Kering pledges annual 20k award for LCF students

London College of Fashion students will be the recipient of a new annual award from French luxury group Kering, following a collaboration on sustainability.

Every year, Kering will award 20,000 euros in grants to two students who prove their eco credentials as part of the Kering Award for Sustainable Fashion. The winners will also land an internship with Kering brands, which include Gucci and Balenciaga.

The yearly competition is open to all third-year BA and MA students reading fashion design, management and communications.

CEO Franҫois-Henri Pinault readily acknowledges that the link between sustainability and luxury fashion might not be immediately obvious. "But I would argue that by the very nature of our industry’s innate creativity and ability to set trends, fashion can be a powerful player in illustrating new and appealing solutions to a more sustainable world," he wrote in a Telegraph op-ed inaugurating the partnership.

Kering brands have improved their approach to sustainability, with Gucci introducing a way to tan leather without resorting to heavy metals and Stella McCartney famously producing ethical collections without using animal furs or hides.