Fur Free Conscious Fashion: ACTAsia’s milestone 10th International Sustainable Fur Free Fashion Festival

ACTAsia’s inspirational Compassion in Fashion Forum brings together distinguished speakers twice a year to discuss the ethical, public safety and environmental issues behind fur production, its impact on the environment, and the need for fur free sustainable fashion.

ACTAsia’s 2024 Compassion in Fashion Forum was held in Shenzhen on April 14, as part of our milestone 10th International Sustainable Fur Free Fashion Festival. For the third year running, our Compassion in Fashion Forum was also part of the A/W 2024 Shenzhen Fashion Week (SZFW) – a key destination for promoting sustainable and fur free fashion.

ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion Forum is a call for change, in the face of the cruelty, waste and pollution resulting from the fashion industry. This year’s theme for ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion Forum was ‘Technology for Good’. Our Forum revealed some major announcements, highlighting ACTAsia’s ongoing work to reduce the devastating harm caused by the fashion industry. 

 

Big announcement: Ed Hardy China joins Fur Free Retailer Scheme

Luxury fashion brand Ed Hardy China announced at the Forum that it has joined the Fur Free Retailer Scheme in China. This development, which was a result of productive discussions with ACTAsia, means Ed Hardy China will go fur free in the world’s biggest producer and consumer of animal fur products. While Ed Hardy China’s 2024 Autumn/Winter collection will still include fur, the brand will go completely fur free starting with its 2025 Spring/Summer collection. 

ACTAsia’s Fur Free programme is run in conjunction with the Fur Free Retailer (FFR) the world’s leading programme to connect fur free companies to consumers seeking ethical goods. So far, ACTAsia has recruited 93 brands to the FFR scheme in China, and continues to encourage fashion designers and retailers to pledge never to use real fur. So far, over 1,500 retailers have joined the FFR scheme. 

Istituto Marangoni Shenzhen signs ground-breaking education agreement with ACTAsia

Istituto Marangoni Shenzhen to integrate ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion curriculum

In another exciting announcement, leading fashion Institute Marangoni, Shenzhen, said it had agreed to design and execute a new teaching plan based on ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion: Sustainability and the Global Fur Trade curriculum. As part of the agreement, ACTAsia will advise Istituto Marangoni Shenzhen as it develops the teaching plan, which is expected to be taught to fashion students and industry professionals annually, both in-person and online. 

“Education plays a very important role in the sustainable development of the fashion industry. As a socially responsible fashion school, Istituto Marangoni is obliged and always committed to promote and convey the concept of sustainable fashion to our students. Thanks to ACTAsia, we believe that together we can contribute to the promotion of sustainable fashion,” said Robin Fang, School Board and School Director of Istituto Marangoni Shenzhen.

ACTAsia works tirelessly to empower consumers and retailers to choose ethical and sustainable fashion, starting with fur free products. ACTAsia’s Forums aim to bring together fashion and conscience, with the long-term vision of reshaping the relationship between humans, animals and the planet. Our Forums are part of the UN’s Fashion + Lifestyle Network, putting ACTAsia at the vanguard of working for a sustainable future.

“Transforming consumer habits and developing an understanding of the impact of the production of fashion is key.” – Echo Liu, Head of Programmes at ACTAsia China.

John Lau, Dean of Academic Strategy, London College of Fashion, addresses the delegates

Insights from our Forum Speakers

Speakers at ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion Forum came from a range of different backgrounds. They shared their unique perspectives on the fur free, sustainable movement, underlining the importance of technology in driving an ethical and sustainable fashion industry. Here are some highlights from their presentations: 

Hanqing Ding, Founder of HANQING DING (FFR), highlighted the benefits of technology in driving sustainable fashion. ‘Technological advancements have brought about three key benefits: firstly, they provide us with a more diverse and sustainable range of material options; secondly, they make sustainable materials more cost-effective, thereby influencing product pricing; and thirdly, they reduce waste during the clothing production process. Technologies like AI have become tools for designers, enabling us to work more freely and efficiently while creating more valuable products.’ 

Bella, Sustainable Lifestyle Blogger, underlined the increasing trend towards ‘fast fashion’, leading to a cycle of faster consumption and discarding of products. ‘Consumers are also buying things faster and faster – they can buy things online immediately, before they even have time to think if they really need the item – before I have time to think whether I want to pay, I’ve already paid for it’. 

Veronica Jin, Deputy School Director of Istituto Marangoni Shenzhen, reflected on the importance of promoting sustainable fashion to its students. ‘As a socially responsible fashion school, Istituto Marangoni is obliged and always committed to promote and convey the concept of sustainable fashion to our students. Thanks to ACTAsia, we believe that together we can contribute to the promotion of sustainable fashion.’ 

Zhao Wanping, National People’s Congress Deputy, VP Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, emphasised the importance of working with, rather than against, nature. ‘For a good life we must live in harmony with nature.” 

John Lau, Dean of Academic Strategy, London College of Fashion, discussed the role of technology in improving sustainability within the fashion industry. ‘Technology continues to advance and this has changed the fashion industry for the better, cleaner, more sustainable and supporting the health of the earth.’

Read all the Quote Cards of Key Speakers here

A big thank you to our wonderful speakers for participating in our Compassion in Fashion Forum: Technology for Good this year! Our Forums play an essential role in working towards a more sustainable, fur free fashion industry. We are incredibly grateful for your support!

You can watch the Compassion in Fashion Forum: Technology for Good here.

Highlights from ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion Forum during the Shenzhen Fashion Week.
Attendees enjoyed our vegan, plant-based menu, underlining ACTAsia’s commitment to a Plant Forward message

If you’re inspired by our mission and wish to make a positive change, consider donating to ACTAsia. Your contribution directly fuels our efforts, ensuring that the ethical and sustainable message of fashion spreads even further. Every donation counts, no matter the size. Help us further our cause and ensure a kinder future for animals, people, and our planet. Donate here