While the Big Four fashion weeks have now wrapped, its time to turn our attention to the the little sisters of the fashion week calendars. The smaller fashion weeks throughout the globe are important especially to highlight the emerging fashion talent who do not have the cash to get into the larger fashion shows. While the Big Four (New York, London, Milan and Paris) historically set the stage for the upcoming fashion season, the rest of the fashion weeks tell the story of the local artistry while highlighting the talent and sensibilities of other cultures and offering an alternative view into the industry.
Next week, we will be travelling to the south shore of the United Kingdom to attend Brighton Fashion Week. In addition to fulfilling all of the above criteria, this year Brighton Fashion Week puts a focus on conscious fashion and sustainability. The catwalk shows and workshops highlight the knowledge that ethical standards and sustainability can be achieved in the fashion industry. We are most impressed that every designer presenting throughout Brighton Fashion Week use completely ethical standards in their production processes and are committed to sustainability; this is the first time in the six-year history of Brighton Fashion Week that this accomplishment has been able to be achieved. Liz Bishop, founder and director of Brighton Fashion Week, said:
“In the six years since its inception, Brighton Fashion Week has become an international fashion and art platform and 2015 is looking to be our most exciting year yet. Making our events sustainable is a challenge that reflects our reputation for shaking-up the fashion mainstream."
If you have had the chance to read the "About Us" section of our site or read the piece we did on fast fashion, you will know that we believe that the slow fashion concept is the direction in which the fashion industry needs to move. One notable event happening is Love Your Clothes "Fashion Salvage" where Love Your Clothes will be depositing a tonne of discarded clothing at the Open Market during Brighton Fashion Week and running a series of events and workshops to showcase the benefits of second hand and upcycled clothing while highlighting the environmental issues of clothing waste (spaces are limited so if you are interested in joining in, visit their site).
For a complete list of designers showcasing at Brighton Fashion Week, click here. The events are open to the public, so if you want to get your hands on tickets, click ! Throughout the event, we will be bringing you highlights from the discussions and events as well as some amazing fashion design talent, so watch this space.