It makes sense for the pillars of fashion innovation, IMG to announce the first chapter of a three-year plan to embed sustainable practices in both the event and venue operations of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weekend Edition (MBFWE). Both 2019 events will take place at Carriageworks in Sydney from 12-18 May.
With the support of City of Sydney, IMG will implement new initiatives that aim to reduce the environmental impact of its events. These changes are inspired by the strides many Australian designers are already making and designed to promote further sustainability within the national fashion industry.
“We are very proud to support the ‘Fashionably Conscious’ seminar which will help businesses embed sustainable practices to reduce their waste and emissions – actions that are critical to tackling the industry’s environmental impact.” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
City of Sydney have been building up to a 100% renewables commitment for some time, taking a series of big steps over the past few years to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
“We’ve reduced our electricity usage by 26% since 2006 with investment in energy efficiency projects, resulting in significant savings for ratepayers,” said Chris Dersema, Sustainability Director.
Replacing 6,500 street lights with LEDs, for example, saved ratepayers $800,000 a year in energy costs and reduced carbon emissions by 2,400 tonnes a year. Energy efficient technology at several swimming pools, including the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo and the Cook + Phillip Park Aquatic Centre near Hyde Park, saving nearly 1,000 tonnes of emissions each year. More than 7,800 solar panels are expected to power our buildings by mid-2021.
Fashion Week’s multi-year approach will first focus on waste management and sustainable operations in 2019; immediate steps include, but are not limited to:
1. Elimination of single-use plastic water bottles:
This one simple act will see the use of glass bottles and refill stations in partnership with San Pellegrino and reduce the waste of of 11,000 single use plastic bottles through the fashion week season. Designer teams, hair and makeup artists, models, production crew and volunteers will have access to stainless steel water bottles throughout Carriageworks. Gone are plastic straws and paper ones available on request.
2. Elimination of printed collateral onsite:
A further extension to the GPS Radar app accredited media have been using to manage invitation RSVPs and information on the event abolishes the use of all paper and will extend on site also.
3. Energy efficiency in showrooms: 
Onsite runway showrooms at Carriageworks will increase energy efficiency through the introduction of intelligent lighting fixtures. These new designs will allow for efficiency across time, heat and power consumption. Energy consumption will be monitored closely to help inform where future efficiencies can be found.
– The influence of sustainable resources in design:
The fashion houses of BASSIKE, BONDI BORN, LEE MATHEWS, TIGERLILY, ELK, CLEONIE SWIM, LÉ BUNS and SILK LAUNDRY will feature the use of sustainable textiles, fabric dyes and inks, plastic-free packaging and recycled textile waste initiatives.
4. Fashion’s Ecological Footprint Seminar:
To invite conversation around the fashion industry’s 21-billion-dollar responsibility, IMG will host a seminar focused on fashion’s ecological footprint and touch on ways in which Australian labels, organisations and events can incorporate sustainability into their business models. “Fashionably Conscious,” presented by City of Sydney, invites experts to discuss who is radically influencing the sustainability agenda here and abroad, where can progress be celebrated, and what has yet to be learned. Panellists will include: Chris Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer of Tigerlily; Jackie Frank, patron of Thread Together and Marie Claire Australia Launch Editor and Publisher; Renée Carpenter, Sustainability Manager at Bassike; and Marnie Goding, Co-Founder and Creative Director of ELK.
The session will be held at 5pm on Friday 17 May at Carriageworks, as part of MBFWA Seminar Series, accessible to the industry and the public. MBFWA Delegates receive complimentary access to the seminar series as part of their registration. Press and industry registrations are now open at auregistration.mbfashionweek.com, while tickets are available for purchase at mbfwe.com.
Photo Credits: Marina Tatarenko, Denis Mart
A look back:
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