Graduate Fashion Week to highlight sustainability

Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) has announced a new ‘Considered Design Hub’ with sponsor Farfetch to emphasise the need for ethical and sustainable practises within the fashion industry.

The hub is in response to the increase in graduates focusing on sustainability and will provide students with a platform to “express their principles and designs”, explains GFW in a statement.

As well as showcasing leading UK and international students work, the hub will also be running three daily workshops and talks, including a morning daily talk from The Sustainable Angle, a mid-day talk from a senior team member of Farfetch and an afternoon Q&A with a renowned ethical fashion designer.

In addition to sponsoring the hub, Farfetch will also have a ‘Positively Farfetch’ branded stand where current students, graduates and inspiring designers can meet the team about opportunities and get advice and guidance. The luxury retailer will also be sponsoring a brand-new Graduate Fashion Week exhibition award - ‘The Considered Design Award’ where students who have a project with a sustainable or ethical element can enter to win a prize.

The initiative is part of the fashion company’s recently launched ‘Positively Farfetch’ strategy to become the global platform for “good in luxury fashion, empowering people in the fashion community to think, act and choose positively”.

Thomas Berry, director of sustainability at Farfetch, said: “The future of fashion is more considered, more positive, and ultimately more sustainable. That’s why Farfetch are so pleased to be supporting the future leaders of the fashion community through the Considered Design Hub at Graduate Fashion Week. We are at the start of our own Positively Farfetch journey and I’m looking forward to meeting, and in some way helping, students who want to make fashion a force for food.”

Martyn Roberts, managing director of Graduate Fashion Foundation, added: We are extremely delighted to have Farfetch join us to power and support the new Considered Design Hub with their new initiative Positively Farfetch. As a charity we are excited to host talks and workshops, helping to teach best practice to the new year of graduates entering the industry, as well as join the larger conversation of ethical and sustainable practices.”

Gradaute Fashion Week is the world’s largest event for BA Fashion talent and will be taking place from June 2 to 5 at The Old Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London. The annual event, held every June attracts 30,000 guests, features 25 catwalk shows and exhibition stands, alongside a schedule of talks and workshops from leading names in the fashion and retail industry.