Copenhagen Summit to focus on commitment to change

Kicking off May 11, Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2017 expects more than 50 high level speakers to engage in panel conversations, which will address the most critical sustainability issues facing the fashion industry.

This year's overarching theme for the summit is 'Commitment To Change'. One of the expected outcomes of the 2017 summit is the signing of a concrete call to action put forward by Global Fashion Agenda to create a unified effort among fashion brands and retailers in accelerating the fashion industry's transition to a circular system.

This year will also see the launch of the first-ever edition of the groundbreaking Pulse of the Fashion Industry report, which has been developed in collaboration between Global Fashion Agenda and its knowledge partner, The Boston Consulting Group. This annual report will be the first of its kind to provide a common fact base on the current sustainability performance of the industry, to quantify the potential of sustainability in fashion and to provide recommendations for companies across the supply chain.

"Since last year's summit, we have been busy reshaping and evolving the format of the event. One of the major changes that I'm especially pleased with is the intensified focus on commitments and outcomes. By putting forward a call to action, which is already receiving substantial backing by key industry players, and by launching the Pulse of the Fashion Industry report, the summit is proving that it is able to take leadership and help unite the industry towards a better future," said Eva Kruse, CEO and president of Global Fashion Agenda and the organiser of the summit.

The summit will present a line-up of high level speakers, including the CEO of Tiffany & Co. Michael Kowalski, The New York Times chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, circular economy authority Dame Ellen MacArthur, founder of Eco Age Ltd. Livia Firth, fashion designer Prabal Gurung, CEO of Hugo Boss Mark Langer and sustainability leader William McDonough. The 2017 summit will be hosted by Amber Valletta, model and entrepreneur, and Tyler Brûlé, editor-in-chief of Monocle.

In the days leading up to Copenhagen Fashion Summit, students from all over the world will gather to draft a proposed UN resolution on fashion to be presented on stage at the summit and delivered to the UN later this year. The Youth Fashion Summit represents a collaboration between Global Fashion Agenda and Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA) in partnership with Swarovski, one of the principal sponsors of Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2017.

On May 10, a special project of the ISKO I-Skool Denim Design Award 2016 competition will present the sustainable fashion designs of ten international design students from Japan to US. The winner will be chosen by a jury consisting of international fashion experts such as fashion professional Peter Copping and editor-at-large of Vogue India Bandana Tewari. The initiative is conceived by ISKO, the global leader in denim production and textile innovation and also one of the principal sponsors of Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2017.

Copenhagen Fashion Summit is the flagship event of the recently established non-profit, year-round initiative Global Fashion Agenda, whose mission is to mobilise the industry to transform the way we produce and consume fashion. To help set a common global agenda for the industry and spearhead this transition, Global Fashion Agenda has partnered with Kering, H&M, Target, Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Li & Fung as founding members. They represent some of the world's foremost sustainability leaders in the high street, mainstream and luxury fashion sectors.