Zalando Sustainability Award Finalists Announced for SS23

Zalando and Copenhagen Fashion Week shortlist MWORKS, Raeburn and Ranra as finalists for the Zalando Sustainability Award, to showcase as part of Copenhagen Fashion Week SS23 Edition.

Zalando, a leading European online fashion and lifestyle platform, and Copenhagen Fashion Week have announced, MWORKS, Raeburn and Ranra as the finalists for this season’s Zalando Sustainability Award at Copenhagen Fashion Week, which will take place from the 9th to the 12th of August 2022.

This is the fourth season of a three-year strategic partnership between Zalando and Copenhagen Fashion Week with the aim to create a more responsible fashion industry and support Zalando’s do.MORE strategy. The award, which is open to international applicants, encourages fashion brands to explore innovation, and publicly celebrates strategies that contribute to a fashion industry that is less harmful to the environment.

The finalists were selected by an experienced, international jury of thought leaders, including the CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, Cecilie Thorsmark; Sustainability Editor of British Vogue, Emily Chan; model, environmental activist and sustainability consultant Arizona Muse; and sustainability and brand advisor Dio Kurazawa. Representing Zalando on the jury are Kate Heiny, Director of Sustainability and Alice Marshall, Buying Director Womens Apparel.

The jury members closely reviewed the applicants’ fundamental approach to sustainability and focused specifically on their use of certified materials, production processes, innovation, transparency and integration of circular practices.

The jury was impressed by MWORKS’ use of innovative materials and techniques, such as SEAQUAL® yarn and seamless knitting, Raeburn’s innovative reworking of surplus fabrics to create distinctive and functional pieces as well as Ranra drive to launch a recycling and garment repair program.

Director of Sustainability at Zalando, Kate Heiny, says: “With these three brands named as the finalists in this year’s award, the SS23 season at Copenhagen Fashion Week is set to be a really exciting event. This award is an opportunity for both Zalando and Copenhagen Fashion Week to publicly reward brands that have a strong sustainability agenda and facilitate collaboration across the industry. It spotlights brands that are leading in the sustainability space – and in doing so, Zalando aims to inform and inspire consumers and help to transform the fashion industry.”

The three finalists will receive funding for production costs and debut their designs in the official Zalando x CPHFW partnership hub venue and the digital Greenhouse. The digital space will also be a source of inspiration and education to help people navigate the complex topic of sustainability. The finalists will compete to win Zalando’s Sustainability Award, a prize of 20,000 euros as well as a partnership with Zalando in developing an exclusive capsule collection. The collection will contribute to the conversation by exploring sustainability solutions in design across materials, production processes, technological solutions and traceability.

The jury will do a second review of the finalists and the collections which they will showcase during Copenhagen Fashion Week to select the winner of the award. The winner will be announced on the 11th of August 2022.