VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, together with its Timberland® brand, today announced a collaboration with environmental charity Redress for the Redress Design Award 2020. Through the collaboration, VF and the Timberland® brand will lend their experience and expertise in sustainability to support the education and professional development of the industry’s next generation of sustainable fashion designers and champion the move toward a circular economy.
Celebrating the competition’s 10th anniversary, the Redress Design Award 2020 is the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition which works to educate emerging fashion designers from around the world about sustainable design concepts and techniques.
As consumer interest in sustainable apparel continues to rise, VF is challenging some of the industry’s most promising young talents to disrupt the status quo and drive circularity and sustainability across the industry.
“Our collaboration with Redress, now in its second year, connects us to talented, emerging designers who are passionate about creating fashionable, compelling designs with environmental responsibility in mind,” said Kevin Bailey, VF’s Executive Vice President and Group President, Asia Pacific Region and Emerging Brands. “We are constantly inspired by their commitment to circular design and creativity. These are the future leaders who are going to help drive lasting and positive change throughout our global industry and we are proud to be part of their journey.”
While the Redress Design Award 2020 was held virtually this year on September 3, its impact has been seen worldwide. The 10 finalists were supported by an international judging panel that included VF’s Kevin Bailey and British fashion designer and Timberland® creative director Christopher Raeburn. The Menswear Category prize winner, Ngoc Ha Thu Le who is currently a fashion designer at Magenta Vintage in Hanoi, Vietnam, will collaborate with the Timberland® brand to develop a sustainable capsule collection for sale at retail. The release of the collection will coincide with the Chinese New Year 2022 and will be inspired by the Year of the Tiger.
“Timberland® believes that a greener future is a better future, which makes our partnership with Redress such a natural fit,” said Mahmoud Salahy, Vice President and Managing Director, Timberland® Asia Pacific. “As a brand that’s deeply committed to environmental and social responsibility, Timberland® strives to not only minimize our impact on the planet through the products we make, but we’ve set a bold goal for all our products to have a net positive impact on nature by 2030. We are incredibly excited about the journey ahead and hope to inspire the industry as a whole to work together and positively shape our collective future.”
In the leadup to the Redress Design Award 2020 Grand Final, VF and the Timberland® brand hosted the “Made for Change Timberland® Challenge” on August 31, 2020. With guidance from VF and Timberland® subject matter experts, emerging designers competed to develop the most innovative and sustainable design concept for a range of iconic Timberland® products. Fashion designers Ruth Weerasinghe from Sri Lanka, Inhwa Jin from South Korea and Beatrice Bocconi from Italy were selected as winners of the challenge for their multi-purpose accessories concept that enhances product sustainability.
“The Redress Design Award equips fashion’s future leaders with real-life sustainability knowledge to give them the best chance to make a bigger positive impact during their long careers ahead. Our close partnership with VF, who connected participants with their exceptional team, provides designers with real-industry context to fast-track their sustainability journeys,” said Christina Dean, Redress Founder/Chair and The R Collective Founder/CEO.
Key highlights of the Redress Design Award 2020 Grand Final and the “Made for Change Timberland® Challenge” will later be available on: https://www.youtube.com/user/RedressAsia. Stay tuned.
VFC press release
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