French fashion giant Kering has linked up with the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) to launch the first higher education research and teaching center dedicated to sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the fashion industry.
The IFM-Kering Sustainability Chair was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by François-Henri Pinault, chairman, and CEO of Kering, which owns brands including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen, and Xavier Romatet, dean of the IFM, which is rated one of the world’s leading higher education institutions for fashion.
The chair, headed up by Andrée-Anne Lemieux, professor in charge of all sustainability-related initiatives at the IFM, will focus on a wide range of topics related to sustainability, from traceability to measurement, as well as eco-responsible business models.
Aspects of creative ecology will also be studied in order to identify ways in which creative teams can develop ecological fashion and propose new sustainable creative offerings while developing tools for measuring and appropriating environmental and social issues.
Romatet said: “IFM – Kering Sustainability Chair is an integral part of the strategy of Institut Français de la Mode. It means students can develop a 360° understanding of the challenges of sustainability so that they can participate as future professionals in the industry’s transformation.”
Inside Guide to Cotton & Sustainability 2020
Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability officer and head of international institutional affairs at Kering, added: “Research and education play a crucial role in changing the practices and models of the fashion industry.
“At Kering, these are key pillars of our sustainability strategy because we believe that it’s our duty, as a luxury group, to address the generations that will craft tomorrow’s fashion. I am pleased that Kering is partnering up with IFM to create a designated Sustainability Chair position and I am convinced that the research and findings will provide concrete results to help transform our industry.”
The chair’s research work will include mentoring doctoral students on university theses, contributing to scientific publications and participating in conferences related to its program and issues.
Training modules dedicated to responsible fashion will be developed for training courses ranging from French vocational qualifications through to Master’s level, as well as for continuous training for companies.
Courtesy: Eco Textile News
Avavav has continued its exploration of innovative materials by presenting new garments made with recycled viscose pulp from OnceMore during…
Vegea has increased the production capacity of its biobased material, GrapeSkin, as interest grows in alternatives to fossil-based and animal-derived…
Puma has announced a partnership with Chinese materials company Shincell to develop the next generation of its NITRO running foam.
Thermore, a company in thermal insulation, has introduced Ecodown Fibers T2T. The new free-fibre insulation is produced entirely from recycled…
Eurojersey, Lycra have collaborated to launch Empowered Play, a new approach to functional apparel where technical performance and comfort come…
Graphene-X has introduced its first women’s clothing collection, expanding its use of graphene-integrated fabrics beyond the men’s and unisex products.