"Made in [your country]" is an ongoing attractive topic in the contemporary sustainable fashion discussion. In many cases, one that borders - or is even right in the middle of - some rather right-wing nationalist sentiments. Europe as a whole does not need that - there is enough quality design and craftsmanship to be proud of without getting into shallow waters.
March 22, 2012 : Araisara has completed her last runway show at Japan Fashion Week, and is preparing her collection's launch in Paris in October 2012. But while fashion shows are important, it is the people that remain the one single most important source of inspiration for her brand.
I had the chance to speak at the Green Business conference last week in Istanbul about future market scenarios for the fashion industry. The conference is an event of the Sustainability Academy in Turkey.
Key highlights from the event
Lack of knowing where to buy is among the most cited reasons by consumers as to why the don’t buy more sustainably in fashion terms (right after price). A Switzerland-based, recently launched internet portal has tackled this problem by offering consumers a shopping guide and index to both brands and shops that are available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
On May 3rd 2012 the 2nd Fashion Summit took place in Copenhagen. Bringing fashion industry key people together to discuss sustainability with them, yet without using the term itself, is already a considerably achievement. Ilaria Pasquinelli attended and reports on her insights.
There are several things that come to your mind when visiting Estethica at London Fashion Week this February. To start with, the new venue , in the West Wing of Somerset House, adopted since last edition, is really sophisticated. Exhibitors are accommodated in rooms with a neat aesthetics that has one aim: making collections the only protagonists. Further, it is interesting to note that, besides the usual “aficionados” like Ada Zanditon or Henrietta Ludgate, there are some interesting international emerging talented brands.
London Fashion Week is feeling the effects of the global 'austerity' programme with fewer brands participating overall. The gems are still there and worth hunting for. Sometimes though, the gems of previous seasons remain the headlines.
London Fashion Week received a lot of buzz this season. But while all was not well on the substance front, the gems are still there and worth hunting and finding. The question remains though: Why are talent scouts seemingly only looking 'the other way'?
London Fashion September 2012: This season's EstEthica was possibly the best edition yet. Finally, there was also a relevant number of brands. Shirahime's insights.
Visiting the Paris fashion trade fairs raises once again the eternal question: When if bad design is omnipresent, why is it that ethical fashion is blamed more frequently than others? Some insights.
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A phenomenon: National borders segregate markets. Ethical fashion brands don't know much about what is happening abroad.
1st of 2 part posts, incl. event listing.
A phenomenon: National borders segregate markets. Ethical fashion brands don't know much about what is happening abroad.
2nd of 2 part posts, incl. event listing.
The conference on Ethical Trade, at the Goodenough College, London, on November 12 & 13, 2010, offered 2 tightly scheduled days, where qualified speakers followed one another.
The RSA brought together a group of thinkers and practitioners who have each been exploring ways to bring the principles of 'slow' to their life and work – whether in finance, culture or fashion. A brief summary, and some key insights.
The most recent event in the 'Perspectives on Future Sustainable Design' series highlighted the progress made in developing sustainable design approaches. Both, from a theoretical as well as from a systemic point of view. A summary.
A little bit late, but here it is: The video interview from February 2011 London Fashion Week. Charlie Ross from...
The Guardian Sustainable Business & Observer Ethical Awards 2012 edition in fashion terms. Cradle to Cradle is becoming popular in the nitty gritty of the carpet industry, Puma's Profit and Loss Accounts get credit, and Kids imitate Katherin Hamnett's 1980's slogan T-shirts to raise awareness.
On September 12 to 14, I attended the European Business Ethics Network (EBEN) yearly conference in Lille, France. The theme of this year’s edition was ‘License to Operate’.
I and my colleague Ilaria Pasquinelli, both presented a research paper, focused on sustainability and value generation in the fashion industry, and the status quo of knowledge on sustainable consumption habits respectively.
London Fashion Week 02/2011 - Day 1: British Wool and its use in fashion. What is the issue with British wool and what brands are truly making a difference and how?
