BFC creates Institute of Positive Fashion to accelerate sustainability

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Sep 10, 2019

The British Fashion Council has brought together various existing sustainability initiatives and programmes under a new organisation called Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF).

“The BFC recognises that the fashion industry engages consumers daily, and whilst it is often seen as forward-thinking, it also appreciates that through global supply chains the industry can have a negative impact on the planet. 

“There is an urgent need for industry-wide coalition to help set industry standards in a new way, embrace innovation and develop the need for leaders to create green businesses fit for the future and enable positive change,” the BFC explained.

The Institute of Positive Fashion will aim to create an industry blueprint by bringing together expertise from different areas to help fashion brands navigate the constantly changing landscape of sustainability. A number of resources, including a white paper and evidence-based business cases, will be generated and published to help inform brands’ sustainability journeys.

“The IPF will galvanise opinion and industry best practice across the fashion industry. It will accelerate progress made in all areas of sustainability that will be impactful and lasting, by creating educational programmes and campaigns aimed at both industry and the public. The aim being to catalyse and expedite change,” the British Fashion Council announced.

The IPF will build on the existing resources of the Positive Fashion Committee, which launched in 2014. This board of industry leaders, including brands such as Burberry, Farfetch, Google, Kering, Raeburn, Selfridges, Swarovski, Vivienne Westwood and YNAP, to name just a few, has been tasked with leading the new Institute of Positive Fashion through its initial phase.

In addition to sustainability (focusing on social, environmental and business impact), the initiative will cover equality and diversity, and craftsmanship and community. A ‘roadmap for change’ spanning three years is expected to be released in 2020.