In their 5th year as a sponsor of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, H&M has had a busy week already. But yesterday, at Coachella, they announced their next designer collaboration with Alexander Wang, and the release of their latest Sustainability Report from 2013.
In terms of the collaboration, this partnership marks the first time that an American designer teams up with H&M. The New York based Fashion Designer’s eponymous brand has firmly established itself by perpetually evolving and re-contextualizing the urban uniform, since it was launched on the runway in 2007. Alexander Wang’s core sensibility is a reflection on contrasts, blending seamlessly between the refined and the imperfect. His collections have an unprecious outlook on fashion, and always reflect a sense of ease.
The Alexander Wang x H&M collection will feature apparel and accessories for women and men. Typical for his irreverent approach, Alexander Wang will propose a new take on the lifestyle product offering that goes beyond fashion. The full collection will be available in 250 H&M stores worldwide, and online starting November 6, 2014.
Alexander Wang says, “I am honored to be a part of H&M’s designer collaborations. The work with their team is an exciting, fun process. They are very open to push boundaries and to set a platform for creativity. This will be a great way for a wider audience to experience elements of the Alexander Wang brand and lifestyle.”
“Alexander Wang is one of the most important voices in fashion today. He understands exactly what people want to wear and does it with an energy and passion that’s infectious. It feels incredible to be collaborating with him this year,” says Margareta van den Bosch, H&M’s creative advisor.
H&M releases its 12th Sustainability Report
Sustainability reports are becoming must-haves for global fashion and footwear brands and H&M’s plan offer interesting insights into where things are headed. Some of the highlights during 2013 are the launch of H&M´s roadmap for fair living wages, the first closed loop collection made with recycled material from collected garments and a doubling of the share of more sustainable cotton in the last two years.
“We take a long-term view on our business, and investing in our sustainability means investing in our future. This gives us the opportunity to contribute to the development of communities around the world, and better lives for millions of people”, says Karl-Johan Persson, CEO at H&M.
The report contains a wide range of achievements covering every stage of H&M´s product lifecycle, from design to how the customers take care of their garments. Some of the achievements from last year are:
• Fair living wage roadmap launched, enabling suppliers to pay higher wages to their workers.
• Close to 100% of H&M stores worldwide participate in our global garment collecting initiative with the goal to create a closed loop for textiles. 3,047 tonnes of no longer wanted garments were collected.
• First closed loop products launched, made with 20% recycled material from collected garments.
• H&M started to implement the game changing water strategy developed together with WWF.
• H&M doubled the share of more sustainable cotton in the last two years and we are on target with 15.8% of the cotton being certified organic, Better Cotton or recycled. The goal is that all cotton should come from more sustainable sources by 2020 at the latest.
• More sustainable fabrics now represent 11% of our products’ total material use – up from 9.1% in 2012.
• H&M launched its first products made with organic leather and organic silk.
• The amount of recycled polyester used in H&M´s garments is equivalent to 9.5 million PET bottles.
• H&M was the first brand to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.
• 894,975 garment workers in Bangladesh and India educated about their rights since 2008.
• Clevercare label launched, providing guidance for conscious garment care.
• 14% less electricity used per H&M store sqm since 2007. The goal is -20% by 2020.
• 340 million fewer litres of water used in denim production compared to last year.
“H&M again sets the bar in sustainability reporting. It’s commitment to sustainability and the transparency on targets and achievements serve as an inspiration for other brands in this sector. Considering the fact that H&M sources from 1,900 factories reaching 1,6 million people, the potential for change is immense”, says Janet Mensink, International Programme Coordinator Cotton & Textiles for Solidaridad Network.
The report and a summary of its highlights are available to read and download at www.hm.com/consciousactions2013
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