I n an industry known for fleeting trends and overconsumption, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) is an outlier. More than 40 brands and institutions secured a spot on the spring/summer schedule in the city in August, but unlike other international fashion weeks — where prestige and budget dictate participation — brands at Copenhagen must meet stringent sustainability requirements to earn a spot. This “minimum standards” approach is groundbreaking — a first for any fashion week and designed to ensure minimal environmental impact, from the clothing to the set production and show design.
Cecilie Thorsmark, chief executive of CPHFW, explains how the standards were established. “The sustainability requirements were developed out of the conviction that any fashion week, given the influential role they play in the wider fashion.
