Sustainable Fashion Week and the Power of Grassroots Action with Amelia Twine
PLUS: BAY GARNETT x HERD Collection and more
For our latest episode of the Front Row to Front Bench podcast, Fashion Roundtable’s Policy Researcher, Alix Coombs speaks with Amelia Twine, Founder of Sustainable Fashion Week.
Following a decade working in sustainability in food systems and hospitality, Amelia now works in campaigning for a just transition to an equitable, regenerative fashion industry. Amelia ran a sustainable womenswear platform before founding Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) in 2020. SFW works in creative community engagement to inspire consumer behavioural change, highlighting the different entry points to sustainability in fashion to make it more relevant and accessible to people from all backgrounds. SFW ignites community-led action to inspire, empower and upskill people - equipping them to change their fashion habits.
Amelia provides consultancy and project management for various organisations including The Good Clothes Show, South West England Fibreshed and is the co-chair for Fashion Roundtable’s Sustainability & Social Justice Committee.
BAY GARNETT X HERD Collection
Last year we were fortunate enough to chat with both Bay Garnett, Fashion Stylist, former UK Vogue Fashion, Editor, Podcaster & ‘lover of Secondhand Fashion’ and Ruth Rands, entrepreneur and founder of HERD as part of our Front Row to Front Bench podcast series.
During our conversation with Bay we covered her work as senior fashion advisor at Oxfam and her work for the Secondhand September campaign, which encourages us to avoid buying brand new clothing for an entire month. Her catwalk shows for Oxfam during LFW have been hot tickets with supermodels and celebrities happy to walk the catwalk, from Erin O’Connor to Miranda Richardson.
Bay highlights her appreciation for secondhand as a “More creative, inspiring and dynamic way of buying clothes, which allows for an ability to story tell”. She expands on this with an emphasis on feeling more political and influential when wearing second hand with a sense of meaning and purpose. She also gives expert advice on what to look for when buying vintage pieces.
When chatting with Ruth, we covered the launch of her iconic brand HERD which aims to change the narrative and create timeless pieces using 100% Bluefaced wool and plant dyes within a 150 mile radius from soil to skin.
Ruth explains about the diverse benefits of designing within a small radius; that this not only creates fully traceable supply chains but that it supports the natural landscape by rebuilding communities and investing in local craft and knowledge. This smart business model acts as a way to connect the consumer with the source of raw material to enhance their understanding and connection to it.
The BAY GARNETT X HERD collection showcases strength in collaboration, with Ruth’s smart business model with traceability from farm to garment and Bay’s knowledge of vintage fashion, supplied with British Pasture Leather the co-design champions sustainable design methods, innovation, alliance and leadership.
The combination of Bluefaced Leicester wool garments and vintage leather pieces celebrates regenerative fashion as a whole, encompassing a wider product range with a shared ethos, mission and approach all with roots in Regenerative soil.
Our recent launch of the Great British Wool Revival aims to re-build connections and enhance networking opportunities from farmers right through to designers, helping to nurture and optimise localised supply chains and encouraging harmonious working relationships to better both people and the planet.
It will be exciting to see where this collaboration moves next and to see more regenerative brands working collaboratively to utilise local materials, natural resources and sustainable practices!
Best for Britain Poll finds the country want the Government to negotiate with Europe
Best for Britain conducted a major new poll with YouGov, which has revealed twice as many voters think the UK should prioritise trade with the EU over the USA.
Here’s what the poll tells us:
44% of people want the UK to focus on increasing trade with the EU, while only 19% think we should prioritise the USA.
When it comes to trust, 49% of people say they trust the EU, while just 30% trust the USA.
66% of Brits say the EU shares similar values to the UK — a much higher number than those who feel the same about the USA.
Voters who switched from the Conservatives to Labour in 2024 are even more emphatic in supporting closer ties with the EU.
This doesn’t mean choosing between the EU and the US, it just means prioritising Europe. Because when it comes to trade, proximity matters. People across the UK recognise that a closer relationship with the EU is crucial for our economic growth as a country, and putting more money in all our pockets.
Fashion Roundtable Library: Nothing Precious by Marcelo Gutierrez
For fashion lovers and creative souls, Nothing Precious by celebrated makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez is an unmissable debut. This stunning photographic journey is a visual feast, chronicling a decade of artistry, collaboration, and identity in New York City’s vibrant fashion and art worlds.
Shot by renowned photographers Renell Medrano and Aidan Zamiri, the book features iconic figures like Paloma Elsesser, Lourdes Leon, Joan Smalls, and Gabbriette, each styled and envisioned by Gutierrez as living embodiments of his creative vision. Each page is a testament to the power of fashion as a medium for storytelling, transformation, and connection.
With a foreword by Lily-Rose Depp, Nothing Precious celebrates the grit, glamour, and enduring creative energy of New York. Gutierrez’s artistic direction offers a new perspective on how fashion shapes identity, how collaboration fuels creativity, and how a community of like-minded artists can define an era.
Fashion enthusiasts will revel in the raw and unapologetic beauty of these images, which blur the boundaries between fashion, fine art, and self-expression. The book is an inspiring reminder of the joy found in pushing creative boundaries and celebrating individuality.
“Nothing Precious is not just a book; it’s a celebration of the power of collaboration, community, and the importance of prioritizing your personal artistic agenda and legacy,” says Gutierrez.
A must-have for anyone passionate about the intersections of fashion, beauty, and art, this book belongs on the coffee table of every creative dreamer.
Deadline for TheIndustry.fashion People, Planet & Purpose Awards is THIS Friday, 13th December 2024
Are you a fashion brand or retailer pushing boundaries and driving positive change? Then enter TheIndustry.fashion People, Planet & Purpose Awards, the brand new awards scheme for 2025 created to recognise the fashion brands, retailers and designers placing these essential three pillars at the centre of their strategies.
Categories will recognise excellence in everything from inclusive marketing campaigns to positive team development, sustainable sourcing and greener delivery options + more.
The judging panel, including Fashion Roundtable Founder and CEO, Tamara Cincik, has been drawn from industry leading experts in the field of conscious fashion and business.
EU General Product Safety Regulation comes into force this Friday - free online session
Are you clear on your obligations under the new EU General Product Safety (GPSR) Regulation?
It's important to understand what you need to do to comply with these regulations, so that you can keep your products moving freely to EU customers.
To help understand what actions you may need to take, join the Government’s free online session on Friday 13th December 2024 at 10am
What will be covered:
Understand your role in the supply of goods from this regulation’s perspective
Understand your full obligations based on the role you play
Understand market surveillance and how to ensure compliance so your goods continue to move freely into the EU post 13th December 2024