23 March 2012. Sustainability is not yet a strong trend in the fashion industry. Only one per cent of all sales in the clothing industry satisfy environmentally friendly and socially compatible standards. With the eco fashion event UN-DRESS at the HSG on Friday, 30 March 2012 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., students want to demonstrate how attractive fairly produced clothes are. The event is open to the general public, admission is free.

In the global fashion and luxury goods industry, tough competition and a lack of transparency have contributed not only towards cutting costs but also to a decrease in ecological standards. The growth prospects for sustainably produced fashion look promising: in 2010, 18% of consumers were familiar with eco fashion; since 2006, the figure has tripled.

Workshops on eco fashion

Besides speakers from Adidas, Coop Naturaline and Remei AG, guests will also include representatives of Helvetas and other organisations. In specialist lectures, they will report on how clothes can be sustainably produced along the entire value creation chain. Isabelle Quéhé (the founder of the Ethical Fashion Show in France) and Ada Zanditon (the founder of the eponymous British eco fashion label) will discuss various aspects of ecological fashion with visitors in workshops. The visitors to the Eco Fashion Day will discover how an eco fashion boutique is run and how eco trainers are manufactured in Brazil.

Fashion show and make-over with HSG profs
At 5 p.m., students will show ecological fashion in the Aula of the HSG. Linda Gwerder will moderate the show, Vice-Miss Switzerland Julia Flückiger will present the models on the catwalk. With a “make-over”, the HSG professors Ulrike Landfester, Vito Roberto and Chris Steyaert will demonstrate that you can remain faithful to your own style with ecological fashion too (11.30 to 12.30 am in the Aula of the HSG). Up-and-coming designers will exhibit their eco collections throughout the day.

Picture: Photocase / Allzweckjack