US fashion brand Bloomingdale’s has joined hands with Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to launch Sustainable Fashion Fund even as Bloomingdale’s prepares to mark its 150th anniversary this fall.

The Sustainable Fashion Fund’s mission, reportedly, is to unite the fashion industry and encourage retailers and industry experts to get involved in collaborative sustainable projects that “will create viable solutions.”

More specifically, according to Bloomingdale’s  website, the platform aims “to protect the planet for the next generation, build a more equitable future for everyone and invest in the youth of today through mental health advocacy.”

The goal of the two partners in creating both initiatives is to create new spaces and resources that support teaching and learning, research, and offer activities to educate students, faculty, alumni, industry partners and the public about sustainability.

Dr. Joyce F. Brown, FIT President, said in a statement. “Partnering with Bloomingdale’s will promote and enhance the strong, active and highly visible commitment that FIT has made to sustainability innovation.

The funds earned through the cooperative project will be applied to the establishment of open innovation labs, sustainable fashion showcases, educational and mentoring programmes.

In collaboration with their leadership, we want to demonstrate that sustainability is possible for a large institution and ultimately provide a model for other organisations. Like Bloomingdale’s, we recognise that sustainability is not an isolated goal; it extends into related areas such as corporate social responsibility, ethics and fair trade,” Dr. Brown concluded.