UK organisations launch Circular Fashion Innovation Network
UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), the British Fashion Council (BFC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have launched the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) with a two-year ambition to create an industrial-scale change programme for the UK fashion and textile industry.
The network, which is co-chaired by BFC CEO Caroline Rush and UKFT CEO Adam Mansell, will sit under the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) and will bring together industry, innovators, investors, academia and broader stakeholders.
The Advisory Board spans retailers and brands as well as representatives from UKRI, academia and NGOs. The role of the Advisory Board is to focus on the vision of the network, receive briefings from the Working Groups and to address scalability across the UK.
The network will receive £1.8m which is jointly allocated to the BFC and UKFT to run the network, build the community, share knowledge and commission research.
The six working groups within the programme are:
• Circular business models – Focus on reduction of waste and overproduction by embedding circular business practices; consideration of regulation changes
• Recycling infrastructure – Optimise closed-loop recycling processes, develop partnerships and foundations for extended producer responsibility (EPR)
• Sustainable manufacturing – Lower environmental impact by achieving supply chain resilience, creating deeper links between brands and manufacturers, and scaling digital traceability tools
• Novel technology – Scale up and integrate novel technologies that support circular fashion
• Diverse and future-proof workforce – Upskill the workforce and build a diverse and future-proof talent pipeline to close the skills gaps
• Green growth – Create economically viable Circular Fashion Products, services and IP which create high value jobs, support growth through responsible design, retail and manufacturing.
Adam Mansell, CEO UKFT, said “It has never been more important to combine knowledge and networks to tackle the challenges of sustainability. We’re excited to work with the BFC and other partners to establish both direct interventions and long term plans to help the transition towards a new circular economy in the UK.”
