Following a call for applications which attracted over 230 submissions from young creatives across 52countries worldwide, the Swarovski Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, announce the latest cohort and advocates for the second year of its Creatives for Our Future program during a special reception at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

The six successful grant recipients, whose areas of expertise span across sustainable fashion and textiles, engineering, product design and biotechnologies were chosen for their groundbreaking ideas and innovative approaches, which offer new methods for addressing today’s challenges from social inequality, climate change and unsustainable consumption and production. Their commitment to driving progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations for a better world set them apart.

The Swarovski Foundation Creatives for Our Future cohort for 2022 includes:

·      Noemi Florea | Designer and Writer (US)

·      M.Hassamuddin | Engineer and Eco-Innovator(Pakistan)

·      Joshua Ichor | Geoscientist and Entrepreneur (Nigeria)

·      Aradhita Parasrampuria | Design Textile and Sustainable Materials Researcher (US)

·      Florencia Valladares | Computer Engineer (Chile)

·      Charlotte Werth | Textile and Fashion Designer(United Kingdom)

The successful recipients will each receive a €20,000 grant, paired with an educational program in collaboration with top institutions, tailored mentorship, and industry networking access with guidance from the Swarovski Foundation. The program advocates, leaders in their field, engage as master teachers and mentors for the cohort with the aim to empower their vision and develop their practices to contribute to positive change for public good, the environment and society.

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 The Swarovski Foundation Creatives for Our Future program advocates for 2022 include:

·      Laurie Adams |CEO of Women for Women International (Nigeria)

·      Christiane Arp | Chairwoman of Fashion Council Germany (Germany)

·      Kerry Bannigan | Executive Director of the Fashion Impact Fund (United States)

·      Frank Beadle de Palomo | President and CEO of mothers2mothers (Kenya)

·      Lucie Brigham | Chief of Office of the United Nations Office for Partnerships (Czech Republic)

·      Clare Brook |CEO of Blue Marine Foundation (United Kingdom)

·      Maria Cornejo | Founder and Creative Director of Zero + Maria Cornejo (United States)

·      Chirlie Y Felix | Managing Director of FSG (United States)

·      Daniela Fernandez | Founder and CEO of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance(United States)

·      Cyrill Gutsch | Founder of Parley for the Oceans (United States)

·      Ana Guzman | Executive Director of Conservation International (Costa Rica)

·      Steven Kolb | CEO of Council of Fashion Designers of America(United States)

·      Sara Kozlowski | VP of Program Strategies, Education & Sustainability Initiatives (United States)

·      Jimenez Lai | Founder and Leader of Bureau Spectacular (United States)

·      Greg Lynn | CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward and Greg Lynn Form(United States)

·      Tim Marlow |Chief Executive and Director of the Design Museum (United Kingdom)

·      Charlotte McCurdy | Assistant Professor at Arizona State University (Unites States)

·      Stephen McDonald | Chief Development Officer of EarthWatch Institute(Australia)

·      Anyango Mpinga | Designer and Founder of Free As A Human Foundation (United Kingdom)

·      Geetha Murali | CEO of Room to Read(United States)

·      Tosin Oshinowo | Architect and Designer(Nigeria)

·      Vichitapol Pholpoke | Founder and CEO of Teach for Thailand (Thailand)

·      Marisa Schiestl-Swarovski | Chair of the SwarovskiFoundation (Austria)

·      Joseph Schwarzkopt | General Manager of Uribe and Schwarzkopf (Equador)

·      Yinka Shonibare | CBE RA (United Kingdom)

·      Shoshana Stewart | President of Turquoise Mountain (Afghanistan)

·      Uyen Tran |Co-Founder and CEO of TômTex (United States)

·      Mimma Viglezio | Creative Consultant, Editor and Broadcaster (United Kingdom)

·      Shaway Yeh |Founder of yehyehyeh (China)

This week, the grant recipients came together in New York from across the globe for the first time to kick-start the second year of the Creatives for Our Future program with a group orientation, individual consultation discussions and educational workshops with the Swarovski Foundation.

On the 14th September, the Swarovski Foundation celebrated the announcement of the Creatives for Our Future recipients and program advocates with a reception at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This high-level industry network engagement is the first of the program and offers a unique opportunity for the cohort to meet a community of like-minded individuals working within sustainable development who also create a positive impact in the world.  

Swarovski Foundation Chair, Marisa Schiestl-Swarovski comments:

“This year’s interest from young talents worldwide on the Creatives for our Future program confirms the strong commitment from younger generations to use creativity and innovation to raise awareness and find solutions to drive sustainable development. I am excited to follow the journey of the cohort and see their positive impact. We are grateful to the United Nations Office for Partnerships and our program advocates for their collaboration and expertise towards this program.”

Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships commented:

“Creatives for Our Future provides an opportunity for co-creation of sustainable solutions to better our planet and our communities. We need young global leaders to harness their creativity to lay a foundation for new ideas and pathways to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome this year’s cohort in collaboration with the Swarovski Foundation.”