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Sustainable and ethical fashion efforts at CFW???
By Hans Henrick
15.2.2010
After covering COP 15 in Copenhagen last December, “rue Lord B” was on the spot to take the temperature in a once again freezing cold Copenhagen.
From left: Lord B, Jukka Pertola, CEO Siemens, Niels B. Christiansen, Danfoss
Witnessing the disapointing result from COP 15, it now stands crystal clear that companies has to act where the politicians didn't succeed in finding reasonable common ground. The fashion industry, were inviting 10-14th of February 2010 (International year of bio diversity) to the always interesting international Copenhagen fashion week.
During these 4 days I witnessed a tremendous amount of fashion creativity and innovative commerce that leaves no doubt that one of the strong emerging trends this season were social and environmental awareness, going hand in hand with fresh design ideas, value based business incentives and social entrepreneurship.
I was very curious to see what Trade fair organizers, designers and brands had in mind for climate sustainability and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in general. The Green mindset as it is written about in the press, often leaves us with the impression that this is just another trend, more than something that is here to stay. The overall opinion on CFW was that future requires value based products and companies profiles – Customers value demands – CSR demands from the designers to their suppliers...
Bibbi Chemitz and David Røgilds; "It would be great if our suppliers made it
easier for us to chose a broader specter of sustainable materials. As the situation is right now,
we need to take too large quantities, for our size of business" www.bibichemnitz.com
Inspiration for Copenhagen Fashion week?
Inspiration by Danish fashion photographer Sune Kowski
Rue Lord B talked to the Danish, Paris based top photographer Sune Kowski, which explains in a telephone interview from London, what he and his team of creatives were opting to achieve:
"For the CPH-vision shoot, I worked with a poetic double exposition effect to express the subtle lines between projection, art and fashion!”
”The Up comers”
At the "VISION" fair, the competetion "INNOVATING SUSTAINABLE FASHION" was a refreshing Green initiative.
"Consumers in Western Europe are making increasing demands to be able to use the products they buy with a good conscience. This applies especially to the fashion and lifestyle industry, which has struggled with its image for years mainly due to production abroad. The problems include child labour, poor working conditions and pollution of the environment. For this reason sustainable design and CSR have obtained a prominent position on the agenda of Danish companies. Consumers want sustainable and ethical products with proper control of the supply chain. But for the manufacturers this supply chain may be long and unpredictable.
CSR is an abbreviation of Corporate Social Responsibility, a concept according to which companies voluntarily integrate social and environmental considerations in their business activities and in the interaction with their stakeholders". http://www.responsibledesign.dk/index.php?id=4216
"Design with meaning: Young designers have a natural need for placing their design into a societal context, which reflects present ideologies and trends. This design contest will therefore give the students the possibility to show how aesthetic and meanings are inextricably linked, says project coordinator from Center for Responsible Design Tina Hjort, who is one of the main forces behind the project.
The contest, which is addressed to design student at Danish design schools, is based on three categories: Design for Inclusion, Design for Environment and Design Considering Use. The categories share the common goal to incorporate social responsibility and sustainability into the design. 20 concepts will be showcased on the catwalk on December 3rd. The chosen concepts are created by students from the Danish design schools Designskolen Kolding, The Danish Design School, TEKO and KEA Design/Business (former known as Bec Design)".
http://www.designtaxi.com/news.php?id=28940
Other examples of refreshing creative ideas from the danish students
1.
2. 
1. ? 2. Maria Parsons
Responsible Brands
Rue Lord B have selected a bouquet of responsible company's and designers who each individually have made CSR a core DNA in their business;
Karen by Simonsen
Karen Simonsens Beutiful "PHOTOGENIC” autumn 2010 collection was launched Friday the 12.2.2010
The collection is defined by a graphic, glamorous look. A sophisticated femme fatale. The mood is blessed with classic sensuality, yet energized with tomorrows fads. http://www.karenbysimonsen.com
Each year Karen Simonsen is traveling to a third world country to develop a new business project.
Karen Simonsen is an ambassadeur for sos children villages in Denmark.
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/pages/default.aspx
FIN OSLO
FIN believes in taking resposibility for their actions and chose carefully innovative materials such as Milk (surplus milk proteins), Organic cotton, organic bamboo and much more. A 360° integration of CSR from materials to fair trade which you can read in their well defined "code of conduct".
