Fashion

Eco Fashion Week: Sustainable Style Returns to Vancouver

H&M, Fairmont Waterfront, Value Village and others explore responsible fashion in 2015

By Catherine Tse /

Credit: Alfonso Arnold

Eco Fashion Week uses the catwalk as a platform for bringing greater awareness to social, environmental and economically sustainable practices

From April 19 to 24, Eco Fashion Week (EFW) returns to Vancouver for its ninth season. This year, EFW has partnered with some big names – H&M, Fairmont Waterfront, Value Village and others – to produce a well-rounded and on-trend series of events in support of global sustainability issues intrinsic to the fashion industry.

The event includes speaker seminars, industry panels and, of course, award-winning fashion shows.

Click through for a selection of daily highlights for Eco Fashion Week 2015.



The Waterfront Kimono Design Contest, Now Until April 24, Pacific Centre

The hotel industry goes through tonnes of bed linens every year, so as a fitting challenge, Eco Fashion Week has partnered up with the Fairmont Waterfront to transform used linens into beautiful and functional kimonos. Eight emerging designers have been selected to take on this challenge and the dresses will be displayed at Pacific Centre until April 24.

The public is invited to vote for their favourites, with the top three winning cash prizes: $1000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.



Opening Night Featuring H&M’s Conscious Collection, Sunday, April 19

H&M will open Eco Fashion Week with its spring 2015 Conscious Exclusive Collection. The entire collection is made from more sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyesters. The Swedish fashion powerhouse will also speak about its Garment Collecting Initiative – a global movement that encourages customers to bring unwanted clothing of any brand in any condition into an H&M store to be given a new life.

Hosted by the Fairmont Waterfront, 7 p.m.



Thrift Chic Challenge & 68 lbs Challenge, Presented by Value Village, Monday, April 20

The Thrift Chic Challenge has become one of EFW’s most highly anticipated runway shows. This year, stylists Megan-Magdalena Bourne, Lucy Yun and Dominique Hanke take on the challenge of turning $500 into runway-worthy outfits with items thrifted from Value Village. Style on a budget can be done! Show begins at 7 p.m.

The 68 lbs Challenge is inspired by the statistic that 68 lbs is the amount of clothing and textiles the average North American throws away each year. Canadian designer and Project Runway Canada alum, Carlie Wong, accepted the challenge this year of turning 68 lbs of “unwanted” clothing from Value Village and transforming them into a cohesive runway collection. Show begins at 8:30 p.m.

Hosted by the Fairmont Waterfront, cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.



Runway Shows, Tuesday, April 21

Tuesday is all about the runway with four show times featuring 10 international designers:

5 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

9:30 p.m.

Hosted by the Fairmont Waterfront, doors open at 4:30 p.m.



Forum: Zero Textile Waste, Co-hosted by Metro Vancouver, Wednesday, April 22

This forum discussion is for critical thinkers who are open to exploring the darker side of the fashion industry. As part of Metro Vancouver‘s Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues, this panel will feature dialogue with a variety of local and international speakers and brands. Topics include:

  • How can we foster a garment and textile industry to build a circular economy, stronger second-hand economy and keep goods in a cradle-to-cradle loop?
  • Industry practices that look at innovative ways to reduce waste.
  • Consumers pay the largest role in creating a zero-waste system, so how do we get them involved?

Hosted by the Fairmont Waterfront; doors open at 8:30 a.m., forum runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.



Credit: Facebook/Hootsuite

Speed Blogging: A Private Media Event, Thursday, April 23

Eco Fashion Week invites journalists, bloggers and photographers to its very first Speed Blogging event. Both designers and partners of EFW will be available for interviews and questions. This will also serve as a private cocktail party to thank media for supporting the event.

Hosted by Hootsuite Media Inc., 5 East 8th Ave, Vancouver, 6 – 8 p.m.



Fashion Revolution Day, Co-presented by VIFF Vancity Theatre, Friday, April 24

Eco Fashion Week has partnered with VIFF Vancity Theatre to present two films and a panel discussion focusing on Fashion Revolution Day. The concept of “traceability” aspires to greater transparency in the supply chain, prompting consumers and corporations to be more aware of their role in the fashion trade.

On April 24 , 2013, 1133 people were killed and over 2500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Fashion Revolution Day is an international movement to reform factory conditions in the fashion industry, fix the broken supply chain, and encourage responsible consumerism. On this day, everyone is encouraged to wear their clothing inside out, in order to reconnect fashion lovers with the people who made their clothes and bring about real change.

Hosted at VIFF Vancity Theatre, doors open at 5 p.m.

  • Screening: Traceable (Canada, 2014), 6 p.m. followed by panel discussion
  • Reception, 8 p.m.
  • Screening: Handmade with Love in France (France, 2014), 9 p.m.