F4TE BY FS
The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter of water globally and emits 10% of global carbon emissions. Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned. FS aims to be part of the solution, not the problem.
FS has positioned itself towards sustainability through our annual organisation of F4TE Week, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable innovation and industry practices. F4TE week is an acronym for Fashion 4 The Earth, aiming to center our audience around the idea that the fate of the earth is not outside of our control. Although F4TE Week originated in 2020 with a focus on virtual panel discussions led by industry experts during the pandemic, it has since evolved
Specifically, In 2021, FS partnered with Mossy Earth to raise funds through in-person events, resulting in the planting of 154 trees in the Scottish Highlands.
In 2022, our sustainability team took F4TE to the next level by collaborating with the UN Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network to have a more significant impact beyond our St Andrews community.
UN: Fashion 4 The Earth (F4TE)
As part of this partnership, we organized a variety of events, including a sustainable clothing pop-up featuring over 20 designers, a clothing revamp using Cricut machines and old clothing, and a groundbreaking in-person panel discussion with five prominent figures from the fashion industry, focusing on clothing innovation science.
F4TE panel
In FS' 2023 show, we made efforts to work with local sponsors, utilize reusable decoration materials, and source more sustainable fashion from vintage designers and smaller clothing brands. This commitment to sustainability was recognized by The Guardian UK, which quoted, "This year's goal was to promote sustainable clothing to reduce waste.”
As a result, our organization is firmly dedicated to sustainability, not only through charitable donations but also by actively addressing the current consumerist trends in fast fashion with environmental considerations.
As F4TE evolves and increasingly engages with our community, we aspire to keep driving positive change in the years ahead. Specifically, In 2021, FS partnered with Mossy Earth to raise funds through in-person events, resulting in the planting of 154 trees in the Scottish Highlands.