Lydia Petropoulou presents the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) initiative to offer deadstock fabric to BA fashion students in the UK.

Trying to promote sustainability and waste reduction in the fashion industry, the BFC has partnered with famous fashion houses to launch the Student Fabric Initiative. BA fashion students in 33 universities around the UK will be provided with deadstock and unwanted fabric to support their studies. At the same time, the Council aims at motivating educational institutions to adopt a more environmentally friendly mentality. The delivery of material is supported by Burberry. The writer Charlie Porter, together with MATHCHESFASHION, Fora, and Cozette McCreery are also joining the initiative.

Earlier this year, Burberry piloted the scheme through the so called “ReBurberry Fabric” programme, involving donations to colleges around the UK. Through this scheme, the brand tested a centralised logistics process which formed the basis for other brands to work collaboratively and support future talents. The BFC, via its Institute of Positive Fashion and Colleges Council, will now be the supervisor of the whole logistics process. However, details on how the fabric will be distributed to students and which colleges are actually getting it have not been given yet.

The retailers participating in the project are, among others: Asics, Barbour, Bianca Saunders, Craig Green, David Koma, Gabriela Hearst, Halpern, Κnitster LDN, Mackintosh, Paul Smith, River Island, Roksanda, Simone Rocha, Sunspel, and Victoria Beckham.

The Chief Executive of the BFC, Caroline Rush, expressed her delight at cooperating with all of these famous brands, whose members support creative fashion individuals in the UK. She also stated that the BFC’s main priority is to develop a circular economy, while continuing to support student excellence. Indicatively, one of her statements was: “Being able to help students in need, while managing the offset waste is an important example of the power of industry-wide collaboration.”

Charlie Porter also embraced this organised gathering of the fashion community and its aims. He believes that, although this is happening now as a response to the pandemic, it will bring many advantages in coming years. Many brands and designers will be more alert to environmental problems and they will promote sustainability in every aspect of fashion education.