See also article : "Made of Milk" from DAZED digital.com
Beautiful elegant minimalistic design where awarenes and fashion merges.
ANOUK
Oslo based ANOUK produces their luxurious casual basic wear with the finest materials in Norway as a part of their CSR.
Anouk uses only certified økotex or Eco Label materials and according to the smiling team we talked to, the national employes benefits from 100% ethical working conditions.
WIGES
The 3O years old Swedish company markets currently 9 clothing brands from basic to fashion products for the whole family. Their design and product development is done in Sweden, whereas their fairtrade production is made in China.
WIGES supports WWF, Städa Sverige (Swedens largest environmental campaign for sports associations) and all printed support materials are printed on eco friendly "Swan marked" paper.
As a part of their different brands they hold licensies for e.g. famous figures such as Alfie Atkins (Known in Scandinavia under the name, Alfons Åberg).
WIGES also integrates their CSR engagement by using certified økotex 100 materials, Bamboo and ecological cotton. The latest released (only in Finland) collection "Wild horse" is printed exclusively with environmental friendly print materials.
Especially the Bamboo fabric is very soft and can be worn directly next to the skin. Many people who experience allergic reactions to other natural fibers, such as wool or hemp, do not complain of this issue with bamboo. The fiber is naturally smooth and round without chemical treatment, meaning that there are no sharp spurs to irritate the skin.
This is all very positive news about Bamboo fabrics, though this relatively new material raises a few environmental and natural forest concerns about precious bio diversity and natural wildlife (REDD - reducing emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degeneration). What is REDD?
In brief: The intense emphasis on profits, the lack of transparency in Chinese business and that one major company manufacturers the bamboo fibers used in the majority of exported bamboo fabric, claims that only environmentally sustainable bamboo plants are used... Can this information be trusted?
We at rue Lord B hope that the Chinese Government in near future will follow Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's good example and reform China's forest policies. In the chase of profits linked to the Bamboo business, future chinese legislations should ensure that too much existing natural landscaped forest, which already has a stable organic micro comos and wildlife will not suffer too much.
Another important legislative point is that Organic bamboo certifications must be enacted to insure that bamboo plantations in reality are sustainably managed and not just marketing claims that dosent match the facts so that the consumer is mislead.
Other positive facts about Bamboo:
- There is no plant that combats global warming like bamboo does. Bamboo minimises CO² emissions and generates up to 35% more oxygen than any other stand of trees.
- Bamboo removes CO² from the atmosphere through photosynthesis by using carbon as an energy source and converting it into plant tissue which releases oxygen (O²) as a by-product.
EL Naturalista
Spanish sustainable footwear company. El Naturalista, view their social responsibility as a cornerstone of their corporate philosophy.
The shoe costumers take responsibility and do their part to recycle and be as earth-friendly as possible, so why stop there? The inviting shoes from El Naturalista are comfortable, attractive, and just right for the environmentalist in all of us. The vegetable-tanned leather is churned with ground tree bark and river stones for weeks to make the hide resilient to dirt, water, and daily wear and tear.
HUMMEL BY ARTREBELS.COM
The old iconoclastic sportswear brand Hummel has since Christian Stadil took over the company in 1999 gone through dramatic positive changes. Christian who is the Inventor of the Corporate Carma philosophy (What goes around, comes around...) has spread this knowledge in a profesional context and is today the core DNA of the company. See Hummel's philosophy here: http://www.hummel.dk/Company/About.aspx
http://artrebels.blogspot.com/2010/01/when-hummel-met-artrebels.html
Hummel uses certified økotex 100 materials for their products and mens designer Henrik Horak, tells that Hummels newest invention is that they are influencing their supplyers to recycle plastic bottles and reuse it to create polyester. There is even a social project in Sierra Leone Henrik tells.
The Brand's fashion collection this season was 12 pieces presented as STATEMENT (refined with an edge) and LIFESTYLE (morphing the past and the present). "Bee Colourful in your choices and express your character".
A pleasure witnessing all these above mentioned great efforts to advance in our collective obligations to save the planet.
HH for rue Lord B
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Music: Planet Rescue with Lord B and friends - Vocals and production:
Lord B, P 2 the J, Lou Campbell, INFO.B.S, DIPZ, Hans Henrick