“There’s a big picture thing here about responsibility,” says Australian author Clare Press,a member of Copenhagen Fashion Week’s advisory board. “Representation matters;climate action matters. Fashion weeks aren’t just about showing collections to buyers these days.”
“We’ve spent too long considering sustainability as an optional extra.”
With the United Nations reporting that fashion contributes up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions,the Danish fashion showcase now demands participating labels use 50 per cent certified deadstock,upcycled,recycled,preferred or new-generation materials in their collections.
Commitments to diverse model casting,refusing to destroy unsold stock and runway sets that are zero waste,are minimum requirements for participation.
“Thinking back 10 years,no one really noticed if a fashion week was wasteful and excessive – although I’m sure it was,” Press,founder ofThe Wardrobe Crisis podcast,says. “Rememberthe Chanel spaceship? There’s more scrutiny today.”
“I’d love to see Australian fashion events adopt these or similar criteria.”
Copenhagen Fashion Week chief executive Cecilie Thorsmark guided the Danish fashion industry through the changes over three years,with only one label failing to make the cut this season. Kit Willow,the designer of sustainable fashion brand Kit X is ready for Australian labels to start a similar journey towards environmental responsibility.