How is London Fashion Week Making Fashion More Sustainable?

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Brands at London Fashion Week will have to follow sustainability regulations - Credit: BFC/Roksanda/Charlie Wheeler
The British Fashion Council has adopted Copenhagen Fashion Week’s Sustainability Requirements for London Fashion Week including circularity principles

London Fashion Week (LFW) is introducing brand sustainability requirements for 2025.

Fashion is often viewed as an unsustainable industry, and not for bad reason - it is responsible for around 8% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

The industry is also the second largest consumer of water and generates nearly 20% of wastewater. 

Each year, more than 80% of textiles are discarded, often ending up in landfills or incinerators. 

The British Fashion Council (BFC), in charge of LFW, is collaborating with Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) to accelerate the fashion industry’s sustainability actions across the Nordic and British fashion markets. 

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As part of this collaboration, the BFC will roll out a Sustainability Requirements framework developed by the CPHFW kicking off in partnership with development programme BFC NEWGEN sponsored by Pull&Bear.

Caroline Rush, Chief Executive at the British Fashion Council, says: "We are thrilled to align with the Copenhagen Fashion Week Sustainability Requirements across BFC NEWGEN in partnership with Pull&Bear, this builds on our existing Minimum Standards and reaffirms our commitment to driving positive change across the global fashion industry.

Caroline Rush, Chief Executive at the British Fashion Council

“This partnership is a significant step in ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to the future of fashion

“Together, we are creating a framework that empowers emerging designer fashion businesses to lead the way and contribute tangibly to a more sustainable and responsible industry."

What are the Sustainability Requirements?

The Sustainability Requirements LFW is adopting from CPHFW is a framework used in the application process of the event. 

Brands are required to have a formally approved sustainability strategy in place, covering both environmental and social factors, and guidelines and structures in place to provide equal opportunities and hiring processes to promote diversity.

They must also agree that they do not destroy unsold clothes and samples from previous collections, instead following a process in place for leftovers and waste. 

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Circular design criteria to ensure the quality and longevity of products must be in place and at least 60% of a collection must be either certified, made of preferred materials or deadstock fabric. 

Other criteria on the list include:

  • Collection is free of virgin fur, wild animal skins and feathers (exotics)
  • Educate and inform customers about sustainability practices in line with the Green Claims Directive on at least two platforms
  • Actively working to reduce the environment of packaging 
  • No use of single-use props or plastic packaging used in the production of a showcase

These revisions come into effect at CPHFW in 2025 and are applicable to all brands on the official show and presentation schedule.

Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, says: "We are delighted to join forces with the British Fashion Council to further expand the reach of our Sustainability Requirements. 

Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week

“This partnership not only fosters much-needed industry alignment but also underscores the unique potential of fashion weeks and councils to drive positive change within the industry. 

“With the British Fashion Council, as an influential player in the global fashion landscape, we see a lot of potential to further amplify the impact of our collective commitment to sustainability."

There are a few exceptions to allow brands to get up to speed – brands new to the schedule have two years to meet the requirements, those who have last been on the schedule before the Requirements’ implementation have two seasons to meet them and brands under CPHFW’s development programme NEWTALENT (or in BFW’s case NEWGEN) must meet it by the end of their talent scheme enrolment. 


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