London Fashion Week is set to run from 14th-18th February. Top designers, models and brands are already descending on London, eager to make their mark on one of the world’s ‘Big Four’ fashion events. For five fashion-filled days, the eyes of the world will be on the catwalks of London. So, it is especially welcome that the British Fashion Council are taking this opportunity to promote its Positive Fashion initiative.
Positive Fashion and Global Recycling Day
The Positive Fashion movement seeks to steer the fashion industry in an ethical direction. Sustainability and environmental best practice are at the heart of Positive Fashion – and the Global Recycling Foundation believes it’s high time that Positive Fashion brands receive appropriate recognition for their efforts.
The Global Recycling Day theme for 2020 is #RecyclingHeroes – celebrating people, groups, and organisations who are championing innovative recycling practices and habits around the world, and it would be wonderful if the fashion industry could show its support for Global Recycling Day (18th March). Getting involved in the #RecyclingHeroes competition would give sustainable designers the recognition they deserve, and highlight the industry’s Positive Fashion initiative.
Fashion’s #RecyclingHeroes
There are a great many unsung heroes in the fashion industry. Lots of brands and designers are doing their utmost to utilise the Seventh Resource and shape the world of fashion in a positive, sustainable way. Established designers like Stella McCartney are making great strides towards a more ethical future, while newer brands are enshrining upcycling and environmental ethics within their founding principles. Here are just a few of the brands we believe are already #RecyclingHeroes:
- E.Tautz: E-Tautz clothing is made to last. The brand is doing its best to challenge the throwaway ‘fast fashion’ culture by encouraging people to wear and mend their clothing rather than buying a new wardrobe every season. They also take pains to make sure that their clothing can be recycled when it finally does wear out.
- Vinti Andrews: This London based brand is known for upcycling iconic pieces such as used Metropolitan Police coats. Their Autumn/Winter 2020 collection is made from used sportswear which has been deconstructed and remade in ingenious ways. This brand is really pushing the envelope and showing just how many astonishing things can be done with the Seventh Resource.
- Bethany Williams: All of the clothing from Bethany Williams is 100% sustainable. The latest collection includes garments made from renewable and biodegradable wool, denim sourced from a recycling and sorting facility, and even upcycled trainers.
- Studio ALCH: Alexandra Hackett is an Australian designer now based in London. For her Autumn/Winter 2020 collection, all items were produced from recycled, organic or excess deadstock materials.
- Patrick McDowell: This British designer used vintage hoses, garments and belts upcycled from the London Fire Brigade for their latest collection, showing a really innovative way of upcycling to create something fabulous.
- Ksenia Schnaider: Ksenia and Anton Schaider have (literally) woven upcycling into their every collection. They have worked extensively on developing new techniques to get the best and most out of recycled textiles, and are at the forefront of the sustainable fashion revolution.
A step in the right direction – but a long way still to go
However, positive though all of this is, there is still a lot to be done. As Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation, Ranjit Baxi comments: “We are proud to support and commend the fashion industry for taking the necessary steps towards saving our planet. However, there is still much to be done. 10,000 items of clothing are sent to UK landfill every five minutes. This is not only hugely wasteful, but it also represents a massive loss of textile resources that could be recycled into new garments. Every year, the Earth yields billions of tons of natural resources and at some point, this will run out. Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources, so every step we take, big or small, will help to better the future for generations to come.”
The #RecyclingHeroes competition
The #RecyclingHeroes competition will award ten winners from across the globe $1,000 to contribute towards their recycling initiatives. For details of the competition, as well as full terms and conditions, please see the submission page. The competition is accepting nominations until 8 March 2020.
