UD faculty, student, alumna lead event at international forum

Sheng Lu, professor and graduate director in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, Megan Dawson-Elli, AS16, and Emilie Delaye, master’s student of fashion and apparel studies, recently organized and served on a panel at the 2025 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector. The panel, titled Due Diligence Education for Gen Z: Preparing Future Fashion Leaders for Sustainable and Socially Responsible Apparel Sourcing, addressed the gap between industry demands and Gen Z’s educational preparation. Participants advocated for increased support and investment in the next generation of professionals who will define due diligence in the garment industry for decades to come. Senior officials from the International Trade Center, which is co-run by the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and industry leaders from retailing giant Macy’s and the U.S. Fashion Industry Association also served as panelists. The OECD Forum attracted more than 2,400 participants in person or online from academia, international organizations, governments and the business community.