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Barbara Santamaria
Published
Oct 22, 2019
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Zara ups sustainability commitment with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund collab

Translated by
Barbara Santamaria
Published
Oct 22, 2019

Zara, the biggest brand of clothing giant Inditex, is supporting the 16th edition of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Design Challenge, hosted by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue Magazine, by providing the 10 finalists with sustainable materials.


10 designers are competing to win this year's CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund - CFDA


The involvement was first reported WWD, and sources close to the company confirmed the news to FashionNetwork.com. According to the source, the initiative is part of Inditex’s 2025 sustainability strategy and involves providing designers with four materials that meet the standards set by Join Life label, including organic cotton, sustainably grown European linen, Ecovero and Tencel Lyocell.

The organic cotton is produced using natural fertilisers and pesticides, avoiding the use of genetically modified seeds during cultivation. The European linen is a natural fibre which is cultivated without artificial irrigation systems. Ecovero is a sustainable viscose derived from renewable wood sources and certified with the EU Ecolabel, which is granted to products that meet the most demanding environmental standards of the European Union throughout their life cycle. Finally, Tencel, also known as Lyocell, is a biodegradable material obtained from eucalyptus and other leafy trees.

Among other green commitments, Zara has pledged to use 100% sustainable cotton, linen and cellulose fibres, as well as recycled polyester by 2025. Additionally, the company has said 100% of its store estate will be eco-efficient by the end of that period, using 20% less energy and 40% less water. Other targets include having clothing banks fin all stores and eco-friendly packaging.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was created in 2003 with the aim of supporting emerging American designers in the development of their fashion businesses. The winner will receive $400,0000, and two finalists will be awarded $150,000 as well as a mentoring programme. The funds will be used to help these designers scale their business and acquire new skills across marketing, PR, production and sales.

Since its inception, the initiative has awarded $6.6 million to 45 brands and designers, including Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Rodarte and Pyer Moss.

Competing for this year’s fund are Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough (of the Abasi Rosborough brand), Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Victor Barragan (Barragan), Christopher John Rogers, Hillary Taymour (Collina Strada), Danielle Hirsch (Danielle Frankel), Raffaella Hanley (Lou Dallas), Siying Qu and Haoran Li (Private Policy), Reese Cooper and Natalie Ratabesi (Tre by Natalie Ratabesi).

The winner of the 2019 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund will be announced in New York on November 4.

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