Ethical Fashion Show Berlin enjoys even greater exhibitor participation

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As part of Berlin's biannual Fashion Week (July 2nd – 4th, 2013) the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin once again throws a spotlight on contemporary street and casual wear, produced under environmentally and socially conscious conditions. A great complement to the Greenshowroom at the Adlon Kempinski hotel, with its focus on sustainable high fashion, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin at ewerk introduces a spot-on, yet comprehensive overview of current ladies and menswear collections as well as on-trend lingerie, footwear and accessories.

"More than ever, this fourth edition of the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin will force decision-makers to consider the significance and zeitgeist appeal of sustainability in the textile industry, " states Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at the organisation behind both Greenshowroom and the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin, Messe Frankfurt. "Trade and business professionals can expect to be wowed by an attractive programme centred on fantastic collections, but also highly relevant, controversial topics like the current focus on production conditions."

A spotlight on social standards
Scandals like the recent tragedies in Asian textile factories reinforce the ongoing public discussion on working conditions in the clothing industry. To broaden the current debate, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin show cases many – and varied – examples of model manufacturing processes. It goes without saying that all exhibiting fashion brands promote socially conscious production process and a transparent supply chain via, for example, certification with the exemplary SA8000 social standard (Ethos Paris, Living Green) or membership in the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) and even establishing their own fair trade production network (both Tudo Bom). This French-Brazilian label sources its organic cotton from small, independent producers and employs regional – and fairly paid – seamstresses to produce its high-quality collections. Or take social standards paragons like HempAge (a member of the Fair Wear Foundation) and Harold's or Komodo who have known their suppliers for years, guarantee fair payment and also initiate social projects. Meanwhile, other labels have gone one step further and set up their own production locations, e. g. Studio Jux in Nepal.

Flanked by a schedule of lectures that have become a popular fixture of the trade fair's busy schedule, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin explores a wide range of social aspects in fashion. This time around, the Fair Wear Foundation invites interested parties to attend the premiere of its "WellMade" seminar series. Here, members of the Fair Wear Foundation throw a spotlight on the clothing industry's social standards and provide hands-on expertise and solutions for a successive improvement of related working conditions.

Excellent registration response
Under the aegis of Messe Frankfurt the event has become a popular point of call for organic and fair trade fashion from around the world. Based on the latest response, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin expects yet another boost in exhibitor numbers for its spring/summer 2014 edition (January 2013: 98 exhibitors at Greenshowroom and Ethical Fashion Show Berlin combined). "A huge proportion January's exhibitors will rejoin us in early July – bolstered by some very exciting new labels. So, once again we expect a rising exhibitor count, " Schmidt explains. Among the latest additions to the roster, Mud Jeans introduce a new jeans leasing business concept while international brands such as Crusher, Ethos Paris, Feuerwear, Vinge-torix and the watch label Sprouts spice up the existing mix. At the same time, established participants have announced their return to Berlin, ensuring a rich mix of brands and styles from Germany, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands, UK and USA, among others.

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