The Round Up is ZERRIN’s weekly sustainable fashion and beauty news segment, keeping you updated on the latest news worldwide. From green moves from some of the industry’s big international players and exciting updates from emerging labels to tech innovations in the sustainability sphere, you can read about it all in our weekly update.
This week: Green is Glamorous, Brands are Going Carbon Neutral, Victoria Beckham Launches Clean Beauty Range and more…
Max Mara and Zegna receiving The CNMI in Recognition of Sustainability Award
1. Who said green can’t be glamorous?
Now in its third year running, the Green Carpet Awards, an initiative founded by Livia Firth, co-founder and creative director of Eco-Age and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, took place last week at the end of Milan Fashion Week. The event aims to celebrate individuals who are making fashion a source for good through improved ethical and environmental practices. Including awards like The Groundbreaker Award, won by designer Stella McCartney for her pioneering work in fashion sustainability. Doutzen Kroes also took home the Social Media Changemaker for her work rallying fashion brands and influencers to end the slaughter of elephants for ivory.
Catch up with Livia Firth’s opinions on the GFC and ethics in the industry here.
2. In a slew of announcements over the last month, big fashion brands and corporations have announced they will be going carbon neutral.
International luxury group Kering, owner of designer fashion houses — Balenciaga, Gucci, Alexander McQueen — has stated it hopes to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% within the next five years. For instance, this statement follows hot on the heels of Gucci, who pledged to offset its carbon emissions through a partnership with Redd+. Additionally, this UN project aims to reduce deforestation emissions, as well as Amazon’s pledge to meet the Paris Agreement’s net-zero annual carbon emissions sustainability standard by 2040.
3. Environmental NGO Redress, founded by sustainable fashion advocate Dr Christina Dean, recently held its 2019 Redress Design Award in August in Hong Kong.
This exciting initiative is also currently the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition. Furthermore, it aims to educate emerging designers around the world about zero-waste practices and techniques to drive towards circularity. This year’s winner, Maddie Williams, presented an eclectic collection made from upcycled textiles, yarns and second-hand clothing. It was emblazoned with prints of bones and planets. She also hopes to send the message across about the fashion industry’s deadly impact on our world.
Read more about what went down here.
4. Victoria Beckham Beauty has landed, and it’s green – in the environmentally-friendly way of course.
With the tagline “Luxury Performance. Clean Beauty,” the new range will offer a selection of 100% cruelty-free products across skincare, fragrance, makeup and wellness. But just how green is the new range? According to their press department, the packaging is made from post-consumer, recycled or recyclable materials and minimal plastic. Some of them also dissolve in water! The line also contains minimal chemical nasties in conjunction with EU laws, including formaldehyde, parabens and paraffin wax.
Read the company statement on the range here.
5. Singapore-based fashion designers prioritising sustainable or ethical production methods are still the exception, rather than the rule.
That’s why we’re thrilled that more creatives, like Audris Quek, founder of Paradigm Shift, are stepping up to lead the sustainability pack.
Read more about her label here, which creates modern, minimal designs supporting communities in Nepal.
