How are the Ethical Fashion Initiative and the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion engaging with global businesses, and encouraging them to re-think their supply chains? Can you share a positive example of where this has happened?
The Ethical Fashion Initiative manages a supply chain that supplies global businesses, providing them with tools and systems to be more sustainable. The Initiative also runs an Accelerator for new design businesses. The Initiative has also grown to become an investment opportunity, and we are now working to develop a retail space for the social enterprises and artisan groups who work with us.
The Alliance members have their own mandates and operations, and coordinate a large number of fantastic initiatives that involve stakeholders from the private sector. As an Alliance and working group, one noteworthy event during which we were able to dialogue with important players from the industry, and also from the public sector, was our launch event at the United Nations Environmental Assembly 4, in Nairobi last year (2019).
How can we continue to harness the power of the business sector, such as the fashion industry, to create a force for good in the world?
By holding the industry accountable. As consumers, as activists, as citizens.
What is in the pipeline for both the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, and the Ethical Fashion Initiative?
For the EFI we are now incubating three businesses that have emerged from the Hackathon we had organised in May, which address some of the most important issues of fashion using technology, innovation and business. We are looking forward to sharing more on this soon. We are also expecting to involve more artisans in our supply chain, and we are launching a new platform to manage sustainability in global supply chains. We also have exciting upcoming projects involving cinema and theatre, in partnership with artists and other creatives from our network
The Alliance is also planning on organising a Hackathon to brainstorm and develop new ideas on how to operate and create the most impact. We are also planning a large event on circularity, which will include performances, art and culture, at the Palais de Nations in Geneva, next spring.