The world of fashion is moving towards a sustainable future through the adoption of a circular model, with the emergence of innovative brands such as Coach’s sub-brand, Coachtopia. This particular brand is dedicated to promoting circular fashion by transforming discarded materials into stylish accessories. Similarly, Valentino Vintage is an initiative that encourages customers to exchange their pre-owned Valentino items for fresh designs, thereby advancing sustainable practices within the fashion industry.
In recent times, the textile industry has come under fire for its adverse impact on the environment and society. With the proliferation of fast fashion and the cult of fashion influencers, these negative effects have only intensified. Notably, the greenhouse gas emissions of the global textile industry exceed those of international flights and shipping combined, and it ranks among the largest polluting industries. Hence, there is an urgent need to revamp the industry’s supply chain. This is where circular fashion comes into play. It is an innovative approach that involves producing items from reused materials that can be reused, repaired, and recycled repeatedly, creating a continuous cycle.
Let’s take a look at some how luxury brands doing their bit for circular fashion, just in time for Earth Day.
Coachtopia by Coach
In collaboration with passionate Gen Zers, including climate activists, designers, upcyclers, journalists, and others, Coach presents Coachtopia- an impressive collection of bags, accessories, clothes, and footwear. This innovative range features products crafted from “recycled, repurposed, and renewable materials” and will be available in limited editions. Notably, Coachtopia’s leather goods are made using leftover scraps from other Coach designs, utilising the brand’s 80-year leather expertise to reimagine the product lifecycle from end to beginning. By reducing the creation of new materials and designing products that can be repurposed, remade, and recycled, Coachtopia is committed to creating beautiful products that have a much lower impact on the planet than traditional luxury goods.
Valentino Vintage
Valentino Vintage, the second-hand initiative by Valentino, has been launched with a bang as it encourages shoppers to trade in their pre-loved Valentino items for a brand-new design. This unique sustainability initiative by Valentino sets itself apart from other designer brands by promoting circular fashion. As co-owner of New York Valentino Vintage, Hoey points out that “Designer brands have their own initiatives in sustainability, but I think Valentino’s is unique in the sense that they’re creating circular fashion; there’s a difference there.”
Furthermore, the initiative places a significant focus on the global student community. Valentino has established a creative partnership with 1 Granary, a platform run by students at Central Saint Martins, to provide resources and opportunities to students across more than 30 fashion, design, and art schools worldwide. As part of this collaboration, Valentino will also generously donate a handpicked selection of five vintage looks to the schools associated with the program.
