The Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2019, world’s leading business event on sustainability in fashion, concluded today (16 May). The two-day event witnessed top representatives from global fashion leaders like Kering, H&M, Target, Bestseller, Li & Fung, Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and many more.
Among the major highlights of the summit were brainstorming sessions on issues like climate change, worker welfare, collective efforts and many more. Further on the same, Noel Kinder, Chief Sustainable Officer, Nike, shared “When you’re facing an existential crisis like climate change, you’re not going to solve it on your own. Businesses and brands must collaborate.”
It was insisted that industry should focus more on collective responsibility for the lives of the workers. Treat them as the human beings that they are and not just as the cheap labour that make clothes. “In order to keep the employees motivated, they need to feel that they work for a good company, and this includes sustainability,” said Marissa McGowan, SVP, Corporate Responsibility, PVH Group.
“We’ve learned that collaboration matters but it’s not enough. Changing materials, changing facilities, changing the model – this is what’s going to change the industry,” Jason Kibbey, CEO, SAC added.
Mike Barry, Director of Sustainable Business, Marks and Spencer, highlighted, “We will be taxed about her externalities if things do not change. What is happening to plastic will happen to clothes soon. We need an equivalent of Consumer Good Forum for the fashion industry.”
The event highlighted serious conditions around apparel manufacturing destinations as Anindit Roy Chowdhury, Programme Manager (Global), Gender Justice and Human Rights, C&A Foundation shared that how girls are given continuous cycle of birth control pills so that their periods don’t disrupt their working hours in garment factories in India.
Nazma Akter, President, Sommilito Garment Sramik Federation, Bangladesh and Founder of Awaj Foundation insisted, “Workers are not getting a fair wage while the industry makes a profit but wages are not the only issue. The companies need to take responsibility to work with factories to tackle maternal health, gender-based violence, collective bargaining and automation.
For detailed analysis of the event stay tuned.