Business of Fashion has reported that sustainability will be at the centre of innovation in the fashion industry in 2018.
Fashion brands internationally, have already started to embrace the importance of sustainability, with 42 out of 100 fashion brands in 2017 disclosing information to consumers about the sustainability of their business.
Sustainable fashion is partly about producing clothes, shoes and accessories in environmentally and socio-economically sustainable ways; but also it’s about more sustainable patterns of consumption and use, which means consumers need to take more engaging action.
Green Strategy has identified seven main forms of more sustainable fashion production and consumption, as seen in the figure below.
The main responsibility of the fashion industry is to change their production, distribution and marketing practices and strategies towards greater sustainability. It is also up to us as consumers to take a more educated and responsible approach to how we buy and the impact that has on the earth and its citizens.
At Le Louvre, we always encourage buying less, but buying well, stated as No. 3 in the sustainable fashion wheel below. Purchasing high quality and timeless design, means getting more wear for your pieces and being conscious of where that item has originate from and where it will go when you have finished with it.
At Le Louvre, we are enthusiastic about seeing more of our brands take on their roles as drivers for sustainable fashion to its consumers. Outlined below are some of our brands using their voice for good.
Stella McCartney
As one of the front runners of walking the talk and leading the fashion industry to manufacture in a more conscious way, Stella McCartney calls it her World of Sustainability. She sees her company as an agent of change, challenging and pushing boundaries to make luxurious products in a way that is fit for the world we live in today and the future: beautiful and sustainable. No compromises.
Each decision Stella McCartney’s fashion machine makes is a symbol of their commitment to defining what the future of fashion looks like.
The materials Stella McCartney uses are key to their efforts in operating as a sustainable business and supporting the transition to a circular economy.
Everything from fur-free-fur and skin-free-skin (faux leather) to recycled cashmere, organic cotton and man-made silk are making their way into Stella McCartney’s designs and collections for mainstream consumption, and most importantly, enjoyment.
All outlined in shared on her newly launched Sustainability Website.
Stella McCartney skin-free-skin from her 2018 collection. Available now at Le Louvre.
GUCCI
In October last year the CEO of Gucci Marco Bizzarri announced the loud and audacious fashion house would go fur-free from 2018 and hopes other luxury brands will continue follow suit.
The decision comes after fellow Italian brand Armani announced in 2016 that it would no longer feature fur in its collections, and brings the Italian brand in line with the practices of its Kering stablemate Stella McCartney.
“Technology is now available that means you don’t need to use fur. The alternatives are luxurious. There is just no need,”
Gucci is now part of the Fur Free Alliance, an international group of more than 40 organisations which campaigns on animal welfare and promotes alternatives to fur in the fashion industry.
The new decision by Gucci. Marco Bizzarri hopes Gucci’s decision to go fur-free would encourage other high-profile brands to follow suit. “Gucci is so visible, so well-known – we need to use that in a positive way.”
Gushlow and Cole
The origin, authenticity and good ethical practice is also integral to how Gushlow and Cole source their materials sourcing. Katrina and Emma believe that no animal should be farmed for fashion, which is why they only use skins that are a by product of food industries.
Each skin Gushlow and Cole uses is, in fact, a by product and all materials are a renewable fibre source. Which naturally decomposes into the earth when disposed of, making their materials 100% biodegradable.
Quality is integral to the creation of luxury, therefore the provenance of Gushlow and Cole’s materials is deeply rooted within their design philosophy. We source only the finest quality Iberian skins from carefully selected European tanneries and work closely together to develop beautiful, unique colours and finishes.
Gushlow and Cole Rough Cut Gilets in Toscana and merinillo shearling. Available now at Louvre.
It is this knowledge, understanding and love for shearling, which has been passed down through generations, that enables us to bring you some of the finest quality shearling in the world.
Gushlow and Cole (and Le Louvre) are very proud that each and every is handmade in the British Isles, by finely skilled specialist craftsmen & women, many of whom have worked with the brand since it began. The brand acknowledges and celebrates these talented cutters, machinists and knitters by adding a special name label to each Gushlow & Cole garment and accessory.
Buying new clothes that are manufactured in an environmentally and socially/ethically conscious manner is something we all should aspire as much as possible.
