Apparel Online India Magazine July 2nd Issue 2018 | Page 14

SUSTAINABILITY
Copenhagen Fashion Summit
Taking the next step to go
from words to action
The recently concluded
sixth edition of
Copenhagen Fashion
Summit by Global Fashion
Agenda was really a big
event for the cause of
sustainability as 1,300
professionals from more
than 50 countries were part
of many meaningful and
motivational discussions.
75 speakers who are
experts in their domain
shared their opinions
during two days of intense
leadership roundtable
discussions, conversations
and business meetings. This
year’s participation was
more than that of the last
year, especially from Asia.
Feeling the urgent need to
support and accelerate the
decision-making process
for fashion businesses, the
Summit initiated a new
component, Innovation
Forum, an exhibition for
sustainable solutions
in which 50 exhibitors
participated. The event
was loud and clear on why
sustainability should be a
leadership priority.
T
he opening address by Summit
patron, Crown Princess Mary of
Denmark indicated in strong words
that Copenhagen Fashion Summit
will continue to be the global platform
for bringing forward the industry’s
commitment to change. The Summit
brought together interesting and
diverse experts on a platform. Like
in the deep dive session, panellists
for ‘impacts and opportunities of
purchasing practices’ were Arne Lietz,
member of parliament, European
Parliament; Bill McRaith, Chief Supply
Chain Officer, PVH; Catherine Chiu, GM,
Corporate Quality and Sustainability,
Crystal International Group Limited;
and Christina Hajagos-Clausen,
Director, Textile and Garment Industry,
IndustryALL Global Union.
During the session, Catherine Chiu
was of the view that if the brands
and buyers will keep changing things
(design, trims, etc.) even in confirmed
orders, factories can’t survive as
these changes reduce efficiency. While
factories are already under pressure,
only option for the factories is to make
some adjustments even though they
would not like to do so. Brands should
be more reasonable and give some
more margin to the manufacturers,
so they can perform better. Shelly
Gottschamer, CSO, Outerknown in the
same session highlighted that brands
talk about ‘ownership’ in regard to
vendors, but they have to first see their
own practices and how they impact the
suppliers in the supply chain.
Bill McRaith, Chief Supply Chain Officer,
PVH shared his bitter experience with
the brands when he was working as a
supplier in his earlier days. He strongly
insisted on the importance of increasing
proper communication across the
supply chain. “Look in the mirror, see
what we have created with the supply
base; if you want to change or improve
something in the supply chain, first
look at yourself and fix the action,”
he insisted.
In another session, Stella McCartney,
Founder and Designer at Stella
McCartney, insisted that the
fashion industry has to have these
conversations and be held accountable.
“I am a firm believer that an investment
in the environment is an investment
Stella McCartney (R) Founder and Designer at Stella McCartney in conversation with Graydon Carter, Editor,
Author and Director
14 Apparel Online India | JULY 16-31, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com