On Thursday 30th June 2022, the British Fashion Council (BFC) hosted its second annual Institute of Positive Fashion Forum (IPF Forum) at 180 Studios at 180 The Strand, London. The event was focused on accelerating a circular fashion ecosystem – creating the roadmap for change through innovation and best practice and used the BFC’s convening power to bring together actors across the ecosystem to address the largest climate-related issues facing the industry today.
The actions-oriented day-long event included a series of visionary keynotes, the launch of the 2022 Future of Fashion Innovation Showcase, closed-door roundtables and ‘hack’ sessions to help address the fashion industry’s largest themes on circularity and the net zero agenda. These hacks, supported by IPF Forum delivery consultant Deloitte, were led by moderators and kicked-off by a panel of leaders across the industry. The IPF Forum is an event that fosters collaboration across the industry and encourages global experts to share their knowledge to fast-track collective positive change.
Closing remarks from June Sarpong, Director of Creative Diversity, BBC
“I’m June Sarpong, a member of the BFC Board and I am here today to close the Institute of Positive Fashion.
What an incredible day. Thank you to the speakers, panellists, and to all of you for being here and showing your commitment to focusing on positive change.
We started the day with Kate Raworth and the theory behind Doughnut economics that makes so much sense with our Circular Fashion Eco-System Vision. We know that we need to transform – become regenerative, distributive by design – which means systemic change to how enterprise and companies operate. She touched on the importance of asking the right questions – which aspects of enterprise design are holding you back?
Chris Sanderson from Future Laboratory who reminded us that we need to solve challenges today with the way we live in the future front of mind for them to be long lasting solutions.
Three Key thought starters:
– Decolonising Eco Innovation – turning to innovators in the Global South
– Next Gen Materials – innovation and embracing new processes
– Betterverse building – an opportunity to create something with better values in the Metaverse
I very much welcome the MBS x BFC Report on D&I, without research and data we have no benchmark to make progress. How we measure that progress is the next challenge to overcome. Thank you, Mathew, Moira and Jamie for that session. Again, they reiterated that any change needs to come from the top and that the data is necessary to benchmark and to show that broader D&I – disability, race, gender and other minority groups makes business sense.
Eva Kruse and Brooke Roberts-Islam unpicked the opportunity for innovation in transforming our industry and how well consumers are responding when the product is right, the opportunity to create new desirable materials and continue to innovate.
Robert Triefus spoke to Sarah Shannon and gave us insight into the new era of luxury and how Gucci is taking on the challenge and opportunity to master Web3.
In our Hacks facilitated by Deloitte we aimed to discuss and solve
– The problem of returns in our industry
– Communicating sustainability
– Empowering citizens to care for garments
– The future of fashion forms
– Unlocking financial flows to scale innovation
– Management of scope 3 emissions
– Overproduction and waste
The overarching theme has been the need for a co-ordinated approach to accelerate change in terms of the development of eco-systems and networks to empower environmental and societal change and the immense opportunity from innovation, not just Web3, but material, business models, design practices and much more.
There is lots to be done and change must be led from the top and be embedded in your organisation. We need to ask questions and it should feel awkward or we aren’t pushing hard enough. Policy and regulation are key to enabling progress.
Our ask is that you continue to bring the energy you have given today. Revisit many of your conversations and take them back into your day-to-day business.
Content will be available through your personalised login with the opportunity to connect with those you have met today. We will share outputs in our post event report.
Thank you to DHL and Vanish for making this event possible.
Thank you to 180 The Strand.
Thank you to our Institute of Positive Fashion Steering Committee for being the industry sounding board and challengers for change – Lynda Petherick, Dax Lovegrove, Jalaj Hora, Cyrill Gutsch, Judith Rosser-Davies, Shailja Dubey and chair of the steering committee Caroline Rush.
Thank you to the BFC team for organising this wonderful day.
Thank you to you all for your energy and passion and let’s keep at it!!
The BFC continues its collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) to further engage the fashion industry in the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The IPF Forum ‘hacks’ align with SDGs 5 (Gender Equality), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The generosity and commitment of our partners is more vital than ever. Please help us by acknowledging the ongoing support of our IPF Change Partners: DHL and Vanish. We also would like to acknowledge the support provided for the facilitation of the IPF Forum by Delivery Consultant: Deloitte.