Partners-International
International Partners
You will find below profiles of many of the international organisations we work alongside in order to further the goals of social and environmental sustainability in the fashion sector.
One of the core goals of the Ethical Fashion Forum is to bring together organisations working towards common goals in relation to fashion and textiles, to avoid duplication and maximise impact.
The organisations below provide a range of services and resources to support, promote or raise awareness of ethical fashion practices.
Authentic Luxury Network
The Authentic Luxury Network was launched by Jem Bendell of Lifeworth Consulting, after co-authoring the WWF report “Deeper Luxury – quality and style when the world matters”.
The aim is to help professionals in the industry stay informed and connect with each other so that more luxury goods and services will excel in their social and environmental performance, thereby inspiring the wider business and consumer communities to do the same.
BitchBuzz
BitchBuzz is a women’s lifestyle website with a difference, it has a quirky edge of independence whilst remaining accessible; quoted as ‘a happy medium between hardcore feminism and fluffy women’s magazines’. Its global readership is made up of inspired women, encouraged to form active opinions on a wide range of topics from pop-culture and sex, through to politics and technology.
The EFF will partner with BitchBuzz through a number of guest posts in BitchBuzz Style. For a thought provoking experience go ahead and visit BitchBuzz.com!
Ecofashionworld
Ecofashionworld is a comprehensive news and information site for all things relating to ethical fashion. The website includes magazine, blogs and guide to ethical fashion brands, designers, and stores.
Ethical Fashion India
Ethical Fashion India is a platform for bringing together individuals and organizations, interested in issues relating to social and environmental sustainability in fashion, clothing and life-style.
Ethical Fashion India aims at enhancing awareness about the need for Fair Trade, Ethics and Sustainability amongst the consumers, designers, manufacturers, and traders, by disseminating information, organizing events, creating pools of professionals, and bridging the gaps in the entire supply chain, with a primary focus on the clothing and lifestyle segments of the industry.
Ethical Fashion Programme, ITC
The Ethical Fashion Programme of the International Trade Centre is a new approach to both fashion and poverty reduction in disadvantaged African communities.
The project focuses upon the high value, designer and luxury goods sector, in order to allow international fashion companies to develop product lines that incorporate skills and materials from Africa, its communities and its designers.
Ethical Fashion Show- Paris
The Ethical Fashion Show was launched in 2004 in Paris, where catwalk shows an exhibitions are held every October bringing together designers from all over the world, with an ethical focus.
From 2008 the show has been held at the official site of Paris Fashion Week shows, the Carrousel du Louvre.
The Ethical Fashion Show has built partnerships with organisations across the world and as a result Ethical Fashion Show events are being planned in Brazil and elsewhere.
Ethical Fashion Show-RIO
Ethical Fashion Show, Paris, goes international, with an event taking place annually in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fair Wear Foundation
Fair Wear Foundation’s mission is to improve labour conditions in the garment industry worldwide. To this end, clothing companies who join FWF monitor their supply chains, gaining insight in the conditions and improving them where necessary. FWF verifies that its members work hard and efficiently to improve the labour conditions along their supply chains. Thus, they gradually create a supply chain that complies with international labour standards, as defined by the ILO and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Fashion4Development-Washington
Fashion4Development is a project of the World Bank’s Y2Y (Youth to Youth) Community.
F4D aims to promote the work of designers and retailers who represent socially conscious brands. In addition, the project aims to give exposure to those NGOs and intermediaries who promote fair trade for local initiatives in developing countries as a means for achieving sustainable development.
Fashion Fights Poverty-Washington
Fashion Fights Poverty (FFP) is, according to the Washington Post, “one of the largest fashion fundraisers in Washington, DC.” Featuring national and international designers who employ ethical means and practices in their design and manufacturing processes to produce products that promote economic development and the betterment of a given community, FFP provides a forum for dialogue and awareness-building about how fashion, textiles, and design can alleviate poverty and empower communities.
Festival for African Fashion and Arts
FAFA – Festival for African Fashion and Arts – was set-up in 2008 in response to the post-election violence which took place in Kenya. FAFA’s objective is to promote the creativity of the African continent. FAFA’s main event, Fashion for Peace, takes place yearly in the Nairobi National Park, in the middle of the wilderness. The fashion show brings together top African fashion designers and uses fashion as a platform to advocate for peace.
MADE-BY- Holland & UK
MADE-BY is an independent consumer label for fashion companies who continuously improve and are transparent about the social, economic and ecological conditions throughout the whole supply chain of their collections.
The mission of MADE-BY is to make sustainable fashion common practice.
MODETHIK- Canada
MODETHIK is the Ethical Fashion Fair of Montreal.
MODETHIK gathers ethical, environmental and socially responsible designers and artisans from Canada and abroad under one roof, fosters responsible entrepreneurship and fair trade through conferences, round table discussions and workshops, and promotes responsible consumerism.
