London College of Fashion tie-up to push green design practices

The London College of Fashion (LCF) has announced a collaboration with Common Objective (CO) — an online business network allowing brands to connect with ethical suppliers, buyers and experts — to encourage budding fashion designers to incorporate more sustainable practices in garment production.

The CO platform provides students with the tools and connections “to build their businesses in the most sustainable way”, according to a press release from LCF.

CO’s free-to-join platform provides sustainable business intelligence, resources, and training alongside a global network of suppliers, brands, professionals and experts.

Staff and students will be encouraged to create profiles, catalysing their ability to integrate sustainability into all areas of their university work and as they move into their professional careers. MA Fashion Futures students will also be given full access to all premium content on CO – data-driven research that highlights innovations at the forefront of the sustainable fashion business.

The CO site has over 7,500 fashion industry members from across 100 countries. Founding partners and backers include brands such as Vivienne Westwood and Roland Mouret, and organisations include the Global Organic Textile Standard, Fashion Revolution, and the World Fair Trade Organisation.

“At LCF we are dedicated to achieving greater transparency in sustainability for fashion and like CO, we’re working towards an industry which creates jobs, prosperity, and great products that do not damage the environment,” reads the release. “When education and business work together it can be a powerful force for change – which is why this partnership is such a natural fit.”