The Bicester Collection continues its commitment to sustainability and supporting emerging talent with its support of the 2023 Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) Sustainable Fashion Awards.
The awards aim to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations in the Italian and international fashion industry who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to sustainability.
The 2023 Awards ceremony was announced at a press conference organized by CNMI in collaboration with the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) and with the support of the Municipality of Milan.
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“The CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards are an important manifestation of our commitment and hard work over the year for responsible fashion. This season, around 30 finalists out of a total of 150 or so will be telling us their stories, a splendid source of inspiration for all of us.” This statement from Carlo Capasa, chairman, CNMI
Over 150 nominations were received and to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment, the selection process involves an Advisory Committee comprising 25 Italian and international non-profit organizations focused on sustainable fashion. This committee is responsible for identifying the most outstanding sustainability projects at the international level and creating a shortlist of nominees.
The awards comprise ten categories, including two special awards presented by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and The Bicester Collection. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation Award for Circular Economy commends industry leaders who have demonstrated excellence in implementing circular economy principles, eliminating waste and pollution, and promoting regenerative practices.
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The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers, supported by The Bicester Collection, aims to foster creativity and support emerging sustainable designers in the fashion industry. Three designers will receive support, including mentorship programs and the opportunity to showcase their work during Milan Fashion Week in 2024.
The three finalists for The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers are:
- SO-LE studio: A Milan-based jewellery brand founded by Maria Sole Ferragamo and born from her passion for craftsmanship and sustainability. It creates unique jewellery using upcycled leather and brass leftovers from Italian luxury brands and manufacturers. With a commitment to a circular economy and sustainability, the use of leftover materials across all collections meets the the aim of reducing the environmental impact of its products. The sustainable ethos extends throughout the company, from material sourcing to the materials used for their first Milan-based flagship store, with the intent to drive positive change in the industry and reflecting a strong philosophy that resonates with conscious-minded clients.
- Ahluwalia: Since its launch in 2018, has garnered multiple awards and emerged as a pioneer and industry frontrunner committed to finding sustainable solutions for the betterment of people and the planet. By utilising vintage, recycled, upcycled, and sustainable fabrics and garments, Ahluwalia creates pieces led by design but always made responsibly. The label seamlessly blends elements from Priya Ahluwalia’s dual Indian-Nigerian heritage with her London roots.
- Made For A Woman: An innovative social entrepreneurship project empowering women from vulnerable backgrounds and promoting female craftsmanship in Madagascar. The brand was founded in 2019 by Eileen Akbaraly, a young Italian-Indian designer who grew up in Madagascar. It combines corporate social responsibility, slow fashion, and locally sourced, certified raw materials, creating a scalable business model for other social entrepreneurship projects in developing countries. The organisation employs over 350 local artisans, 92% of which are women, providing them with living wages and empowering opportunities including free healthcare, mental health support, social services, financial literacy, capacity building, and education for them and their families.
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As a supporter of awards, Desirée Bollier the Chair and Global Chief Merchant for Value Retail Management comments:
“We are honoured, together with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, to have written the first chapter of the Sustainable Fashion Awards. And, today, we are proud to celebrate the next step of this journey, empowering the talent of tomorrow with The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers. 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 planet.”
Renowned as one of the leading, luxury shopping destinations in the UK, The Bicester Collection is committed to creating an experience for guests. Luxury brands at discounted prices, perfectly curated green spaces, high-end food and beverage offers from the LVMH Veuve Cliquot Vintage Champagne Van to Soho House Farmhouse and Cecconi’s restaurants, all combine to make an offer that shoppers from across the UK and beyond find hard to resist. It is part of the Value Retail Group headed by Scott Malkin, which operates in eleven destinations including Bicester Village in Shanghai and Suzhou and La Vallée Village, in Paris.
On a keen mission to make a difference to reduce environmental impact on their sites, the Bicester Village in Bicester, UK is on track to reduce landlord energy consumption by 14% by the end of 2023 and increase the proportion of recycled waste to 85% by the end of 2023 (set against a 2018 baseline). It has begun a roll-out of automated sliding doors in the boutiques alongside the installation of energy monitoring equipment in several Villages to increase data visibility.
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Over the past 20 years, they have provided mentorship programs, events and pop-up boutiques to over 100 emerging designers worldwide.
Overall, the 2023 CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards celebrate the achievements and contributions of those who prioritize sustainability in fashion. The event will take place on September 24 at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, marking its 6th edition.
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