Following this month’s announcement that Middle East Fashion Week will make its debut in Spring 2021, there’s more good news for the region’s fashion industry – the Middle East Fashion Council has been revealed as the world’s first fashion council for sustainability.
Positioning the Middle East as a major player in the global fashion scene, the MEFC has made a commitment to the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion, tackle socially and environmentally pressing issues and implement positive change.
Founded by Simon Rubel Lo Gatto, who holds the position of CEO of the not-for-profit entity, the MEFC’S board includes two of the region’s most notable sustainability advocates – Faris Saeed, CEO of Diamond Developers and Founder of The Sustainable City, who now undertakes the role of Director of Sustainability, and Director of Arts Nayla Al Khaja of Nayla Al Khaja Films – widely acknowledged as the first female film Director-Producer in the UAE.
Driving sustainable fashion to the forefront of the industry, and working alongside the four main international fashion councils: the British Fashion Council, Fédération Française de la Couture, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, and Council of Fashion Designers of America – the MEFC will encourage sustainability that conserves resources and minimizes our carbon footprint.
Collaborating with like minded platforms and organizations to drive sustainable fashion to the forefront of the industry, the MEFC’s regional mission is to connect local designers and talent with the mainstream market, empowering them to develop their brands, and maintaining a strong ethos of quality and professionalism.
“Style is a simple way to show the world who you really are,” said Simon, whose endorsement of Middle East Fashion Week will see more than 20 designers take part in the five-day fashion extravaganza, which includes a 3-day forum on sustainability in the fashion industry. “Our platform was born from an inspiration to address climate change and pollution as a direct cause of the industry we love, and the Middle East Fashion Council is committed to sustainable fashion for a healthier planet.”
