Lille circular fashion competition open to public vote
The metropolitan region of Lille in northern France has opened up a public vote for a competition called the Circular Fashion Trophies.
Twenty-seven finalists are in contention for six prizes, each worth up to €10,000 each. The categories comprise ‘promise’ awards for projects that are still in development, booster awards for projects that were launched less than one year ago and awards of honour for projects that have been on the market for more than one year. In each case, there will be separate prizes for small and for larger companies, with turnover of €2 million the threshold between the two.
Organisers said a commitment to the circular economy was at the core of what all 27 finalists are trying to do, adding: “This is allowing a new type of fashion industry to emerge, centring on new value chains, social and environmental responsibility and innovation in raw materials and in processing.”
Fish leather producer Ictyos is among the 27 finalists. This Lyon-based company is taking from the food industry fish-skins that used to go to waste and transforming them into colourful leather “with a unique texture”.
No fewer than six footwear companies are also among the finalists; not all of these use leather, but some do.
Caruus uses leather that it upcycles from cuttings from French leathergoods brands as one of the “responsible materials” that it puts into its shoes. It states clearly that it has no interest in using synthetic substitutes with labels saying ‘recycled’ or ‘vegan’. “These use content derived from petrochemicals and are made using opaque and harmful processes,” Caruus says.
Based near Angers, Sessile is a brand that uses veg-tanned leather from Portugal in its linings and upper leather from Italy in its models. It’s also committed to taking shoes back from its customers after use, reconditioning them and selling them second hand to new owners afterwards.
Uppers in Faguo’s shoes are typically 90% leather. This brand claims to be carbon positive because it plants a tree for every shoe it sells. It launched in 2009 and has, to date, planted more than 1.6 million young trees across France.
Members of the public have until October 14 to vote for their favourite. An awards ceremony will take place in Roubaix on October 16.
