French fashion giant Kering has linked up with the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) to launch the first higher education research and teaching center dedicated to sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the fashion industry.

The IFM-Kering Sustainability Chair was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by François-Henri Pinault, chairman, and CEO of Kering, which owns brands including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen, and Xavier Romatet, dean of the IFM, which is rated one of the world's leading higher education institutions for fashion.

The chair, headed up by Andrée-Anne Lemieux, professor in charge of all sustainability-related initiatives at the IFM, will focus on a wide range of topics related to sustainability, from traceability to measurement, as well as eco-responsible business models.

Aspects of creative ecology will also be studied in order to identify ways in which creative teams can develop ecological fashion and propose new sustainable creative offerings while developing tools for measuring and appropriating environmental and social issues.

Romatet said: "IFM - Kering Sustainability Chair is an integral part of the strategy of Institut Français de la Mode. It means students can develop a 360° understanding of the challenges of sustainability so that they can participate as future professionals in the industry’s transformation."

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Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability officer and head of international institutional affairs at Kering, added: "Research and education play a crucial role in changing the practices and models of the fashion industry.

"At Kering, these are key pillars of our sustainability strategy because we believe that it’s our duty, as a luxury group, to address the generations that will craft tomorrow’s fashion. I am pleased that Kering is partnering up with IFM to create a designated Sustainability Chair position and I am convinced that the research and findings will provide concrete results to help transform our industry."

The chair's research work will include mentoring doctoral students on university theses, contributing to scientific publications and participating in conferences related to its program and issues.

Training modules dedicated to responsible fashion will be developed for training courses ranging from French vocational qualifications through to Master’s level, as well as for continuous training for companies.

Courtesy: Eco Textile News