Drapers is a 134-year-old renowned fashion magazine based in UK. The magazine organises Sustainable Fashion Conference every year where global fashion stakeholders join.
The Awards was introduced from last year to recognise the strides that are being made in reducing the fashion industry’s environmental impact and creating fairer working conditions across the supply chain.
Judged by an independent panel of sustainability and fashion retail experts, the awards shine a spotlight on best practice within the global fashion industry, so others can learn how to change for good.
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This year, the conference took place virtually on March 10 where Mostafiz was named the Sustainable Fashion Champion for promoting sustainability and driving expected changes in the fashion industry, according to a statement on Thursday.
The judges of Drapers Sustainable Fashion Champion Award 2021 have been Kerry Bannigan, founder of Conscious Fashion Campaign; Sarah Ditty, Global Policy Director at Fashion Revolution; Miriam Lahage, founder of Aequip; Samata Pattinson, CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress; Caroline Rush, Chief Executive Officer of British Fashion Council; Lucy Shea, Group CEO of Futerra; Jane Shepherdson, Chairman of My Wardrobe HQ; and Dilys Williams, Director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion.
The judges said: “Described as a pioneer by many in the industry, he was the first contributor from Bangladesh to the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Foundation, and the first denim manufacturer in the country to join the UNFCCC for Climate Action. He is the founder and CEO of the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, which aims to bridge the gap between manufacturers, buyers and policy makers in the country, to accelerate sustainability.”
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“During the pandemic, our winner put his head above the parapet to campaign for the rights of Bangladeshi suppliers facing cancelled and unpaid orders,” they added.
Jill Geoghegan, Acting Editor of Drapers, said: “Despite the challenges thrown up by the Coronavirus pandemic, fashion brands and retailers increasingly recognise that sustainability is a business imperative.”
“Many businesses continued to invest in cleaning up their supply chains and introducing new models of working, despite the unprecedented trading conditions. The Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards highlight and celebrate these advancements, paving the way for a more responsible future for the industry,” Geoghegan added.