Islington’s Saddler’s Wells Theatre, dedicated to promoting the wonders of dance to diverse audiences and across cultural boundaries, played host to the Ethical Fashion Forum’s (EFF) Annual Ethical Fashion Source Expo on October 17 and 18.
The expo is the world’s first and only fashion trade show exclusively promoting and showcasing the ethical sourcing of materials used in the much-scrutinised fashion industry. Providing inspiration and supporting fair practice, the event connects like-minded stakeholders in a forum that shows that in the fashion sphere, trade can definitely be fair and sustainable.
Emily Pearce, senior manager of EFF told The Epoch Times, sponsors of the expo, “Our focus is to inspire change in the fashion industry towards sustainability. You can’t force them; you have to inspire them to change towards a more ethical and better fashion industry. I would like to see a world where we buy less, buy more responsibly, and become more respectful of people and the planet.”
She explained that last year the expo attracted over 800 visitors, and that they were hoping to improve on that this year. “The standard for the fashion industry is becoming higher,” Pearce added.
The expo is fast becoming the place to spot internationally ascending talent.
Top class designers who are pioneers in sustainable sourcing displayed in the Designer Pavilion, while ethical textile innovation was showcased in the Trends Area.
Inspiration from around the globe
More than 40 suppliers from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas presented fairly traded fibres and fabrics as well as all manner of garment manufacture methods including one-offs, small runs, and mass production.
Marking the launch of Source: The Global Platform for Sustainable Fashion, this year’s expo included the Source Bar – providing ethical resources and information.
Other facilities included the Source cinema, providing films and training footage and the wonderful Source Consultancy Couch for one-to-one or group advice from experts. There was also an information point for advice on membership and other services.
Read on The expo ran an hourly programme of seminars
The expo ran an hourly programme of seminars from sustainable fashion front runners, showing the world’s best practice, with China, Africa, India, and Latin America as the focus.
Partnering with certification and sourcing organisations to promote ethical affinities, EFF’s yearly event brings together iconic forerunners in the field such as the Fairtrade Foundation, the World Fair Trade Organisation, and the Textiles Exchange.
“Bigger players are experimenting with pioneers from the sustainability industry,” said Pearce. “Tesco has become involved in a partnership with ‘Good One’ and ‘From Somewhere’.”
Both these companies are run along the principle of up-cycling rather than recycling. In this process, a product that has no use or is obsolete is re-manufactured into a higher value item. Clothing off cuts from a factory can be re-manufactured into commercially valuable garments, for example.
Innovation award
Every year there is an award that goes to a company that is showing new talent in fashion design and sustainability. This year’s winner is Ultra, a collective of designers and artists who work in conjunction with fashion. Anita Hawkins, who was born in Malaysia, was thrilled to win the award and said she was always inspired by innovative design and sustainability. She started her business three years ago as a blog on the internet and now has offices in Shanghai, China.
Bioplastic jewellery
One of the more unusual exhibitors was a company that manufactures a range of bioplastic jewellery, cooked up from food ingredients.
Lili Giacobina, owner of Lili Design Ltd, says she was brought up in Switzerland in a culture that believes in not being wasteful and being responsible to the environment. Her unique jewellery is made from food starch, water, and fruit. She also makes pieces from flour, tapioca, and chocolate, transforming everyday materials found around the home into unique, attractive, accessories. Her jewellery is thus biodegradable and planet friendly as well as beautiful, skin-kind, and well crafted.
Also incorporating yoghurt pots and tin cans, Lili’s work is appreciated by south Londoners visiting her stall at the Greenwich Market on Fridays.
A favourite material is bioglycerine, a centuries-old soap ingredient, which creates a pliable material known as bioplastic. It takes a week to set before it can be used to create Lili’s lovely ethereal pieces.
Her products are available on her online shop and she is planning DIY “BioBijoux” workshops for birthday parties, presents, and girls’ nights out.
Lili Design Ltd can be reached on 07814 728 499, [email protected] or www.lilidesign.com.
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