Illustrious Leaders Convene At The Digital Copenhagen Fashion Summit To Drive Sustainable Impact In The Fashion Industry

Image Courtesy of Copenhagen Fashion Summit

“Redesigning the concept of growth is one of the biggest systemic issues of our time.” – Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark

Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark, Tommy Hilfiger, Miguel, Yara Shahidi and leading speakers from the European Commission, Hermès International, Patagonia Inc., Ralph Lauren Corporation, NIKE, Inc., and many more shared their views at CFS+ 2021.

October 2021: CFS+ – the digital edition of industry renowned Copenhagen Fashion Summit, began yesterday and brought together leading fashion stakeholders, policymakers, NGOs and investors to drive urgent action on sustainability.

Hosted by Global Fashion Agenda, a non-profit organisation that fosters collaboration on sustainability in fashion, this year’s online event is centred around the theme ‘Prosperity vs. Growth’ and explores how the industry can thrive today in favour of tomorrow.

There was a clear consensus on day one of CFS+ that fashion can no longer operate ‘business as usual’ and that the current growth model is pushing the planet and people to its limits.

According to Global Fashion Agenda’s Fashion On Climate report, in 2018 the fashion industry accounted for 4% of global carbon emissions – an emissions’ share larger than that of France, Germany and the UK combined, and according to the European Environment Agency, the textiles industry is the fourth highest pressure category in terms of resource consumption (after food, housing and transport). 

Yet, the global apparel market is projected to vastly grow within the next few years, which will only exacerbate issues. 

The Summit’s action-focused dialogues explored the internal and external enablers required to alter fashion’s growth trajectory to one that aims to preserve the environment and protect societies. 

Federica Marchionni, CEO, Global Fashion Agenda said: ““Most business growth is still predicated on more people buying more goods, but these current business models are unsustainable. It is necessary that companies innovate new business models that deliver true stakeholder value, shape consumers’ needs in line with planetary boundaries, protecting biodiversity, promoting safe work environment and better wage system. Change also requires innovation. We must harness new sustainable technology, materials and solutions that can revolutionise the industry. We have the greatest opportunity in recent history as we can design future pathways for us and for generations to come: “a code green for humanity”, a “bright place for social justice”. These are the pathways everyone can follow.”

HRH The Crown Princess of Denmark, patron of Copenhagen Fashion Summit and Global Fashion Agenda, said: “When picturing a post-pandemic fashion industry, inspiration can also be found within existing tools and technologies that will move from idea to reality and from pilots to wide-scale adoption. However, in a time when new technology is disrupting traditional business models, and upcoming legislation will increase regulation in the industry, businesses and organisations need to think and act differently when it comes to ‘growth’, business models and systemic change. Redesigning the concept of growth is one of the biggest systemic issues of our time.”

Esteemed Speakers Took Part In Agenda-Setting Discussions

The event attracted hundreds of guests from across the globe and the content was hosted by revered actor and presenter Amelia Hoy.

Over 60 high-level speakers participated in panel discussions, keynotes, case studies and one-to-one conversations.

The programme covered over 20 discussion topics including innovation vs. legacy, consumer vs. citizen, value vs. volume, scale vs. circular, equity vs. equality and more.

Speakers included: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark | Tommy Hilfiger, Principal Designer, Tommy Hilfiger Global | Patrice Louvet, President & CEO of Ralph Lauren Corporation | Miguel, GRAMMY® award-winning singer, actor and founder of S1C | Olivier Fournier, Executive Vice-President Corporate Development and Social Affairs, Hermès International | Jenna Johnson, Head of Patagonia, Inc., Patagonia | Yara Shahidi, model, actor and change agent | Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, the European Commission | Debbie Shakespeare, Senior Director Sustainability, Compliance & Core Product Line, Avery Dennison RBIS | Zinnia Kumar, Founder, The Dotted Line | Maria McClay, Director Google Cloud, Fashion & Beauty, Google Cloud | Andrea Baldo, CEO, GANNI and many more.

View the full speaker list here and find select quotes from CFS+ speakers in the notes below.