Last month, the British Fashion Council (BFC) organized its annual forum of the Positive Fashion Institute (IPF) by 2025, and I had the pleasure of attending. As a blogger and sustainable fashion activist, or I feel that I am on the outskirts of the fashion world, so it was a joy to be invited to a larger forum to learn about the steps that BFC is taking to support British fashion. Here are my ideas of the day …
8 Ideas from the positive fashion institute forum 2025
1. We have to “keep the line”
The dear lawyer and activist of the Farhana Yamin climate justice opened this year’s forum. Before political uncertainty and a reversal about the climatic and nature agenda, Yamin urged us to “Keep the line”highlighting the importance of creating a children’s world for our eels and the planet.
Fashion has the “Power of creativity by sharing pressing problems”He said, and this track with the songs I noticed at this year’s London Fashion Week:
Yamin continued with the power of behavior change: “Where is an action, there is a reaction and it will be bigger and more beautiful, I promise you”? He woke me his words, matching the action with positivity and hope.
2. The decoupling of production and profits is more important than ever
“Our relationship with consumption needs to change, and the fashion industry is a large part of that” “,” “ Yamin pointed out, before in his opening. This was one of the boldest calls for degradation throughout the no, and although the other key notes and the panels mentioned the idea of decoupling production and profits, she was the only one to direct its importance. It seems that there is still a fear (something justified) to raise the idea in an industry that has seen overproduction, while fighting to adopt circularity.
My question for you is: What can you do insects or buy? Fashion brands need inspiration rather than buying and selling products, and it seems that outside the carmen, they lack imagination. How can we show you that we can enjoy fashion without trusting new things? Check out the work I am doing with the Brighton Fashion Collective for my own answer to this question.
3. Be careful with inertia and inaction
Despite being the event of the British Fashion Council, there was an undeniable wave or fear when global policy was mentioned. It seems that British fashion has not been unscathed by Trump’s administration, both directly and indirectly.
At the top of the day, Sarah knows that he pointed out that voluntary action around green efforts and from now canceled in the United States, diluted in the EU.
Farhana Yamin confirmed the violent reaction, and how this was creating inertia not only in the weather, but also in biodiversity, pollution, toxicity, plastics. Illustrates how right -wing policy is putting not only climate action, but also existing sustainability efforts.
On the other side, Zehra Zaidi, lawyer, policy strategist and holder of the mission, spoke against the Trump administration directly, Tok to demonstrate how fashion had allowed us to overcome patriarchal structures, and gives us community.
4. Consider the culture of the company> certifications
On the issue of the community, let’s talk about the company’s culture. In its opening, Andrea Baldo, New CEO of Mulberry, highlighted her efforts to build and progress in the culture of the Somerset brand company. It started small, eliminating the red meat of the menu in the cantina of Mulberry, which was welcome, if not strange, of a brand known for its leather, to a bold statement that “You can pretend a Bor score, you can’t pretend the company’s culture.”
It occurs after several socially good brands have delayed the B CORP certification after controversial admissions to the club, including Nespresso, Nestlé and Unilever. (It is worth reading Dr. Bronner’s statement about Dropp B Corp. certification)
I will say that I am a Mulberry fan, and the direction in which you have tasks to seek regenerative solutions. From its low carbon capsule, to the launch of its exchange program, they are evolving. One thing that I am not so sure is tile (repeated line twice): “Mulberry is not a fashion brand, it is a luxury brand.”
5. Fashion has to focus on decarbonization
In the fashionable panel of the United Kingdom decarbonization, I felt disappointed. Discarking seems to be one of the most accepted routes for more sustainable operations in the manner of the United Kingdom. Not only is it measurable, it is also effective. And while the fashion revolution unearthed in his fashion that combines? Report how bad the world’s main brands are tracking their scope emissions 3, which represent 96% of fashion supply chains, reach 1 and 2 seems to be at least covered. Despite this, the panel did not seem to have much to inform that trusting the Higg index very answered, no one is playing with passports of digital products, and Santander explained a lack of progress due to the need for “certainty. He felt a bit like a game of appointing existing (or next) regulations and highlighting small initiatives instead of informing the real progress.”
