Where Burberry waste goes now British fashion brand isn’t burning clothes any more
Elvis and Kresse, a UK-based sustainable luxury fashion brand, is helping Burberry reach its environmental responsibility goals by creating accessories and homewares from its leather offcuts
Design features aside, the totes and clutches from Elvis and Kresse look like any other classic, utilitarian bags. But their story could not be more different.
Each handbag is made from upcycled materials sourced from items as diverse as fire hosepipes, printing blankets and parachute panels. In the past year, the list has also included unused leather from British luxury fashion house Burberry.
Burberry declared on September 6 that it would no longer be destroying unused goods, effective immediately. The move comes just weeks after the company set off a firestorm among investors and environmental groups after announcing it destroyed US$37 million worth of unused merchandise last year.
Burberry’s commitment is part of a five-year “responsibility agenda” that also includes a promise to no longer use real fur in its collections and phase out collections that already include real fur.
“Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible,” says Marco Gobbetti, Burberry’s CEO. “This belief is core to us at Burberry and key to our long-term success. We are committed to applying the same creativity to all parts of Burberry as we do to our products.”
