October 12, 2015 11:13AM ET
M&S Partners with Eco-Age to Develop Eco-Friendly Collection
By Lainie Lamicella
British retailer, Marks & Spencer has teamed up with sustainable brand expert and campaigner Livia Firth and her brand consultancy Eco-Age to develop an eco-friendly clothing collection called the Edit.
Firth worked closely with the retailer's buying and design teams to create a capsule wardrobe for the working woman using existing pieces from M&S's fall collections. Each item is said to represent the company's dedication to responsible retail practices, from being made in a specifically accredited factory to being produced using sustainably sourced materials.
"I am so excited to finally be partnering with a high street retailer and it was very clear to us why it had to be M&S," Firth said. "I have very much admired the astonishing work that M&S has done over the years – seriously, transparently and with huge commitment throughout the whole company – in both environmental and social justice. On top of this, the M&S eye to quality in its garments and production cycles means this is not fast fashion. I have been an M&S customer for many years and I look forward to now telling the wonderful stories behind their clothes."
The Edit was handpicked by Firth and assessed by Eco-Age to feature various wardrobe essentials, including two outfits for the office, one for the evening and one for the weekend.
The collection, which is available online now and in 13 stores, contains culottes, sweaters, flats, dresses, jeans and outerwear that are described as easy to wear.
"Livia and her team have the most incredible knowledge of the challenges of making fashion sustainable and it has been a mutually beneficial experience working with her to select this edit of her favorite pieces from our autumn ranges," said Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, executive director of marketing at M&S. "This is a great partnership to bring to life the lengths we go to on all our products and the importance of integrity at the heart of our business."
M&S launched its ethical program Plan A in 2007, which works to toward sustainable retailing. Since then, the retailer has achieved carbon neutral operations, sent zero waste to landfills and reduced its packaging by 25 percent. It announced the third phase of the program, Plan A 2020 in 2014, which is comprised of 100 new sustainability commitments.
Lainie Lamicella
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