network, participated in a panel session alongside Yvonne Watson, Executive Dean of Parsons School of Design, and Jennie Rosén, CEO of the Swedish Fashion Council, highlighting the importance of empowering next-generation leaders in the creative economy. 

Leading media organizations such as Vogue and Women’s Wear Daily provided insightful coverage highlighting the project's significance for sustainable fashion and global collaboration. This initiative stands as a model for how partnerships across education, government, and international organizations can foster creativity, innovation, and a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network is a collaborative initiative of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the Fashion Impact Fund – a program of PVBLIC Foundation, and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

To view images from the new sustainable UN Tour Guide uniform launch, visit the PVBLIC Foundation’s dedicated Flickr albums here.