The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), the British Fashion Council (BFC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have announced the launch of the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN). This new partnership will bring together industry, innovators, investors, academia and broader stakeholders “to accelerate the UK to a leading Circular Fashion Economy.”
The network will receive £1.8 million (€2.1m), jointly allocated to the BFC and UKFT to run the network, build the community, and activate industry-led research. The fashion industry contributes £29 billion (€33.9bn) to the UK gross domestic product (GDP). The UK has the highest consumption of new clothes in Europe, and high consumption comes with low usage and a large amount of waste, reminded UKFT in a statement.
The new Circular Fashion Innovation Network is co-chaired by BFC CEO, Caroline Rush and UKFT CEO, Adam Mansell. Its six working groups are: circular business models, recycling infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, novel technology, diverse and future-proof workforce, and green growth. The CFIN advisory board at launch includes Adam Mansell (UKFT), Caroline Rush (BFC), Chanel, Christine Kasoulis (Sainsbury’s), Helen Connolly (New Look), Helen Dickinson (British Retail Consortium), Jules Lennon (Ellen MacArthur Foundation), Lynda Petherick (BFC), Mark Hills (Mayer Brown), Nigel Lugg (Shotley Consulting), Richard Price (Marks & Spencer), Stephen Russell (Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour / Future Fashion Factory), and Tom Fiddian (Innovate UK, UKRI).
Photo by Alyssa Strohmann on Unsplash
