Wednesday 9 December 2009

Fashionista heads to Copenhagen on a mission . . .

Much is happening in Copenhagen - but the excitement is not limited to politicians discussing climate change at the UN Climate Change Conference . Fashionista is also intrigued by the fashion scene there. Last week, green fashionistas attended 'Innovating Sustainable Fashion' organised by the Center for Responsible Design and Copenhagen Fashion Fairs. 19 collections made their way down the catwalk, competing for prizes in 'Design For Inclusion', 'Design Considering Use', and 'Design For Environment'. The winner was Sci-fi menswear designer Tobias Noe Harboe from the Danish Design School. His (design) story is a journey from the future backwards through time to the beginning of the industrial revolution to change the path of history towards a more sustainable direction.

And today the 'Fashion Summit' takes place at the Copenhagen Opera House. Organised by NICE, the summit is an educational project created for, and in collaboration with the Nordic fashion industry, its aim is to motivate and assist companies to integrate sustainability and social responsibility in their business practices. Fashionista is impressed to learn that the plan is for attendees to walk away with a 10-year action plan and a Nordic Code of Conduct for the Nordic fashion industry and hopes that plan and Code of Conduct will be published on the internet for all to see.

What is more the event has attracted a number of names from the big players in the fashion industry such as Laurent Claquin (PPR Group), Julie Gilhart (Barneys, New York), Ingrid Schullstroem (H&M), Christian Kemp-Griffin (Edun) and Vanessa Fridman (FT). And just to add to the fun the event includes a competition for 20 young Nordic designers to design two sustainable outfits, culminating in a runway show. Fashionista is hoping for a front row seat . . . .

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