6. Independent brands are the innovators we need
In contrast, I was impressed by the passion and clarity of the founders of the independent brand who spoke all day. These brands were open in their high standards and the agility of their brands to design and create fashion for those standards.
Bernice Pan, founder of Deploy, Tok Us Back to the drawing board. “If a problem does not respond or if it already exists, it is not worth designing.”
Anna Foster, founder of Elv Denim, recovered for more brands to talk about her activities – “You shouldn’t be afraid to say things,” – While asking for a better word than “Sustainable” To describe your recycled designs.
Lucy Tammam, founder of Tammam, showed the commitments she has achieved with her brand “We are doing totally compostable garments: using organic cotton, regenerative cotton, just to the threads.”
And Oliver Spencer may not justify brands that do not know their own supply chains. “We all start with the fabric … Go see [factory partners]. Go see them on the floor. “
7. Smart brands respect their customers, data and the future
In addition to these commitments and ethical actions, several designers referred to the need to be more emar with their brands. Completing the presentation of the low -carbon transition program of the FPI, said Patrick McDowell, “It feels a lot to intelligent to create a brand that works during the next decade [than not]. “
This was backed by the ideas of Josephine Phillips of his clothing repair solution, I am. “[It’s] Very common to repair the elbows in knitted clothes, but do we ask ourselves if we should redesign the original garment? “ She asked. Its brand not only repairs the performance thesis, but it feeds them on the brand members to help address quality problems and improve design decisions.
Finally, Bernice Pan talked about the reevaluation of customer intelligence: “When treating customers as customers, we are closing them outside the door. Do we think we need to educate them? They are probably well informed. How do we relate to customers?” Is it time for fashion brands to think of us as citizens, instead of simply customers? I have been asking for this change of mentality for years.
8. Should we consider displaced clothes?
On the course of the day, I took many notes. When compiling this summary, I realized that there was a subject of my own training: what happens to displaced clothes?
Talking to Dominique Palmer, climate activist and assistant partner, he asked “Why don’t brands reveal what happens with returns?”
In addition to that, I want to know, are the brands considering what happens with the clothes they move? I know that it is still a revolutionary to ask brands to simply consider what happens with the clothes they sell at the end of their life: look at Wendy Ward’s #takeitback movement, but what about those who are complementing?
I have gone to this by navigating applications and second -hand sites. What happens to all the elements that are not sold? But beyond this, could we ask the fashion brands to assume the duty to recycle the clothes we are actively buying to replace?
9. We need to take action, now
Finally, a weapons call. There is still a burning flame for social justice and climatic justice within British fashion, although perhaps a smaller and cautious flame.
First, there were the usual calls for a better regulation. Oliver Spencer called again the recommendations of the fashion report of the 2019 setting, saying “I think the government should provide fiscal credits for companies that operate sustainable; which can circularity pro.”
And Farhana Yamin highlighted the speed with which the government could move in response to the Covid pandemic: “Look at Covid … [we need to] Do the most mandatory things than volunteers, especially with regard to taxes, labor laws, etc. “
Then, some screams of rally for more brave words and actions. Yamin in a few words, “I’m tired of being acceptable”While Zehra Zaidi told the audience “You can’t wait for the Trump administration to pass.”
Then, to you. What are you doing to take action? Have you joined a local group? Could an internal movement begin in your workplace? Are you asking direct questions at shareholders’ meetings? How are your rights affirming as a citizen, not just a consumer?
Look all the key notes and sessions of this year’s event at the Content Center of the BFC IPF Forum.
Discharge of responsibility: I was invited by the British Fashion Council to attend the forum of the positive fashion institute 2025.
