BFC to Host Institute of Positive Fashion Forum
Virgil Abloh and Burberry’s, Alexander McQueen’s and Ganni’s CEOs are among the speakers.
LONDON — The British Fashion Council wants to see the U.K. fashion sector being rebuilt sustainably. So it’s bringing designers, executives, government representatives and sustainability activists together in the inaugural Institute of Positive Fashion Forum, a series of talks and roundtable discussions taking place digitally on June 10.
The talk is aiming to build momentum and set the agenda, ahead of COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in November in Glasgow, Scotland.
Some of the speakers already confirmed include Burberry’s chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti; Alexander McQueen CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger; Ganni CEO Nicolaj Reffstrup; Virgil Abloh, and Parley for the Oceans founder Cyrill Gutsch.
“It’s an opportunity to use this first conference in the U.K. to bring the fashion industry together with government and policy-makers to test the grounds and set the agenda ahead of COP26,” said the BFC’s CEO Caroline Rush, adding that the event will include a mix of talks and roundtable discussions aiming to inform policy.
There are four key pillars that will be examined in the forum as determined by the Institute of Positive Fashion, including environment, people, community and craftsmanship — with a particular focus being place on decarbonization.
“We’re trying to galvanize the industry to commit to the race of net-zero carbon emissions,” said Rush, explaining that the issue of carbon footprint will also open up an array of other urgent topics, ranging from biodiversity to social justice.