Sustainable City Awards adds fashion categories

The Sustainable City Awards are returning for a 12th year

and for the first time they will be in partnership with the British Fashion Council and will include an award celebrating the achievements of sustainable fashion.

With up to a third of the UK’s current growth due to green business, according to the CBI’s Colour of Growth report, the aim of the green business awards is to recognise and celebrate green innovation.

For 2013 there were be 12 ‘green gongs’ up for grabs reflecting the City of London Corporation’s interests - from financial markets to fish-markets, and from parks to the arts. For the first time there will also be two sustainable fashion awards – one for the best independent fashion designer and one for a leading high street retailer, as the awards are seeking out the UK’s most inspiring sustainable fashion designers and retailers.

Commenting on the inclusion of a fashion category, Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable Development at the City of London Corporation, said: “Fashion and sustainability are a good mix, as couture impacts on hearts and minds as well as the planet. We were in fact we were inspired to create this category by one of the entries to last years’ awards, the fabulous “Thrifty Couture”, who are a fantastic example of fashion driving local sustainable economic growth.”

The awards will be hosted by Livia Firth, known for championing sustainable fashion in her Green Carpet Challenge, at the Lord Mayor’s residence, Mansion House, on March 19, 2013.