Extinction Rebellion protesters campaigning to cancel the next London Fashion Week

London’s Extinction Rebellion protesters are campaigning to cancel the world-famous London fashion week as it represents the wasteful fashion industry.

Extinction Rebellion protesters are urging the British Fashion Council to cancel the next London Fashion Week. A large demonstration was held outside the main venue of the fashion week on Saturday.

The protesters are campaigning for more sustainability in the fashion industry. Credit: Sophia Wang for CityNews.

The protesters hope that the demonstration can bring awareness to sustainability in fashion. According to the United Nations (UN), the clothing industry accounts for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The UN has set the fashion industry a target to reduce their greenhouse emissions by 15%. But Extinction Rebellion campaigners argue the current designs prioritise trends rather than sustainable initiatives. 

The coordinator of Saturday's protest told City News that: “They are selling us new designs the industry want us to wear for 2020 to 2021. But this bypasses the UN’s 2020 deadline to get rid of the climate ecological crisis. We need emergency action now.”

Sustainable fashion

There is a growing awareness and anger around sustainability in fashion. In response the local fashion scene is making moves to be more renewable.

Sophie Dunster shared her journey of founding her own ethically responsible, sustainable fashion brand at the panel. Credit: Sophia Wang for CityNews.

In a panel event hosted in Brick Lane, three designers spoke about how they built ethically responsible brands. Sophie Dunster is a London-based designer who founded Gung Ho. Her brand uses clothes to express social demands. She hopes to raise awareness on climate change.

She told City News that: "The fashion industry is really responsible for a lot of stuff to do with global warming. Not only the production end of it like fabric and dyeing. But the massive consumerism, the qualities they are making per collection is huge. That makes everyone want something different."

City News also reached out to the British Fashion Council for comment but have not received a response.

Originally on CityNews (City University of London).