The Duchess of Cambridge is lending her seal of approval to a new sustainable fashion project, set to launch during London Fashion Week.
The Commonwealth Fashion Initiative will see all 52 countries come together to encourage new partnerships and sustainable practices in the fashion industry. Designers such as Stella McCartney, Burberry and New Zealand’s Karen Walker will team up with artisan producers in developing countries to create a one of a kind eco-friendly outfit, which will go on display at a reception held at Buckingham Palace on February 19th.
The event, which is managed by Eco-Age and has the support of the Commonwealth Fashion Council and the British Fashion Council, will be hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is the patron of the London College of Fashion.
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Kate Middleton Style - Best Dresses & Outfits
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Kate Middleton at the mens singles final of the Wimbledon Championships - July 6, 2014
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Kate Middleton visits an M-PACT Plus Counselling programme - July 1, 2014
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Kate Middleton at the ANZAC Day commemorative service - April 25, 2014
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Kate Middleton at a service during the D-Day 70 Commemorations - June 6, 2014
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Kate Middleton during an official visit to Bletchley Park - June 18, 2014
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Kate Middleton and Prince George of Cambridge at the Royal Charity Polo - June 15, 2014
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Kate Middleton at the Ben Ainslie Racing America's Cup Launch Event - June 10, 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge wearing Jonathan Saunders in Scotland - 29th May 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Hobbs at Ayers Rock - 22 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Lela Rose in Canberra - 24 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander McQueen at Adelaide - 23 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Catherine Walker in Canberra - 24 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge at Taronga Zoo in Sydney - 20 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Roksanda Ilincic in Uluru - 22 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Zimmerman at Manley Beach - 20 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Alexander McQueen at Easter service, Ausralia - 20 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in L.K. Bennett at Amberley Air Base - 19 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Christchurch, New Zealand - 14 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Roksanda Ilincic arriving in Sydney, Australia - 16 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Rebecca Taylor leaving New Zealand - 16 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Diane Von Furstenberg in Blue Mountains, Australia - 17 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Zara wine tasting in New Zealand - 13 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Jonathan Saunders at rugby in Dunedin, New Zealand - 13 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Erdem at Avanti Drome in Hamilton, New Zealand - 12 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Emilia Wickstead at Dunedin - 13 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Zara and J Brand at Auckland harbour, New Zealand - 11 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham at State Dinner, New Zealand - 10 April 2014
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The Duchess of Cambridge in Tory Burch in Wellington, New Zealand - 9 April 2014
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Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit the Valero Pembroke Refinery, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain - 08 Nov 2014
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Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visits SportsAid event, London, Britain - 12 Nov 2014
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Royal Variety Performance, London Palladium, Britain - 13 Nov 2014
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Place2Be Wellbeing in Schools Award, Kensington Palace, London, Britain - 19 Nov 2014
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EACH Hospices Appeal Launch at The Norwich Showground, Norfolk, Britain - 25 Nov 2014
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Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William visit to New York, America - 07 Dec 2014
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New York, America - 08 Dec 2014
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Catherine Duchess of Cambridge at the Brooklyn Nets v Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA Basketball match - 08 Dec 2014
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Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit to New York, America - 09 Dec 2014
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St. Andrews 600th Anniversary Dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art- 09 Dec 2014
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Christmas Day Service - 25 Dec 2014
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Catherine Duchess of Cambridge officially names The Clore Art Room at Barlby Primary School, London, Britain - 15 Jan 2015
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Duchess of Cambridge visits The Fostering Network, Highbury, London, Britain - 16 Jan 2015
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Duchess of Cambridge formally opens Kensington Aldridge Academy, London, Britain - 19 Jan 2015
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Duchess of Cambridge visits the home of Ben Ainslie Racing and the 1851 Trust, Portsmouth, Britain - 12 Feb 2015
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Duchess of Cambridge visit to Staffordshire, Britain - 18 Feb 2015
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Commonwealth Day Observance, Westminster Abbey, London, Britain - 09 Mar 2015
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Duchess of Cambridge Margate 11 Mar 2015
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Service of Commemoration to Mark the End of Combat Operations in Afghanistan, St Paul's Cathedral, London, Britain - 13 Mar 2015
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St Patrick's Day Parade, Aldershot Barracks, Hampshire, Britain - 17 Mar 2015
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Brookhill Children's Centre 18 Mar 2015
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Royal baby girl born at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, London, Britain - 02 May 2015
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Anna Freud Centre, London, Britain - 17 Sep 2015
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HMP Send, Woking, Surrey, Britain - 25 Sep 2015
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Harrow College, London, Britain - 10 Oct 2015
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Chinese President Xi Jinping State Visit to London, Britain - 21 Oct 2015
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Dundee, Scotland, Britain - 23 Oct 2015
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James Bond 'Spectre' CTBF film premiere, Royal Albert Hall, London, Britain - 26 Oct 2015
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Islington Town Hall, London, Britain - 27 Oct 2015.
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100 Women in Hedge Funds gala dinner, London, Britain - 27 Oct 2015
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Fostering Network Awards, BMA House, London, Britain - 17 Nov 2015
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Wales, Britain - 20 Nov 2015
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Action on Addiction,Warminster, Wiltshire - 10 Dec 2015
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The Anna Freud Centre, London, Britain - 15 Dec 2015
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Sandringham Christmas Service - 25 Dec 2015
‘The initiative uses fashion as a common language and platform to help people understand the modern Commonwealth in a different way,’ Buckingham Palace revealed in a statement. ‘The reception at Buckingham Palace will showcase the best of Commonwealth contemporary fashion and creativity with an exhibition of some of the bespoke fashion ‘looks’ which are the result of these exchanges.’
For those of us who don’t snag an invite to what will doubtless prove one of the most popular events of London Fashion Week, the collection will be open to the public at Australia House on 21st February.
‘In an industry estimated to be worth more than £120 billion, sustainability is a major concern,’ said the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland QC, the Commonwealth’s secretary-general, speaking to Vogue. ‘It’s a challenge and an opportunity for all involved in the fashion sector, and the focus of this project is on supporting sustainable designers and artisans, and on our Commonwealth priorities of gender equality, ethical production and supply chains, innovation, economic growth and poverty reduction.’