Senator Biaggi Hosts Rally in Albany in Support of the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act

ALBANY, NY – Today, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi joined Assemblymember Anna Kelles, the New Standard Institute, industry leaders, and climate and labor activists for a rally in support of the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (S7428/A8352). This legislation would make New York a global leader in holding the fashion industry accountable for its impact on people and the planet. 

Under the bill, all apparel and footwear retailers and manufacturers with global annual receipts of at least $100 million doing business in New York State would be required to map their supply chains, disclose environmental and social impacts, and set binding targets to reduce those impacts. Impact reductions include mandatory science-based targets, ensuring the fashion industry operates within the bounds of the Paris Climate Agreement. Companies will also be required to disclose their material use, by material type and the wages of workers. Noncompliant companies will be required to pay fines, the revenue of which will fund projects specifically for New York’s environmental justice communities.

“As a global fashion and business capital of the world, New York State has a moral responsibility to serve as a leader in mitigating the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry. I am incredibly proud to introduce and sponsor the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act— a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will make New York the global leader in holding the $2.5 trillion fashion industry accountable and ensuring labor, human rights, and environmental protections are prioritized. I’m grateful to Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles and New Standard Institute for their partnership in developing this transformative and historic legislation, and look forward to the further support of my Legislative colleagues, advocates, and industry leaders to pass this legislation,” said New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Prime Senate Sponsor of the bill.

“The Fashion Act is good for the environment, good for workers, good for industry, and good for New York, the world’s fashion capital. It requires the industry to meet clear standards and to report regularly on their efforts. The improvements in human rights and sustainability this will create on an industry that has a huge impact around the world is a first of its kind. More importantly, it will show it is possible and lead the way for other industries that have similar global impacts. It will also allow the scientific community to do extensive research on the data collected, which cannot be an undervalued impact. This legislation will institute common sense protections by requiring that any apparel and footwear retailer with global revenue of at least $100 million selling its products in New York would be required to map their supply chains, disclose environmental and social impacts, and set binding targets to reduce those impacts,” said Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles, Prime Assembly Sponsor of the bill.

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