Sustainability should be a thread that runs through every fashion organisation
Catherine Broome
Executive Search - Future Consumer & Luxury Innovation - GCC, Europe, Asia
Yesterday, the Environmental Audit Committee released the findings on fashion and sustainability, titled 'Fixing Fashion: Clothing Consumption and Sustainability', in which it detailed a number of suggestions to direct UK brands and retailers to meet sustainability and social responsibilities.
While the report advocates new economic models and circular business models to effect change, I would suggest that a deep look into the existing organisation of fashion brands and retailers is not only necessary, but would be extremely beneficial in order to meet these goals.
Creating an industry which views sustainability and social responsibility as competencies, rather than concepts, in everyone’s skillset - from the most junior to the most senior of profiles - will indeed make the UK fashion talent the envy of the world.
I would suggest that there are three steps to achieving this. We need to;
· Look at and challenge where we currently ‘file’ sustainability in our organisations
· Ensure that social responsibility and sustainability are considered basic competency requirements in all roles within fashion
· To ensure that sustainability is represented at Board level to truly lead change
The report states that ‘[...] retailers have an obligation to engage with these issues, and recommended that they show leadership through engagement with industry initiatives’ to which I would agree. Director of the ETI, Peter McAllister, reiterates to us that “ETI can help brands upskill staff so that ethical practice and sustainability are embedded across their business.”
Read their response to the report in full here,
https://www.ethicaltrade.org/blog/fashion-costing-earth
And I look forward to yours.