How Copenhagen Fashion Week Is Striving For Sustainability

Feb 2

In the last few years, Copenhagen has really put itself on the fashion month as one of the fashion weeks to watch. Bold, colourful and inventive designers are put on display for the world’s eyes and fashion audiences lap it up. The current fall winter 2023 Copenhagen fashion week was highly anticipated by many after the successes of their last August, with one thing really standing this city out from the rest that host shows.

Sustainability is at the heart of many Scandinavian countries and no more is this on show than in the Danish capital this week. Copenhagen Fashion Week’s sustainability action plan was first revealed back in 2020 and features strict guidelines that brands must follow if they wish to gain a prestigious spot on the schedule. The 18 requirements cover six key areas including design, smart material choices, strategic direction, working conditions, consumer engagement and show production. While the vast rules were first put in place in 2020, this current season is the first in which they will be fully implemented.

Cecilie Thorsmark, the CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, told Vogue of the action plan, “Two years ago, not all brands on the schedule met the requirements. Now we can see this framework does accelerate change in the industry – a lot of progress has been made.”

Giving brands a grace period to settle, become accustomed to the new rules and, if necessary, adapt so they tick the boxes has paid off. The week still includes brands many associated with Copenhagen such as Stine Goya and Helmstedt. However, Thorsmark did reveal that one notable brand, which isn’t named, did not manage to meet the requirements.

The push for new sustainability practices in the fashion industry from those at the top is a welcome improvement in the eyes of many. While action plans and guidelines for routes to sustainable garment creation are lacking within the industry, Copenhagen has become a beacon hoping to light the way for others to follow. “We hope we can inspire other fashion weeks to go in the same direction,” said Thorsmark. Furthermore, it has also been announced that they will be introducing one new standard to the action plan per year in order to keep improving and influencing.

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