Sustainable Fashion Activity Highlights PH Embassy’s 18-Day VAW Campaign
Lisbon, 02 December 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon concluded the event on the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW through a community forum held on 01 December 2025 at the Philippine Embassy.
The activity, entitled “Sustainable Fashion, An Empowered Filipina’s Path to Intentional Style” is a community forum which discussed empowerment through clothing, colonial mentality and harmful style beliefs, sustainability and fast fashion, intentional style, and practical tools. The activity also included a Clothes Swap, which encouraged participants to exchange pre-loved clothing items as a way of promoting sustainability and reducing textile waste.
In his remarks, Ambassador Paul Raymund P. Cortes addressed the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and advocated for the fundamental right of women and girls to live free from abuse and discrimination. Ambassador Cortes emphasized that choosing the clothes we wear does not give anyone the right to abuse us. He addressed the issue of victim-blaming, particularly in cases where survivors are faulted for their attire underscoring that this mindset is completely unacceptable. He also linked the activity to broader concerns about global warming, highlighting how the materials used in clothing production contribute to environmental challenges.
The forum was moderated by Ms. Katrina Torrefranca, an HR Professional and the guest speaker of the event is Ms. Michelle Pozon, a former fashion designer turned Spiritual Stylist with two decades in the global fashion industry from San Francisco to New York and Paris. Now based in Lisbon, she is the author of The Beauty Deck and Co-Founder of The Next Turn Lisbon.
The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) is an annual advocacy effort in the Philippines that runs from November 25 to December 12. END