SOURCE of Inspiration

This July, London (and Peppermint!) took part in The Ethical Fashion Forum’s SOURCE Summit which drew together a crowd of forward-thinking ethical fashion pioneers. Participants from all over the world united to discuss the multitude of issues our industry faces, as well as some of the groundbreaking ideas and methods we’re using to change the way we design, manufacture and consume fashion.

Ethical Fashion Forum founder Tamsin Lejeune played host to the event, and spoke encouraging words about the organisation’s growth: “The EFF was created when a few designers, entrepreneurs and businesses sat around a table and thought, ‘Actually, we can achieve a lot more if we work together’, and we grew from there to now with over 6000 members in 127 countries,” she explained.

Industry panels saw experts such as Prama Bhardwaj, founder of Mantis world, Dr Emma Neuberg, CEO of The Slow Textile Group and Liz Parker, project co-ordinator of Fashioning an Ethical Industry, speak on everything from education to impact. Some of the innovative ideas discussed were truly inspiring, especially considering the industry’s progress in mainstreaming sustainable fashion and passing on this legacy to the next generation. Ending on a sweet note with tea and cake (old-fashioned English style!), a buzzing networking session created some lasting partnerships and exciting ideas.

Guest post by Rachel Manns

Image 1: Participants listening to Sarah Ditty (Deputy Editor of SOURCE Intelligence), participants include Clare Lissaman (Founding director of SOURCE Consultancy).

Image 2: Participants during a breakout session, with the live feed being broadcast internationally.