Global Fashion Summit: alliances for a new era

Presented by the Global Fashion Agenda, a non-profit organization that encourages industry collaboration around shared goals, the annual Global Fashion Summit is the leading international forum for sustainability in fashion.  This year’s headlining theme “Alliances for a new era” sees some of the biggest fashion houses, such as Mulberry, Courregès, and Nike, gathered with policy makers from the European Commission and the UNFCCC, to foster collaboration for a greener future.And this year, Polestar is joining as the only automotive brand, to inspire and get inspired by those that share our ambitions. Because for us, addressing our common hurdles and working together to overcome them are pivotal in progressing towards a more sustainable world.Currently, the transportation sector and the fashion industry are the two most polluting industries globally. The fashion industry accounts for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions, and nearly 20% of wastewater. Transportation worldwide accounts for over a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.But these are not the only similarities that the transportation sector and the fashion industry share. Within both industries are brands that share a common goal.  A commitment to rethink traditional ways, innovating to find more sustainable materials, and an awareness of the need for urgent action.

Brands like Houdini, for instance, are breaking with the idea of fast fashion, aiming to make timeless, durable, and recyclable clothing. And then there are examples in which fashion and cars have come together in unlikely, thought-provoking ways. Like the denim car door, made for Polestar 1 from used jeans and recycled carbon fibre with bio-based epoxy resin.On the summit’s opening day, Polestar Head of Sustainability Fredrika Klarén headed up the main stage, joined by Adam Karlsson, CFO at H&M Group, and Ina Parvanova, Director of Communications and Engagement division at UNFCCC, to talk about what is needed from fashion industry alliances to stay within the 1.5-degree climate goal.The panel’s key take away was the importance of acknowledging that the fashion and transportation sectors share the same complex sustainability challenges. For both industries to have an immediate impact, we must be united in how to tackle them, combining our resources and creating alliances.“The fashion industry is spearheading sustainable textile innovation,” said Klarén from the stage. “We want to work together to solve the very complex challenge of creating durable, safe, and climate-neutral textile materials, without moving the problem to other areas.”  Boundaries need pushing, new grounds need breaking, and partnerships need forming. All to stay within the 1.5-degree limit. Fashion is nothing if not daring. Which makes them the ideal ally in the journey towards a more sustainable future.