12 August 2009
APLF Ltd will debut a half-day Sustainable Fashion Forum (SFF) in October alongsides its leading fashion accessories trade fair Fashion Access. The event will bring together industry experts and trend consultants to explore the challenges and opportunities of sourcing sustainable fashion.
"Sustainability is a broad, hard-to-define term.…Sustainable Fashion Forum aims to address this matter in a practical way that is accessible and relevant to our Fashion Access exhibitors and buyers. One of the most important concerns at the time being is how to be sustainable and profitable," said Perrine Ardouin, senior event manager of organiser APLF.
Topics that will be discussed at the Forum include the present and future of Sustainability; how to restore its credibility after the meaning has been ‘greenwashed’, the relationship between fast-fashion and sustainability and how it can be integrated into profitable business.
The organiser has learnt from its annual event Prime Source Forum - which targets big retailers, brands and manufacturers - that Sustainability has been a hot topic for the industry at large.
"There's been a grave need for a new forum that addresses the sustainable issues from the consumer perspective, and those that are relevant to both big players and SMEs. In fact, many of our exhibitors have already expressed interest in participating in this forum."
Ms. Ardouin added: "This will obviously attract retailers and brands, but information presented will also be useful to suppliers and producers, who need to understand what their customers want and need along the supply chain."
The SSF initiative stems from Fashion Access' focus on Substainability dated back to 2007, with a focus on Eco-luxury. The scope has since been broadened to include other sustainable concepts such as cradle-to-cradle, upcycling and social responsibility over the years.
Instead of a seminar setting, SSF will adapt a forum format; a platform that Ardouin believes will encourage speakers and audience to participate and to exchange their views.
"Fashion Access will attract exhibitors and buyers from all around the world, so it’s an ideal time and place to hold SFF and bring together a global audience to address a global issue," Ardouin said.
The Sustainable Fashion Forum will be held in the afternoon of October 7 (Wednesday) 2009 at Fashion Access in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.