British Fashion Council launches Institute of Positive Fashion with sustainability focus

Announcement comes days before London Fashion Week

(Getty)

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has revealed its commitment to sustainability by launching a new initiative named the Institute of Positive Fashion (IBF).

Through the project, which comes just days before London Fashion Week, the BFC hopes to set industry standards that encourage companies to champion greener business models and enable positive change.

A statement from the BFC explains that the IPF will bring together expertise and research in order to help support individual businesses and organisations as an extension of its Positive Fashion Committee, which was launched in 2013.

“The IPF will galvanise opinion and industry best practice across the fashion industry,” the statement continues.

“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 launch comes just a few days before London Fashion Week, which begins on Friday 13 September.

To mark the beginning of the British fashion industry’s busiest week, DHL in association with the BFC has commissioned a White Paper that highlights the importance of sustainable practice. It will also provide businesses with recommendations to ensure abide by the BFC’s “positive fashion” standards.

It’s not just about sustainability, though. The BFC’s positive fashion concept is informed by three key pillars: sustainability, equality and diversity and craftsmanship and community.

“The IPF ambition has been pushed forward by the Positive Fashion Committee since early 2019,” the BFC states.

“The next quarter will see further development of the programme, that will build on the existing resources of the Positive Fashion Committee.”

The move comes after environmental activists Extinction Rebellion announced its plans to "shut down" the five-day trade show in order to raise awareness of the fashion industry's significant carbon footprint.

The group, who brought major streets to a standstill in five UK cities earlier in July, will assemble in large crowds to thwart stylish editors, models and buyers from attending runway shows.

Earlier this month, Extinction Rebellion demanded that the BFC cancel the event altogether.