A Summary of Fashion Roundtable Policy

Last week, Fashion Roundtable’s policy agenda took an environmental focus, meeting Defra representatives and attending a roundtable organised by the Global Organic Textiles Standard. 

The GOTS roundtable gathered brands, activists and certification agencies to discuss the benefits and challenges of labelling standards. Given the lack of regulation around labelling standards, something which is present in the food industry for example, the attendees praised GOTS for providing a framework that requires certification along all stages of the supply chain including mills and factories. This hints at the growing awareness that environmental conversations cannot take place without recognising the human rights and social aspect of the fashion industry.

In times of purdah, government departments are restricted in determining policy agendas as they require direction from the party in government. Attention was thus given to the rising importance of textiles in the environmental conversations - both globally and in the UK.

We also met with DEFRA, with our focus on sustainable fashion and environmental strategies and solutions.