Kering is London College of Fashion’s Sustainable Partner 2015

The efforts that luxury fashion group Kering has made to educate students on sustainability in the fashion industry have been rewarded. The company received the London College of Fashion (LCF) Sustainable Partner Award, as they have been educating students on this topic since partnering with the school’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion in October 2014.

As part of the collaboration with the fashion school, the company annually hosts Kering Talks on Sustainable Fashion. During the first edition, which took place on November 4 this year, students were lectured by Kering’s Chief Sustainability Officer Marie-Claire Daveu and the company’s Vice-President of Human Resources, Belén Essioux-Trujillo. Additionally, two professors from LCF made their appearance, as well as that night’s guest of honour Kelly Slater who founded the sustainable menswear brand Outerknown.

“I believe that it is vital for our future that businesses build sustainable practices into the core of their development,” said Slater during the Kering Talks. “Sustainability starts with transparency and I hope that through the Kering and LCF partnership we are able to create change in the fashion industry from the ground up.”

In addition to offering students insights into the industry, the company also allows them to experience this for themselves by offering a placement at one of the company’s brands as well as 10.000 euros (7.360 pounds). The winners were MA Fashion Entrepreneurship & Innovation student Neliana Fuenmayor and MA Fashion Futures student Ingrid Rautemberg. Fuenmayor was offered the opportunity to intern at Stella McCartney while Reutemberg could gain working experience at Alexander McQueen, according to Women’s Wear Daily (WWD).

Image credit: London College of Fashion