Leaders of Change: Fashion Awards Celebrate Sustainability at London Ceremony

The British Fashion Council held its annual Fashion Awards on December 5, 2022, in London, honoring figures in sustainable fashion. Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, received the Outstanding Achievement Award for transferring his $3 billion company to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and Holdfast Collective, ensuring profits go to environmental protection. Pierpaolo Piccioli won the Fashion Award. The Leaders of Change: Environment award was given to Gabriela Hearst, Bethany Williams, Priya Ahluwalia, Conner Ives, and Marine Serre. Gabriela Hearst (Uruguay, 1976), creative director of Chloé, staged the first zero-emission fashion show in 2019 and attended COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. Marine Serre (France, 1991) focuses on upcycling, producing only two collections per year named State of Soul, Hard Drive, and Fichu pour Fichu, and plans a couture line for 2023. Priya Ahluwalia (UK, 1993) uses vintage materials and employs women from rural areas; she collaborated with Microsoft to create Circulate, a crowdsourcing platform for deadstock fabrics, and with Adidas on a 100% recyclable sneaker. Bethany Williams (UK, 1989) employs women from San Patrignano and incarcerated women through Popolar Making for Change, using recycled fabrics and plastic-free packaging. Conner Ives (USA, 1995) limits production to one collection per year, emphasizing emotional longevity of garments.