Will fashion ever be 100% eco-conscious? Stylists, leading brands and fashionistas are increasingly converging on how to create a more sustainable supply chain, use upcycled materials and care for clothes to give them a longer life. As a matter of fact, the global production of clothing has reached such figures that is causing severe impacts on the environment, considering that the ever-growing globalized market pushed many users to consider clothes as a "disposable" handicraft. Almost 59,000 tons of used or unsold clothing are stored every year in the Atacama desert (Chile). A fact very far from the concept of sustainability. The 10th edition of the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week (MCFW), held from the 23rd until the 27th May 2022, gave a further input to make the fashion ecological footprint lighter. Since its origins, in fact, the MCFW has been committed in pushing sustainability at the highest extent. Besides fashion shows, a parade of events, round tables and initiatives have been offered in order to rethink the fashionable world as Federica Nardoni Spinetta, president of the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion reaffirmed.
Monaco Mission for the Energy Transition, the governmental branch created in 2016 to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency through cross cutting actions, played a pivotal role in achieving meaningful outcomes. A targeted clothing recovery, promoted by the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion and the Mairie de Monaco (Monaco Municipality) to give a new life to natural fibres like cotton, silk and cashmere, was organized at the Fontvieille commercial centre. The idea was also to encourage local stylists to create their new collections starting from second-hand clothing.
On Tuesday the 25th May, the Rencontres de la Mode Responsable (Sustainable Fashion Event) took place in the presence of Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, director of Monaco Mission for the Energy Transition, Federica Nardoni Spinetta, president of the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion, Matteo Ward, CEO and co-founder of WRÅD (innovative start-up and design company), Claudio Betti (owner of Spinnaker brand) for Camera Buyer Italia, Inès Bensalah (founder of Inessa Creations Monaco), current ambassador of the National Energy Transition Pact, and Alexis Giannotti, eco-founder of Giannotti Monaco. This unique meeting debated on how to reduce the environmental impact of fashion industry presenting some solutions and introducing them to some actors involved in the ‘green’ shift.
Circularity, choice of materials, consumer role and business model evolutions, sales price, recovery of clothing, here are some of the main topics covered. Finding a balanced approach able to meet the needs of fashion in full respect of Planet Earth ecosystems is a mission not impossible. The textile industry is largely aware of this and the Sustainable Fashion Event proved that it is possible to go beyond the unrestrained consumerism. Not by chance the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion and a few fashion designers signed the National Energy Transition Pact in February 2022.
Finding meeting points between the world of fashion and environmental protection is therefore possible, and indeed necessary. The clothing industry, in fact, is still one of the most polluting manufacturing sectors in the world. It heavily impacts on the global greenhouse gas emissions. It contaminates groundwater, and then the oceans, with a relevant amount of plastic and micro-plastic. Just to name the most severe consequences. The Monaco Fashion Week is also encouraging new designers to blossom in the fashion industry. Vérabuccia ® and Regenesi ® reached the podium at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Fashion Week Sustainable Contest for the categories:sustainable innovative start-up and sustainable circular economy pioneer.
Vérabuccia ® is an Italian company that has designed and patented “Ananasse”, a new material typology, producing "Ananasse" through the reuse of real pineapple peels, creating glamorous fashion accessories and shoes. Made in Italy as well, Regenesi ® gives life to fashion and design bags by using post-consumer materials and industrial waste as a result of a co-branding agreement.
The Monte-Carlo Fashion Week and the Sustainable Fashion Event helped to increase awareness of eco-responsibility in each of us to make our Planet more livable. Therefore, choosing the right clothes and taking care of them can really make the difference. ***
To know more about the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week please visit: https://www.chambremonegasquemode.com/
To know more about Mission for the Energy Transition please visit: https://transition-energetique.gouv.mc/
Article by Maurice Abbati