The Sino French Fashion Cycle Innovation Forum Was Successfully Held

On August 29, 2023, the Sino French Fashion Cycle Innovation Forum, organized by the Social Responsibility Office of the China Textile Industry Federation and the French Environment and Energy Control Agency, was held in the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai). This forum is one of the "Good Clothes - Sino French Sustainable Fashion Series Activities". With the theme of "China France Sustainable Fashion Development and Cooperation", representatives of the French sustainable fashion industry were invited to share the experience and cases of green transformation in the industry, and at the same time, dialogue and exchange were carried out with China's leading brands and designers of sustainable fashion.

The purpose of this forum is to establish a dialogue platform for Chinese and French environmental protection and fashion industry practitioners, promote cross-border exchanges between domestic local artists and French fashion industry, and promote cooperation between global environmental protection and fashion creativity and Chinese fashion industry. At this forum, Hu Kehua, Deputy Director of the Social Responsibility Office of the China Textile Industry Federation, PHILIPPE MASSET, Director of the European and International Division of the French Environment and Energy Control Agency (ADEME), PIERRE COUTURIER-BONSERGENT, Deputy Counsellor of the Economic Department of the French Consulate General in Shanghai, H é L è NE SARFATI-LEDUC, co-founder of ECO IMPACT, Ye Shouzeng, founder of ICICLE Zhihe Zhang Na, the founder of Reengineering Clothes Bank, and ISMAHANE REMONNAY, the director of risk and regulatory affairs of Veolia Environment Group, attended the meeting and attracted many visitors.

Hu Kehua, Deputy Director of the Social Responsibility Office of the China Textile Industry Federation, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that fashion today should not only be defined as beauty and popularity, but also output a responsibility. China's textile industry has always been a pioneer in global sustainable governance. The China Textile Industry Federation officially launched the "30 · 60 China Fashion Brand Climate Innovation Carbon Neutralization Acceleration Plan" on June 1, 2021. Under the leadership of the Social Responsibility Office of the China Textile Industry Federation, a number of industry leaders, brands and industrial clusters have joined it to jointly promote the sustainable development of the textile industry. In terms of recycling of waste textiles, the China Textile Industry Federation has launched the research project of China's textile recycling innovation to conduct in-depth research and research on the process, status quo and problems of textile recycling, sorting and reuse. The key research includes how the six main textile fiber materials and the products after consumption return to the textile industry system as industrial raw materials. The China Textile Industry Federation issued the Action Plan for Building a Modern Textile and Textile Industry System, pointing out that the development goal of China's textile industry is to continuously strengthen the innovation ability and development advantages of China's textile industry by 2035, and to significantly enhance its advantages in the global industrial division and value chain, The basic formation of modern textile industry system has become an important leader of global fashion and a powerful promoter of sustainable development. Paris, France, as the fashion capital of the world, is full of enthusiasm and pursuit of fashion. Both China and France have industries with profound fashion traditions. In the face of the challenges of global climate change and resource constraints, both China and France realize that the fashion industry should contribute to global sustainable development. It is hoped that through the sustainable exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and French fashion circles, some new explorations can be highly established and created, and new development can be achieved in solving problems.

PHILIPPE MASSET, Director of Europe and International Division of the French Environment and Energy Control Agency (ADEME), said that the clothing industry is at a crossroads, sustainable development is a must, and circular economy, ecological design and technological innovation will be important forces to support industrial transformation. The challenges faced by the textile industry need joint efforts from all parties, including fiber producers and consumers. France and the Energy Control Agency can provide support in this regard, including supporting investment in ecological design, better promoting the application of recycled plastic materials, and raising the awareness of all textile consumers. The series activities of "Towards Good Clothes - Sino French Sustainable Fashion" spread the concept of sustainable fashion in the whole textile industry chain of China and France, promote and support the textile fashion industry, and transform to a more responsible production and consumption mode, which is of great significance to the development of the fashion industry in China and France.

PIERRE COUTURIER-BONSERGENT, Economic Deputy Counsellor of the Economic Office of the French Consulate General in Shanghai, highlighted some of France's sustainable legal systems. The Anti waste Law of France Circular Economy contains five key aspects, including better informing consumers, combating waste and developing reuse, getting rid of the one-time commodity economy, fighting against procedural obsolescence, and achieving responsible production. The EU Circular Economy Action Plan (Green Agreement) focuses on key industries: electrical and electronic products, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction and construction food. The Circular Economy Anti waste Law proposes to end the commercialization of disposable plastic packaging in 2040, and more generally phase out disposable plastic goods. Many legal provisions have put forward more concrete regulations related to environmental protection and sustainability, which also makes consumers and enterprises pay more attention to this work.

ECO IMPACT co-founder H é L è NE SARFATI-LEDUC provides French experience in sustainable fashion innovation to Chinese fashion industry. She believes that the core of sustainability is not creation, but how to make better use of these existing fashion resources and products to better connect. France's 2023-2028 textile roadmap points out that from 2023, bonuses will be set up for products suitable for protecting the earth, with the aim of transforming the textile industry into more sustainable products made from recycled products; Deploy a new fund of 150 million euros, which will reduce the cost of repairing clothes and shoes in France, and also extend their life; Increase the collection of used or surplus textiles to prevent these textiles from entering the landfill as they do today.

Ye Shouzeng, founder of ICICLE Zhihe, talked about brand strategy around Zhihe's concept of sustainable development. It tells about the harmonious coexistence of environment and biology. Ye Shouzeng pointed out that Zhihe adheres to the way of nature, returns to the origin, and shows the original beauty of materials. This is the design philosophy of Zhihe, which is close to nature, feels "soothing and balanced", and deduces the core theme of various brands and products through different product series. In the process of promoting sustainable fashion, we should slow down and revere nature. While meeting the final needs of consumers, we should also strengthen cooperation with the industrial chain to achieve green development of the entire industry.

Zhang Na, the founder of Reengineering Clothes Bank, understands sustainability by using natural methods to solve natural problems and build a new way of sustainable life. Reengineering Clothes Bank is a sustainable fashion brand founded by independent designer Zhang Na in 2010. Reengineered clothes should be reexamined from the perspective of "redesign", recycling social waste, transforming and regenerating with the power of design, and creating new works suitable for the moment. The bank refers to the mode of waste storage, circulation and exchange. From turning waste into waste to turning waste into treasure, this kind of urban symbiotic ecology makes sustainability seen by more consumers.

ISMAHANE REMONNAY, Director of Risk and Regulatory Affairs of Veolia Environment Group, believes that technology and science play an important role in sustainable economy. In the era of human-computer cooperation, better use of digital technology can not only help us achieve edge computing and additive manufacturing, but also optimize resource and asset management and improve overall production efficiency through digital twin technology, This is actually a contribution to the fashion industry.

The successful holding of this forum has strengthened the exchanges and cooperation between the fashion industry of China and France in the field of sustainable development, with a view to jointly promoting the sustainable development of the global fashion industry.