For the finale at Milan Fashion Week, the great and the good gathered to celebrate best practice in the industry at the CNMI (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana). On offer were the Sustainable Fashion Awards, in collaboration with the Ethical Fashion Initiative of the UN Agency ITC and with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Held at the stunning Teatro alla Scala the event was hosted by White Lotus actress Sabrina Impacciatore with stellar red-carpet guests including Dontella Versace, Jessica Chastain, Julianne Moore, Coco Rocha and Olivia Palermo.
One of Italy’s luxury fashion titans, Gucci, clinched the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Award for Circular Economy. This accolade stands testament to Gucci’s dedication to fashioning quality attire aligned with a circular economic perspective and prioritising materials produced in an eco-supportive manner.
Gucci’s ‘Denim Project’ is a pioneering initiative which sets impressive benchmarks and has seen the brand collaborate with Spain’s Regenagri®-certified Algosur farm.
The project is underpinned by the use of regeneratively-farmed cotton in its denim products, complemented with post-consumer recycled fibres, meticulously sourced and woven in Italy.
Ready for a 2024 release, this collection will be enhanced by a digital passport, chronicling the journey from raw materials to production and shedding light on garment care and repair services.
“We are proud to receive the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Award for Circular Economy in recognition of Gucci’s efforts to embed circularity across our business model at this year’s CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards,” said Jean- François Palus, Gucci’s CEO. “Building scalable collaborations is a vital part of Gucci’s strategy and the ‘Denim project’ is an example of combining the many strengths of the House’s supply chain partners and leveraging innovative tech to enhance circular economy principles. The Ellen MacArthur Award underscores fashion industry magnates championing circular economy ideologies. This includes measures to mitigate climate change, biodiversity erosion, waste, and pollution.”
This year’s finalists, Chloé and ACS Clothing, didn’t go unnoticed either. Both brands were lauded for their impressive strides towards reshaping the fashion ecosystem.
Andrew Morlet, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, remarked: “In the world of fashion, our vision of a circular economy is one where products are used more, are made to be made again, and are produced from safe and recycled or renewable inputs.”
Other winners included Ahluwalia as the recipient of The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers.
Having debuted in 2018, Ahluwalia has rapidly ascended the fashion ladder, winning accolades and carving a niche as a front-runner in sustainable solutions. A hallmark of the brand is its commitment to creating responsibly, that is integrating vintage, recycled, upcycled, and sustainable textiles into every piece.
The unique intertwining of Creative Director, Priya Ahluwalia’s Indian-Nigerian lineage with her London upbringing paints a vivid tapestry of design. Her ethos revolves around celebrating her rich cultural heritage in embedded values of equality, inclusivity and ecological responsibility.
The coveted award supports the winner with a myriad of opportunities to bolster Priya’s fashion journey. These include a tailored mentorship program via The Bicester Collection, a platform at the forthcoming Creative Spot pop-up boutique spotlighting talent and an exclusive spot to display her creativity during Milano Fashion Week 2024 at the Designers for the Planet showcase, hosted by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.
Upon receiving the award, Priya Ahluwalia shared her thoughts: “Being environmentally and socially conscious is important to myself and everyone at Ahluwalia. It was key to the foundations of the brand and as we develop, we endeavour to learn more, listen more and ultimately act more. Receiving this award is a huge honour and reaffirms that our work has been meaningful and that anything is possible, regardless of your background or the industry’s current status quo.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, Desirée Bollier, Chair and Global Chief Merchant for Value Retail Management, explained: “We are honoured to partner with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana to offer The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers to Ahluwalia at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023, as part of the Collection’s ongoing commitment to the future of talent. Ahluwalia is already making an impact on our industry– representing the next generation of iconic London fashion with her celebration of diverse cultural heritage, innovative design, and commitment to the planet. All three finalists are incredibly exciting new voices in fashion, and their talent and convictions speak to a promising future for our industry and our world.”
The accolades awarded at Milan mirror the industry’s evolving ethos: sustainability isn’t just an ideal, but an essential and actionable path forward. Whist some doubt the credibility of awards for sustainable change in fashion, many others believe that conversation, collaboration and education is key for making change.
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