Fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize announced this week it will fund sustainability-conscious scholarships at London College of Fashion (LCF) and Central Saint Martins (CSM), which are part of the University of the Arts London (UAL).
The retailer is considering proposals that address regenerative fashion, including raw materials, processes and design, and zero-waste design and digital innovation, including concepts focused on pre-consumer waste and products that fail quality control.
Monsoon Accessorize said the move is part of its interest in supporting sustainability and innovation across the fashion sector.
Through the scholarship, the retailer wants to help one LCF MA Fashion Futures student to help further sustainable thinking, and help make the fashion industry more sustainable. The company has already supported an LCF MA Fashion Futures student and a sponsored PhD at CSM.
Applications are now being considered for September 2024, and to be eligible to apply students must have been accepted on to the MA Fashion Futures course at LCF, UAL, and must already be able to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability in fashion.
Nick Stowe, CEO of Monsoon Accessorize, commented: “We have developed a great working relationship with UAL on a number of sustainability and innovation projects, and we’re proud to be able to support their students directly via these scholarships.
“UAL’s Fashion Futures course is groundbreaking and, more broadly, UAL provide an incredible platform for research and innovation in our industry. We see these scholarships as just one part of our investment in creating a better future for fashion, investing in the people making real change.”
Polly Mackenzie, chief social purpose officer at UAL, added: “This opportunity is an invaluable contribution to our commitment as UAL to create a better world through research and partnerships that target the sectors that matter. These scholarships play a vital role in supporting our students in creating a cleaner fashion industry that is rooted in sustainability and ethical practice.”
In Spain, fashion retailer Mango has partnered with Centro Superior de Diseño de Moda de Madrid (CSDMM), an institution linked to the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), to offer sustainability training and education to its staff.
The retailer and CSDMM-UPM have developed a training programme to boost knowledge of recycling processes, more sustainable materials and fibres, certifications and labelling, and the application of circularity criteria in the design of collections.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
