Q & A with Kerry Bannigan---Discover the SDGs

 

Q & A with Kerry Bannigan, founder, The Conscious Fashion Campaign 

Discover the SDGs is a month long educational virtual event (December 1st---30th) with global speakers including yourself. Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which are the ones you are focusing on and what are the steps you at Conscious Fashion Campaign are taking to achieve them?

 

Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals is the foundation of the Conscious Fashion Campaign. I believe that Goal 17 is also the driver for the achievement of the other goals.

 

The Conscious Fashion Campaign, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, co-creates high-visibility global fashion event partnerships to advance the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The initiative was established to inspire innovative ideas, connect industry leaders, enable new partnerships, and enact sustainable change.

 

Discover the SDGs is an example of the campaign working through advocacy, education, and partnership development to supports solutions for sustainable innovation in the Decade of Action. The virtual event experience, powered by Arch and Hook, Artistic Milliners and Lenzing; and supported by Interwoven, ITL Group and Orta, delivers global voices and experts to highlight and amplify the work the fashion industry is doing to drive change.

 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic a lot of businesses have been effected. The fast fashion industry has also been impacted with brands and retailers cancelling orders. Do you feel that brands are going to turn towards more sustainable production with fewer collections?

 

We are facing unprecedented times and whilst the fast fashion sector has been exposed for its damaging actions and consequences we are still hearing of increased fast fashion item releases and purchases.

 

We need accountability across the fashion value chain starting with the people being protected, receiving workers’ rights and fair working conditions. Even if brands announce that they are producing fewer collections this does not guarantee the safety and rights of garment workers. Brands should be looking at all areas of their business and consider how they move forward with people and planet in mind.