Moda Fusion- Brazil
ModaFusion links up France and Brazil through a series of creative projects designed to create opportunities for communities in the slums of Brazil.
ModaFusion has been collaborating with the Ethical Fashion Show, Paris, for several years. The organisation is now developing an Ethical Fashion Show, Brazil, to take place during 2009.
Organic Exchange
Organic Exchange (OE) is a 501©(3) charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton.
OE’s long term goal is to grow the amount of certified organic land farmed for fiber production by 50% per year.
OE brings together brands and retailers with their business partners, farmers and key stakeholders to learn about the social and environmental benefits of organic agriculture, and to develop new business models and tools that support greater use of organic inputs. In addition, OE raises consumer awareness about the value of organic farming and the availability of products containing organic cotton.
RE-DRESS-Ireland
Set up in 2008, Re-dress is working to make a difference by promoting positive action in Ireland. We aim to re-dress the balance in an industry that contributes to environmental and social degradation and provide con with the tools to make more sustainable fashion choices. Through annual workshops, talks and exhibitions re-dress engages industry and consumers in the move towards better fashion practices.
Responsible Purchasing Initiative
The Responsible Purchasing initiative explores how it is possible to improve the impact of purchasing activities on the lives of people in developing countries, by looking at the roles of EU businesses, public authorities and consumers.
The Responsible Purchasing Initiative is led by three European Fair Trade organisations who share a vision of trade reducing poverty: Traidcraft UK, Oxfam Belgium, and IDEAS, Spain.
SOKO Ethical Factory Project, Kenya
Poverty in Kenya has increased by 22%, and severe poverty by 38%, after the horrific events that followed the Presidential Elections in December 2007.
SOKO aims to provide an alternative and creative solution to Kenya’s economic crisis by promoting community-driven, ethical and environmentally aware trade in fashion.
SOKO will operate as a self-sustaining eco clothing production plant for the export market. The organisation will be an IFAT/COFTA member and SA8000 certified production unit for multiple fashion houses.
SOKO will provide good living wages, pleasant working conditions, training opportunities, creche facilities and more; ultimately a better lifestyle for all staff from the local community. Profits will be used to improve local social services in Ukunda, Kenya.
Sustainable Fashion Academy, Stockholm
The Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA) is a not for financial profit, neutral
platform for actors in the clothing and textile industry who want to lead the development of environmentally and socially sustainable products, services and business models. SFA offers leading-edge expertise and support in the form of education, training and multi-stakeholder working groups.
Sustainable Style Foundation- Canada
The Sustainable Style Foundation (SSF) is an international, member-supported nonprofit organization created to provide information, resources, and innovative programs that promote sustainable living and sustainable design.
THE FOUR HUNDRED- New York
THE FOUR HUNDRED is a unique sales and press showroom, representing high-end contemporary and designer apparel and accessory lines, particularly those with a commitment to sustainable design and socially conscious business practices. We provide personalised attention, offering both buyers and media a well-edited, fashion-forward perspective on sustainable design.
Each of our brands is carefully selected based on their innovation in design and fashion-forward aesthetic, and every collection is produced according to rigorous sustainability standards.
THEKEY.TO
THEKEY.TO , the new international event for green fashion, sustainable lifestyle and culture. Successfully launched in July 2009 in Berlin, it arises now to its second edition: THEKEY.TO SHIFT, from January 20th to 23rd 2010. Over 50 green fashion exhibitors from all over the world take part, THEKEY.TO presents wide selection of the hippest and most contemporary upscale green brands alongside casual and street wear labels and a variety of innovative bags and shoes. Inside the Berlin Fashion Week THEKEY.TO represents the first and unique event in the city entirely and exclusively focused on sustainable fashion and lifestyle.
The program of THEKEY.TO offers a forum, a series of expert workshops, networking parties and two satellite events: FASHION RELOADED, a swap, DIY and restyle event and the exhibition ECO CHIC – Towards sustainable Swedish Fashion. With a consequent selection of sustainable fashion brands, it’s artistic, sustainable event architecture, organic food and drinks and a visionary message, THEKEY.TO guides the way towards a greener industry. Be part of the Shift!
Save The Date: the summer edition of THEKEY.TO will be from the 7th till the 10th of July 2010 in Berlin.
Touch 2 Give
Touch2Give.com is a new online portal that seeks to unite the most innovative independent and emerging brands from all over the world who share its values and vision of social responsibility. From luxury couture made to order brands to fashion forward sustainable and ethical brands, touch2give only features brands that have been responsibly produced.
World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO)
The WFTO (formerly IFAT) represents Fair Traders from grassroots through to the G8 and is the authentic voice of Fair Trade, having driven the movement for 20 years. It is the only global network whose members represent the Fair Trade chain from production to sale.
Membership of the WFTO is limited to organizations that demonstrate a 100% Fair Trade commitment and apply its 10 Principles of Fair Trade. WFTO members who are monitored against these Principles are listed in the FT100 index of world-leading Fair Trade brands, businesses and organisations.
