Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025, the international forum for sustainability in fashion, took place from June 3-5, 2025, at the prestigious Copenhagen Concert Hall. Presented by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), a non-profit organisation that is accelerating the transition to a net positive fashion industry, this year’s Summit convened global leaders under the urgent theme, "Barriers and Bridges", to drive collective action.

Now in its 16th year, the forum is recognised as the foremost platform for shaping a net positive future in fashion. The 2025 Copenhagen edition explored the dualities of this moment, highlighting how challenging new barriers, from financial and regulatory to ideological, can be leveraged as bridges for tangible change. With sustainability now intersecting with increasing regulatory pressure, the programme spotlighted five key forces shaping fashion’s future: Innovation, Capital, Courage, Incentives, and Regulation.

Speakers include thought leaders and decision-makers from Kering, Gucci, RE&UP, eBay, European Commission, Ganni, The Lycra Company, Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, H&M Group, ExpectAI, Visa Europe, UN Environment Programme, Zalando, Cornell University Global Labor Institute, EIleen Fisher, and Fair Labor Association.

With even more focus on innovation this year, the Innovation Forum, returned with a curated community of pioneering solution providers spanning the entire value chain, from next-gen materials to advanced end-of-use processes. Through guided tours and a thorough Matchmaking programme, brands and retailers engaged with the innovations needed to accelerate transformation. Included in the Innovation Forum are the shortlisted solutions from GFA’s Trailblazer Programme 2025, in collaboration with PDS Ventures, this year introducing three key pillars serving as critical sustainability priorities: Working With Nature, Closed Loop Pathways, and Tech Powered Transformation. The three category winners of the Trailblazer Programme are Matereal, Manny AI, and Refiberd. All nine shortlisted early-stage innovators were selected for their efforts to accelerate the transformation of the fashion and textile industry towards net-positivity. They participated in the Trailblazer Programme, receiving tailored feedback and investment pitch training from industry experts and PDS representatives. All shortlisted Trailblazers also showcased their businesses in a dedicated exhibit at the Summit, offering the opportunity to connect with key industry stakeholders and potential investors.