An international showcase for ethical fashion. At Lineapelle 104 (17-19 September) the United Nations programme EFI – Ethical Fashion Initiative – returned to exhibit its projects among the booths at Fieramilano Rho. After its experience at the February 2023 edition of the fair, EFI presented its initiatives in an enlarged stand, exhibiting new materials and with the possibility of seeing some African craftswomen at work, who gave a practical demonstration of the value of their manual skills.
The collaboration between EFI and UNIC
EFI is promoted by ITC – International Trade Centre. This is the multilateral agency that operates under a joint mandate of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) and the UN through the UN Conference on Trade and Development. The Ethical Fashion Programme collaborates with leading UN agencies on the environmental and social sustainability of the fashion industry. It has also activated a close relationship with CNMI – Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, while it has started a partnership with UNIC – Italian Tanneries. The association is involved in the activities that EFI-ITC is developing in Africa regarding various aspects: sustainability and innovation, partnership for the development of industrial collaboration networks, and education and training in sustainability. In Kenya EFI is supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), while for West Africa it is supported by OACPS.
Ethical Fashion at Lineapelle
EFI’s presence at Lineapelle aims to find new partnerships. “The target audience of The Ethical Fashion Initiative are international fashion brands. Those that are involved in a manufacturing supply chain that produces in Africa through a controlled supply chain”, Lineapelle explains in a press note, “made up of social enterprises that employ women and young people from marginalised backgrounds. Thus, fully applying international labour law and all criteria of environmental and social sustainability”. For the trade fair organisation ETI represents “an example of social responsibility in international cooperation”.
The history of EFI
Ethical Fashion Initiative was founded in 2009 and connects artisan communities in difficult and remote locations with global lifestyle brands. It works through a network of social enterprises and production hubs, and enables artisans and micro-producers in emerging economies to connect with international fashion, interior design, culture and arts brands. Since its creation, EFI has worked with thousands of designers, artisans and entrepreneurs and dozens of global brands and institutions in the fashion and other creative industries. And it has operated directly in more than 18 countries. Which ones? Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Tajikistan, to name a few.
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