Revolution

London Fashion 2025 will be the first to introduce sustainability standards to reduce CO2 emissions, reduce waste, and pollution.

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This week, Paris kicked off the fashion season with lively runways, sumptuous new designs, and celebrities in front rows. For the fashion set, that means London Fashion Week (LFW) is right around the corner. Yet, for revelers expecting to see the status quo, change is coming. London is charting a new, greener course than seasons past. For the 2025/ 2026 season, the organization aims to breathe new life into the industry with sustainability requirements that will transform runways into a green ecosystem.

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It’s no secret that the fashion industry has a hefty environmental footprint. A report from the Global Fashion Agenda, showed that in 2019, the industry produced an estimated 92 million tons of waste causing nearly 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions annually. Following in the footsteps of Copenhagen, LFW is taking responsibility with initiatives to minimize its impact on the planet through sustainability requirements. These minimum standards will piloted 2025 for brands to cover environmental and social considerations.

Established in 1984, LFW has traditionally been a hotspot for luxury and excess. Now, it’s embracing carbon-reducing initiatives and circularity.

“We are thrilled to align with the Copenhagen Fashion Week Sustainability Requirements. This partnership is a significant step in ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to the future of fashion,” said outgoing BFC CEO Caroline Rush in a statement.

In 2023, designers at Copenhagen Fashion Week were the first to be presented with a set of environmental and social standards they were required to meet. Nineteen standards across six focus areas, ensured that brands comply to the local fashion industry’s commitment to strategically reducing its impact. Some might even say that Copenhagen is the original sustainable trendsetter. Many of these standards have been adopted by London Fashion Week to ensure a similar sustainable direction is changing a week of excess and waste into a week of carbon-cutting initiatives and grandiosity when it comes to recycling.

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To reduce carbon emissions, some of LFW’s strategic decisions include selecting venues designed with sustainability in mind to reduce energy consumption. Efforts are also underway to cut travel emissions for models, designers, and attendees by holding shows in venues that are closer together. Virtual showrooms and online presentations are gaining popularity, allowing for a broader audience while cutting down on transportation and CO2 emissions.

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Behind the seams, designers are encouraged to turn to recycled and organic materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton instead of fashion’s most popular material- polyester. Derived from fossil fuels, it has a production process estimated to account for 40% of the industry’s emissions. Adding fuel to its impact, polyester is a plastic-based material that can take up to 200 years to decompose. And, once in landfills, the chemicals used to make these materials can leach into water and soil resources, leading to dangerous toxic pollution.

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Vivienne Westwood, a beloved British brand, has been lauded for leading the way by transparently sharing a preferred list of materials, including natural and biodegradable materials such as organic cotton, silk, wool, and linen. Other brands are experimenting with innovative materials like pineapple, apple, and mushroom leather. As alternatives to traditional leather and PVC (plastic-based leather), these materials are valued for their biodegradability and deterrence from fashion’s reliance on plastic-based materials.

LFW is also encouraging designers to adopt practices to reduce waste when designing their collections. More and more we’re seeing innovative designs where upcycling leftover fabrics for new collections is becoming de rigueur. And, where the industry once set fire to last season’s unsold pieces (literally) brands are also implementing programs to donate, recycle, or resell unsold items.

Positive Fashion

The Institute of Positive Fashion’s Circular Ecosystem design shows how raw materials, production, and repairing a garment contribute to circularity.

London Fashion Week might be inspired by Copenhagen to set sustainability requirements for brands, but for years the British Fashion Council (BFC) has been conducting research through the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) to equip brands, stakeholders, and the government with action plans to make the necessary changes to make the fashion industry sustainable. The BFC launched the IPF with a vision to reshape the industry through initiatives that bring together designers, brands, and consumers focused on social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.

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One of its flagship programs was a blueprint report launched in September 2021, highlighting “10 Priority Action Areas” to address issues such as climate change, source depletion, and landfill pollution and waste. Acknowledging the fashion industry’s adverse environmental and social impact, the report detailed an action oriented blueprint to accelerate the industry towards sustainability including:

• Circular Design: Empowering designers and manufacturers to design and create using recycled, recyclable, and renewable materials and technology.
• Renewable Fibers: A collaboration between brands, consumers, and retailers to drive the demand for more renewable fibers.
• Better Recycling: Investments need to be made in efficient textile sorting facilities.
• Locally-made: Supporting locally made manufacturing.
• Reuse and Repair: Expanding brand repair and care services.

The “Positive Fashion” initiative has shown promising data:

• A reported 30% reduction in waste from participating designers.
• Many brands have lowered their carbon emissions by up to 50% over recent seasons.

The Future of Sustainable Fashion at London Fashion Week

Progress is evident, but challenges remain. The journey toward sustainability at LFW is still ongoing. Brands have made significant strides, yet there is more to do regarding education and industry-wide adoption. As consumers, we can take actionable steps to spark change by continuing to support sustainable brands and educating ourselves about the impact of fashion consumption.

The outlook for the future of sustainable fashion at LFW is bright. With experts predicting a fundamental shift in the industry, the potential for positive change is massive. As LFW continues to innovate and inspire, it sets a standard for fashion weeks worldwide.