Liverpool Fashion Summit takes place online
After previously being postponed due to the global pandemic, Liverpool Fashion Summit took place online from the 9-11 September 2020.
Sessions throughout the day provided a platform for businesses, consumers and academics to debate and discuss industry trends and best practice, raise awareness of the key barriers to change, and how individuals can look to themselves to explore the part we can all play.
Discussions throughout the summit focused on three main themes; modern slavery, the circular economy and sustainability. They were led by a range of stakeholders from across the industry including:
- Anu Menon, CEO of Freedom Row;
- Rachel Wilshaw, Ethical Trade Manager of Oxfam GB
- Isabella Tonelli, CSR Coordinator at Vivienne Westwood
- Dr Amy Benstead, Lecturer at University of Manchester
- Anna Bryher, Director of Advocacy at Labour Behind the Label
- Dr Helen Goworek, Associate Professor at University of Durham
- Stephen Sykes, co-founder of 2030 Hub and chair of Circular Economy Club – Liverpool
- Fee Gilfeather, Head of Audience and Strategic Planning at Oxfam GB
- Kate Roche and Sarah Obrien, Make Thread founders and alumni of the University of Liverpool
- Jennifer Davies, Co-founder of Nabil Nayal and PhD researcher at the University of Liverpool
- David Connor, Co-founder of 2030 Hub
- Kate August, Owner of MiApparel
- Rhi Jones, Owner of Reins Clothing
Recordings of the sessions are available to view on the LFS YouTube channel.
In addition to sparking discussion on crucial issues, the event also aimed to encourage people to act. A number of workshops were held including a jean upcycling session (SewEasy Sewing Classes), a demonstration on how to weave with recycled material (Kristy, founder of The Liverpool Weaving Company), creative mending (with Rachel, SewEasy Sewing Classes) and tips on sustainable consumption (with Tena Lavrencic, Thinking.Threads). The event also supported Oxfam GB and its initiative #SecondHandSeptember by helping to raise money for the Coronavirus Emergency Response Appeal in Bangladesh - one of the main suppliers of the fashion industry. More information, including a link to donate, is available on Instagram and Twitter.
Another highlight of the programme was the LFS Fund – a competition aimed to promote initiatives that engage with sustainability. The winners were Mary Lamb and her project Circle-ist and Sarah Rafferty with her project Three Sisters. Each initiative received £500.
Following on from the successful event, Liverpool Fashion Summit is now working on a collaboration with Million Stars to make and donate face masks in the city. The project is currently looking for two like-minded students (at any level of study) who want to make a difference in the fashion industry. Ideally, successful candidates would have social media and digital skills but more importantly they need to be passionate in this area and enjoy working as part of an ambitious and energetic team. More information is available on Liverpool Fashion Summit’s website and Instagram or alternatively you can contact j.marcet-alonso@liverpool.ac.uk to arrange a friendly chat.