Fashioning Sustainability

This chapter provides an indepth stock of affairs on DK based fashion SME’s in Denmark, and their sustainability transition work in the aftermath of Covid-19. The chapter builds on a comprehensive body of knowledge of the authors gathered through various types of data collection and participant observations. The combination of these sources evidences the transition work that is taking place amongst the Danish fashion industry players these years, documenting barriers and potential leverage for positive sustainable change.

As a framing understanding lies the research ideas behind two initiatives; firstly, the development of the MA Fashion, Clothing and Textiles: New Landscapes for Change carried out by primary author Spring 2020 at the KADK. Secondly, research ideas behind the 2020-2022 Copenhagen Week Action Plan that was launched 28th of January 2020. The plan was developed by co-author and co-founder of Consultancy Agency InFuturum, and lead to a research study on xx DK fashion SME’s that aimed to document the hands-on strategic sustainability work taking place on a daily basis.

Furthermore, the chapter will provide data collected in a large-scale survey together with DK trade organization Danish Fashion and Textiles (DM&T) in the Autumn of 2020, that was disseminated to their 300+ members consisting of fashion- and textile brands and retailers. This survey took stock of the state of affairs in the aftermath of Covid-19, and how this effected the organizational work on sustainability within the companies. Finally, insights will be provided from a teaching module at the MA in Strategic Design and Entrepreneurship at KADK, which had transformation work on the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF) as a challenge in the Autumn of 2020.

Alltogether, the interpooling of these insights will provide a unique understanding of the future for Copenhagen as Nordic fashion capital.