You know eco-fashion has become a global trend when luxury goods giant LVMH takes a major stake in Edun, the ethical clothing line set up by rock star Bono and his wife Ali Hewson. Hong Kong has traditionally been stony ground for such initiatives, but a handful of local designers and retailers are embracing green ideals. And with the launch of a sustainable fashion forum today as part of the Fashion Access trade fair, more may take up the cause.
'A lot of designers are more conscious about how they produce their lines and what kind of carbon footprint they're leaving. The eco-market has developed substantially and it is here to stay,' says Kanchan Panjabi of Kanch Couture.
The world is becoming more aware that we have a real problem with over-consumption, she says, and it needs to change.
Inspired after taking part in an 'eco-chic' initiative last year, for which she recycled denim scrap from a factory, Panjabi based her new collection, due out next month, on old offcuts and fabric waste.
'Eco-friendly and sustainable materials are the wave of the future, but before we start to make more fabric there is so much unused material that should be consumed first,' says the designer, who plans to maintain her recycling theme with a denim collection.
At accessories label Dialog, founders Cassandra Postema and Chiu Dong Shing have also made recycling a key feature of their handbag collection. All are decorated with colourful scrap-fabric trim using a technique widely applied in Malaysia, where both lived.
