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Germany: Ethical Fashion Show's ‘Create Green’ Breakfast Will Discuss The Latest Developments With Regard To A Mandatory Textile Symbol

How has the Ethical Fashion Show progressed over the years?

The Ethical Fashion Show Berlin is being held for the sixth time this year and is organised by Messe Frankfurt. Over the years, the trade show for eco-fair street and casualwear has grown continuously and now numbers 90 labels.

Together with the Greenshowroom, our trade fair for sustainable high-end fashion, 120 labels are currently represented. However, our aim is not simply to attract as many exhibitors as possible. We also want to establish a focal point for green fashions.

To date, the two events, Ethical Fashion Show Berlin and Greenshowroom, and the accompanying seminars and publications, have developed into one of Europe's most important meeting places for eco-fair fashions.

Brands and apparel makers cater to a number of social and environmental standards. How was one more criteria (as set out by Ethical Fashion Show) looked upon by participants? How credible are these criteria?

Ethical Fashion Show Berlin and Greenshowroom have not laid down their own criteria but rather compiled existing criteria in their own catalogue.

This ecologically-oriented questionnaire has been put together in such a way that each label describes its own individual approach to sustainability. All exhibitors are checked individually and carefully - in many cases personally - with regard to the criteria. Thus, the results can be regarded as highly credible.

Exhibitors are predominantly from which countries?

The Ethical Fashion Show Berlin and the Greenshowroom are highly international events. A good 50% of exhibitors come from Europe's German-speaking countries and include, for example, deepmello and Lanius from Germany, Royal Blush and Monika Schneiter from Switzerland and Göttin des Glücks from Austria.

The Netherlands is also well represented by Jux, Mud Jeans and Fair Wear Foundation at the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin and by Studio Elsien Gringhuis at the Greenshowroom. Other European countries, such as Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain and Scandinavia are also represented, as are labels from India, Bangladesh, Brazil and the USA.

Tell us about some outstanding work by some of the participants at the show.

Some brands have extremely interesting concepts, for example, Mud Jeans, who have developed an innovative recycling concept for fashion articles with 'Lease a Jeans'.

And deepmello, a company that dyes its leather using rhubarb. Other highlights include established and successful brands, such as People Tree, Komodo and L'Herbe Rouge, as well as sustainable denim brands, including Sey Jeans, Pearl of Laja, Goodsociety and Nurmi.

The Berlin Fashion Week is also of interest for shoe labels and includes some outstanding examples, such as Ultrashoes, John W Shoes, Grand Step Shoes and Steps on Green.

How do you plan to attract exhibitors from Asia, specifically India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, who largely manufacture for international retail brands?

We are attractive for ethical fashion brands from all countries whether it's Europe, Asia, or the US. For example, we present Reet Aus, a young Estonian brand that is in the process of establishing an upcycling project, and Beximco from Bangladesh, one of the region's biggest textile manufacturers.

In my opinion, ethical textile production is not a question of origin or size, it's a matter of mindset, market and commitment.

How do you view the progress in sustainable practices in the global textile and clothing industry? Do you have plans to launch new programmes in ethical and sustainable fashion around the globe?

Over recent years, there has been an intensive discussion on the subject of sustainable textile production and supply chains. The subject is taken very seriously and several highly promising initiatives have been launched. As we can see from our fairs, the market is expanding. However, we are still waiting for the industry-wide breakthrough.

Nevertheless, only the textile industry itself can instigate new programmes for a more sustainable production process. We as fair and exhibition company can only accompany this process, generate impulses and create platforms for the trade and industry. With our textile fairs around the world, we play an extremely active role by organising fairs, conferences, lecture events, special presentations and publications.

As the world's market leader for textile fairs - with over 40 international events - we benefit from our worldwide network of subsidiaries and sales partners.

Anything more that you would like to highlight?

Ethical Fashion Show Berlin is more than just a fashion show: it is a B2B fair and information and know-how platform for journalists, retailers and other insiders. The extensive complementary programme includes lectures, panel discussions and evening events revolving around developments and trends in the fields of fashion and sustainability. One of the highlights will undoubtedly be the Create Green Breakfast on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at which politicians, journalists and business people will discuss the latest developments with regard to a 'mandatory textile symbol'.