Our local Taikoo Place initiatives reflect the larger, big picture changes that are happening in the global luxury fashion industry, where the issue of sustainability has moved from a fringe to a mainstream concern.
The new emphasis on sustainability in luxury is still in early stages, but gathering steam as companies work to establish credibility with consumers that goes beyond PR and “greenwashing”. High-end designers like Stella McCartney and the late Vivienne Westwood were early advocates, creating ethically-sourced fashion lines, and in the case of Westwood, using their celebrity platform to increase ecological awareness. The jewellery and watch industries, for their part, began highlighting their use of non-conflict gemstones and recycled gold and other metals.
The Kering Group’s Gucci brand has introduced an entire new line called “Off The Grid”, luggage and accessories that use recycled, organic, bio-based and sustainably sourced materials. Chanel introduced a new, environmentally conscious tweed to its Cruise 2021/22 collection. The fabric boasts 70% eco-responsible yarn that meets Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). Luxury has a built in advantage when it comes to such initiatives – without the bottom line pressure and thin margins typical of mass market fashion, high-end brands have more freedom to explore sustainable materials and eco-friendly practices that might add to a product’s cost.