MILAN – Green Carpet Challenge (GCC) founder Livia Firth will team up with British TV presenter, Observer journalist and author Lucy Siegle to host a special session at this year’s RITE Group conference on sustainable textiles in London on October 10th.

Speaking to RITE, Livia Firth commented, “Three years ago we embarked on a project to catapult sustainability in fashion into the limelight. We knew sustainability was the hottest game in town but how could we take it to a mass audience and to the next level? The Green Carpet Challenge has continued to grow, taking us to places we never dreamed of and giving us insight into some of the most fascinating supply chains and design narratives in the world. I am delighted to share some of these experiences with fashion industry professionals at RITE”.

The special session will look at raising the bar and profile of sustainable fashion and consumption. The Green Carpet Challenge (GCC) partners with A-list actors and designers to promote sustainable style at events such as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. Famous design houses that have recently joined the GCC include Giorgio Armani, Gucci, YSL, Paul Smith, Valentino, Roger Vivier, Alberta Ferretti, Ermenegildo Zegna, Stella McCartney, Tom Ford and Dolce & Gabbana.

Giusy Bettoni, from the eco-fashion hub C.L.A.S.S., partners with the GCC to create a world-class fashion library will also joins Livia and Lucy at RITE to talk about this process. “As the founder of the largest sustainable materials library globally”, said Bettoni, “we understand the importance of textiles to the fashion sector. Real fashion starts with creativity and innovation in textiles, added to a growing sense of responsibility throughout the fashion chain. We are seeing a real shift in attitudes.”

With around 80 billion garments produced every year, the issue of mass fashion consumption will also be discussed during this special RITE session. In her recently published book ‘To Die For’ Lucy Siegle noted, “It’s no secret that the present rates of consumption are unsustainable, and it will come as even less of a surprise that fashion’s are wildly out of kilter.”

This theme of mass consumption resonated widely at this month’s UN Rio +20 Summit in Brazil and with a session on sustainable fashion taking centre stage at RITE, resource consumption and efficiency is set to become a key focus for the fashion industry and will be a hot topic.

“As global population rises and the pressure to source more raw materials to make clothes intensifies,” noted John Mowbray from RITE, “then the need for more sustainable sourcing by retailers and a more intelligent way of shopping by consumers becomes much more important.

“Thanks to the participation of Livia, Giusy and Lucy at this year’s RITE event, delegates will have a great opportunity to see for themselves how we can connect sustainability from fibres right through to fashion,” he said.

The RITE Group conference takes place on Wednesday 10th October at Central Hall, Westminster, London. Other speakers confirmed so far include: Baroness Lola Young OBE, Mike Barry, Head of Sustainable Business, Marks & Spencer, Pavel Misiga, Sustainable Consumption, European Commission, Mark Held, Secretary General, European Outdoor Group, Mike Shragger, Swedish Fashion Academy, Cyndi Rhodes, CEO Worn Again.

To reserve your place at the event, please email: [email protected]