Fashion Revolution calls for sustainable focus at fashion weeks

LONDON – Fashion Revolution has called for a radical change of emphasis for London Fashion Week and its global counterparts, with a shift towards pushing messages of sustainability and responsible fashion. The campaign group suggested such events should be more about celebrating designers and innovators who are exploring new ways of working that are addressing issues such as ethical supply chains, volumes, waste, and recycling. “These are the … change makers the British Fashion Council, and other fashion councils around the world, must highlight and promote as the only sustainable way for fashion to progress,” said Fashion Revolution. It was responding to previous calls by NGO, Extinction Rebellion, to cancel London Fashion Week altogether, to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry.

In response, an op-ed from Fashion Revolution said: “If we are to reduce the industry’s carbon emissions, we need radical action, and we need it now. However, we believe the emphasis must not be on shutting down the fashion industry but on shifting it – far more rapidly than it already is – towards alternative, innovative models that promote creativity, craftsmanship and a meaningful form of fair and decent employment for millions of people around the world.

“Not only is fashion one of the world’s most polluting industries, it is becoming increasingly obvious that fashion weeks in their current format are themselves outmoded, wasteful, and no longer fit for purpose.

“The emphasis, the preconceptions and the format need to change. Fashion Weeks offer a unique platform to showcase innovation and new ideas but they need to be put to good use. Solutions to the global challenges designers and supply chains face can be found within the industry itself. There are a great many designers, managers, technicians and creatives working within the industry who are actively working to change the systems from within.

“There are questions every designer should be asking themselves about waste, supply chains, over production, volumes, material sourcing. Fashion Week can provide a platform not just to show the new, but to challenge conventions and actively disrupt the processes and systems that are no longer acceptable in the face of environmental breakdown.”