20/02/2025
As our Sustainable Style series draws to a close, London Fashion Week (LFW) is set to dazzle the global fashion scene. This prominent event, taking place from Thursday 20th to Monday 24th February 2025, will once again bring together both established brands and emerging designers for a celebration of creativity and style.
Fashion houses and designers such as Burberry and Simone Rocha will unveil their Autumn – Winter 2025 collections, offering a glimpse into the trends that are set to dominate wardrobes in the coming year. But beyond all of the glitz and glamour, there is a crucial story unfolding – one related to improving sustainability practices within the industry.
The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of carbon emissions worldwide. In an attempt to combat the colossal repercussions of the fashion industry on the environment, the British Fashion Council has recently adopted Copenhagen Fashion Week’s sustainability requirements, including the adoption of circularity principles aimed at accelerating sustainability best practices across the industry.
As part of the 2025 application process for the British Fashion Council’s NewGen initiative, brands will need to have a formally approved strategy in place, covering both environmental and social factors. They must also agree that they do not destroy unsold clothes and samples from previous collections and have a process in place for leftovers, and that they implement circular design principles in their products considering the products repairability, recyclability, upgradability and reusability as well as the inclusion of recycled content. These are especially important commitments, especially given that more than 80% of textiles are discarded each year.
While this is a key step in ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to the future of fashion, there is still a long way to go. Unlike a runway, there is no turning back once the damage is done.
With this in mind, we invite you to revisit our recent Sustainable Style blog series delving into the shift towards a circular economy in the fashion industry.
Sustainable Style #1: Materials, fashion and a circular economy – an overview of the fashion industry’s shift towards sustainability, including a look at the growing consumer and regulatory demand for environmentally responsible practices and the importance of Intellectual Property in driving and supporting innovation.
Sustainable Style #2: Designing a sustainable future for the fashion industry – an insight into innovative solutions driving the fashion industry’s shift towards a circular economy, including innovations in on-demand fashion and eco-friendly dyes.
Sustainable Style #3: Leather Alternatives – a direct look at sustainable leather alternatives, including synthetic, mushroom, fruit-based, and tree-based leathers, highlighting the growing demand for ethical and eco-friendly material alternatives.
Sustainable Style #4: Brands in sustainable fashion – a glimpse into the importance of trademarks in the fashion industry to communicate and convey sustainable credentials.
Sustainable Style #5: Fur, Feathers, Fashion: Is it sustainable? – a deep dive into faux materials replacing traditional fur and down in fashion, driven by innovative technologies and protected through patents.
Sustainable Style #6: Ethical knitwear and wool alternatives – an exploration of the misconceptions surrounding the sustainability of animal-based textiles and a discussion on emerging technical solutions.
As the shift towards sustainable fashion unfolds, the significance of safeguarding innovation and brands grows in turn.
At Reddie & Grose LLP, we are a dedicated team of Patent Attorneys and Trademark Attorneys with broad experience in the protection of innovation and brands across many sectors. Please reach out for expert advice on safeguarding your innovation and brands.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
