The ‘Impact Hub’ provides new ways to integrate innovation in sustainable and circular fashion

When we talk about the fashion and retail industry, sustainability is an inevitable change in the right direction, the concern for which is growing stronger by the day, especially when it comes to future consumers aka the younger generations.

Hence, it is about time that fashion and retail brands wake up and embrace the sustainability conversation to make sustainable purchasing easier for all consumers – but it is easier said than done.

The majority of market players today are oblivious of where to begin making a change and if they have that figured out, the answers to how exactly achieve and implement those changes often elude them.

Identifying this pain point and gap in the market, global wool industry leader The Woolmark Company has joined forces with India’s premier fashion platform Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI to launch the ‘IMPACT HUB’ by RISE Worldwide.

Essentially a new-age space to showcase innovation in sustainable and circular fashion, the IMPACT HUB featured as an exclusive space inspired by art galleries at the recently concluded FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week, meant to illustrate problems faced by the fashion industry while also revealing innovative solutions through aesthetically appealing and interactive presentations.

The Woolmark Company has for long represented authenticity and commitment between woolgrowers, brands and consumers by innovating within the supply chain of Australian Merino wool, which is 100 percent natural, renewable and biodegradable.

Its partnership with Lakmé Fashion Week, FDCI and RISE Worldwide marks a noteworthy milestone for the growing demand for circularity, transparency and ethical practices within India’s fashion community.

Commenting on the collaboration, John Roberts, MD – The Woolmark Company said, “As the global authority on wool and the world’s most-trusted fibre brand, we remain committed to offering solutions to bring about positive change through innovations. The Impact Hub partnership with Lakme Fashion Week helps the industry transition to circular principles, by creating a platform for innovators and the supply chain to showcase their work.”

The IMPACT HUB showcased Merino Wool’s innate circularity property and innovations in fashion and textile.

The IMPACT HUB is set to revolutionise the fashion industry across textile innovation, recycling, business innovation, packaging and crafts.

The IMPACT HUB strives to revolutionise the fashion industry across textile innovation, recycling, business innovation, packaging and crafts and with a unique walkthrough of five enterprises rooted strongly within the ideals of sustainability. These innovators are:

Craste is a one-stop solution for packaging solutions that works towards crop waste management by providing additional revenue to farmers. They convert this waste to make materials for packaging and furniture applications.

The enterprise is committed to using nature’s resources judiciously, creating alternatives to timber-based paper.

Recognised by UNEP, United Nations and other global change-makers, Humanity-Centred Design has created a range of new-age recyclable materials termed HCD-Tex™ (Humanity Centred Design Textile).

They have also designed and developed an innovative circular recycling framework that helps over 150 apparel manufacturing MSEs towards sustainable transformation and supports in recycling textile waste.

 

 Having collaborated with over 100 brands, Relove follows a business model that works on resale technology enabling brands to go circular.

Relove manages the entire peer-to-peer resale process end-to-end including – technology integration, listing approvals, shipping, communication, customer care and traceability.

“As the global authority on wool and the world’s most-trusted fibre brand, we remain committed to offering solutions to bring about positive change through innovations. The IMPACT HUB partnership with Lakme Fashion Week helps the industry transition to circular principles, by creating a platform for innovators and the supply chain to showcase their work.” – John Roberts, MD, The Woolmark Company

 200 Million Artisans is an ecosystem enabler catalysing self-reliance and responsible innovation in India’s artisan economy by providing access to knowledge, resources and networks that empower artisan-producers and impact entrepreneurs.

The Business of Handmade Report is their research work focused on the informal, artisan economy as seen and experienced by 12 craft-based enterprises.

 The brainchild of the founders of Phool.co, Fleather is the next-gen sustainable and animal-friendly alternative to leather.

Fleather is a chance discovery, made from the enormous amount of flower waste from temples and mosques, being dumped into River Ganga. An innovation that is felicitated by PETA India and adopted by the PVH Corporation to create a range of vegan leather bags.

Commenting on the collaboration, Jaspreet Chandok, Head – RISE Fashion and Lifestyle said, “In our continued efforts to encourage sustainability, we look forward to longevity in our partnership with The Woolmark Company and their commitment to bring authenticity to the sustainable fashion industry. This season, the IMPACT HUB introduces five enterprises that are synonymous with sustainability. We wish them good luck and look forward to making this partnership with The Woolmark Company grow in the seasons to come.”

Together or individually, these five enterprises hold the key to kick-start your brand’s journey toward sustainability and circular fashion in order to bring about impactful change. Head to their websites to learn more about how to include them within your business and manufacturing practices.

Related