Written by Haydn Davis
MILAN - Italian luxury fashion brand Gucci has been honoured with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Award for Circular Economy.
Naming the fashion house at last week's Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana Sustainable Fashion Awards, judges highlighted Gucci's "efforts to create quality garments fit for a circular economy" and "continued commitment to using materials grown in a way which supports the natural environment".
Gucci joined the foundation as a strategic partner in 2022 to build on its existing circular strategy, which includes working to transform its supply chains to incorporate regeneratively produced raw materials into its products.
It has also worked with the foundation to extend the life of products, ensuring they are used more, via resale platforms, partnerships, and customised vintage on Gucci Vault.
In addition, its product and manufacturing innovations have focused on eliminating waste by designing out scraps, upcycling materials, and using recycled materials.
The recent Gucci initiative highlighted by the judges was its latest denim project, which makes use of regeneratively-grown cotton in partnership with the Regenagri-certified Algosur farm in Spain, combined with post-consumer recycled fibres collected and re-spun in Italy.
Available in 2024, the items in the project will also include a digital product passport tracing the journey from raw materials to manufacturing and production, as well as providing information about product care and repair services.
Jean-François Palus, Gucci’s CEO said the company was proud to receive the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Award for Circular Economy in recognition of its efforts to embed circularity across its business model. “Building scalable collaborations is a vital part of Gucci’s strategy and the denim project is an example of combining the many strengths of the house’s supply chain partners and leveraging innovative tech to enhance circular economy principles,” he said.
Andrew Morlet, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, added: “In the world of fashion, our vision of a circular economy is one where products are used more, are made to be made again, and are produced from safe and recycled or renewable inputs. Read more here: https://www.ecotextile.com/2023092531206/fashion-retail-news/gucci-scoops-ellen-macarthur-circular-economy-prize.html