Copenhagen Fashion Summit advocates Green approach

12 Jan '10

3 min read

The spectacular Opera house was the setting for The Fashion Summit held in Copenhagen on Dec. 9th. Over 500 attendees gathered to hear wonderful speakers give their take on more environmentally-friendly and ethical approaches to fashion and apparel. An eye-popping fashion show featuring new gen designers high-lighted by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary added an exciting visual dimension.

Christian Kemp-Griffin, Edun, Laurant Claquin, PPR Group, Vanessa Friedman, Fashion Editor for Financial Times, Manuel Baigorri, Levi Strauss & Co, Marjorie Yang, Esquel Group, Ros Harvey, Better Work and Julia Gilhart, Senior VP at Barneys New York spoke to a rapt audience of Nordic fashion companies and media on the most important issue of our time: Taking responsibility being the key to success in the fashion business of the future.

HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark arrived to over-see the catwalk-show show-casing 20 new gen Nordic designers, and she held a short speech on the importance of NICE, and the jury's reasoning for chosing Finnish designer Saara Lepokorpi as the recipient of 50.000 DKK. The panel of judges were Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor at H&M, Laird Borelli-Persson, Senior Features Editor style.com, Fern Mallis, Senior VP of IMG Fashion, Erin Mullaney, Browns and Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of design at H&M.

Several issues were brought to the forefront during the day, also as a part of a panel discussion which rounded off the day, moderated by Peter Ingwersen, the founder of the Danish brand NOIR, one very relevant issue being brought up by Vanessa Friedman: We need clarity som the consumer understands what this is about, which comes back to a lexicon for sustainable fashion. A customer in a store will never read anything that exceedes a twitter message in length.

A wonderful dinner was hosted by the Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard at Copenhagen's City Hall following the Fashion Summit, where Crown Princess Mary, the Norwegian ambassador and his wife, and Lene Nystrøm were among the distinguished guests. The chance for Nordic designers to inter-act and discuss their common challenges in a global market, was one of the unique aspects of the conference. An exhibit by C.L.A.S.S. showing off eco-friendly textiles also engaged the designers, along with a better understanding of what enzymes can do to avoid harsh chemicals. (For more information on C.L.A.S.S. and Novozymes enzyme-processes, see "Production" under "Professional guide" and "Resources".)

Aspects of what was discussed during the Fashion Summit will become a part of this internet-resource, so that even those who were not able to attend the conference will have access to important information. Since the Fashion Summit was also the launch of the 10-year plan for the industry, the place to follow the progress will be Featured Projects.

The following quote from HRH Crown Princess Mary, when she spoke to the delegates at the Fashion Summit, is a good starting-point for the NICE 10-year plan: "It is essential for the world that we take collective action." She also stressed that the fashion industry is full of creativity and good ideas, so she looks forward to seeing results. And rounded off by saying that if these five Nordic countries can cooperate, we should also be able to invite the rest of the world to join us. Which is, of course, exactly what the Nordic Fashion Association plans to do....

Nordic Initiative Clean & Ethical (NICE)

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