Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2019
The organisers of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia have announced plans to embed sustainable practices in the event and venue operations in Sydney next week.
Inspired by the strides many Australian designers are already making, the aim will be to reduce the environmental impact of its events.
Elimination of Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles
IMG is aiming to totally eliminate single-use packaged water bottles in the back of house areas, with no plastic water bottles being available in the public area. This will eliminate an estimated 11,000 single-use plastic bottles. Instead, frank green stainless steel water bottles will be distributed to over 2,500 event staff at Carriageworks, including designer teams, hair and makeup artists, models, production crew and volunteers. Refilling water stations will be available allowing for bottles to be topped-up and plastic straws will be replaced with paper straws.
Elimination of printed collateral onsite
Hand-outs will be eliminated by moving to digital and printing will be limited to instructive signage.
Energy Efficiency in MBFWA/MBFWE Showrooms
Energy efficient lighting fixtures will be introduced at Carraigeworks, increasing efficiency in heat and power consumption. Energy consumption will be monitored closely to help inform where future efficiencies can be found.
Sustainable Designers on Show
Participating designers taking a sustainable approach include BASSIKE, BONDI BORN, LEE MATHEWS, TIGERLILY, ELK, CLEONIE SWIM, LÉ BUNS and SILK LAUNDRY. Their sustainable and ethical practices include the use of sustainable textiles, fabric dyes and inks, plastic-free packaging and recycled textile waste initiatives.
Sustainability Seminar
To invite conversation around the fashion industry’s 21-billion-dollar responsibility, IMG will host a seminar focused on fashion’s ecological footprint. To be held at 5pm on Friday 17 May, at Carriageworks, the seminar will discuss ways of incorporating sustainability.
“Fashionably Conscious,” will discuss who is radically influencing the sustainability agenda in Australia and across the pond. Panellists will include representatives of Australian fashion labels and fashion magazines.
