Leading Fashion Executive Advocates Sustainability for Kenyan Producers in UoN Lecture

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Designer Talk

On Monday, April 15th, 2024, the Department of Art and Design at the University of Nairobi hosted a public lecture on the future of the fashion industry, focusing on sustainability and ethical practices. The event featured two distinguished speakers: Mr. Carlo D'Amario, CEO of the renowned Vivienne Westwood luxury fashion brand, and Mr. Simone Cipriani, Chief Technical Advisor of the Ethical Fashion Initiative.

L-R: Fashion designer Connie Aluoch, ITC Programme Officer Vincent Oduor, ITC Head of Sustainable Fashion Initiative Simone Cipriani, Vice President of the Italian Leather Traders Association Riccardo Braccialini, Dr. Franscisca Odundo & Dr. Samuel Maina from the University of Nairobi, Vivienne Westood CEO Carlo D'Amario, Catherine Masitsa of Samantha Bridals, Syliva Tonui from Creative DNA - British Council and event convener Ogake Mosomi.
L-R: Fashion designer Connie Aluoch, ITC Programme Officer Vincent Oduor, ITC Head of Sustainable Fashion Initiative Simone Cipriani, Vice President of the Italian Leather Traders Association Riccardo Braccialini, Dr. Franscisca Odundo & Dr. Samuel Maina from the University of Nairobi, Vivienne Westood CEO Carlo D'Amario, Catherine Masitsa of Samantha Bridals, Syliva Tonui from Creative DNA - British Council and event convener Ogake Mosomi.

The lecture explored the evolving landscape of the luxury fashion industry, which is increasingly embracing a more sustainable and inclusive approach. D'Amario emphasized the need to balance business goals with social and environmental responsibilities, highlighting the shift driven by the internet revolution and the growing importance of social media and e-commerce in customer engagement.

"The luxury fashion market has shifted. The internet revolution has reshaped the business model with social media and E-commerce now playing a central role in enabling customers to access products. This means there is a need to change the representation of the products," said D'Amario, who was awarded the Ethical Business Award during the 2023 Monte Carlo Fashion Week.

Addressing the fashion entrepreneurs and design students in attendance, D'Amario encouraged them to "create smaller items that everyone can buy and participate in your brand, as opposed to building one big brand." This approach, he believes, will enable greater accessibility and participation in the fashion industry.

Cipriani, the Head of the Sustainable Fashion Initiative at the International Trade Centre (ITC), highlighted the pressing issue of overproduction in the fashion industry. "A lot of fashion products end up in dump sites and incinerators, which are very wasteful. We need to re-use more materials and products so that we generate less waste," he noted.

To strengthen the capacity of Kenyan fashion producers to create sustainable fashion products for the international market, ITC announced the establishment of a new training facility at the Don Bosco Boys Technical Training Center in Nairobi. The program will provide selected fashion producers with training, access to machinery, and the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills in Italy before returning to Kenya.

"It is important to have some structure in the artisanal fashion sector so that quality standards are maintained even as we make the products more affordable for consumers," added D'Amario.

The lecture, organized by the University of Nairobi in conjunction with the ITC, sought to address inequalities in the fashion industry by highlighting innovative approaches that promote sustainable and ethical business growth in the sector.