Fashion Forever Exhibition: Advancing Sustainable Practices in Collaboration with Sweden
During the Exhibition Talk for “Fashion Forever” last October 19, an initiative presented by the Embassy of Sweden in Manila with support from the Swedish Institute and in collaboration with brands such as H&M, Zarah Juan, Lily of the Valley, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) Program under the School of Environment and Design, Chancellor Benhur Ong extended his warm welcome. His opening remarks included a mention of the 2023 FDM graduate, Dars Juson, which was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The “Fashion Forever” exhibition, hosted on the 8th floor of the D+A Campus from October 2023 to January 2024, focuses on the circular economy concept, particularly within the fashion and textile industry. Its primary objective is to promote innovation, zero-waste practices, and the extension of the lifespan of garments in fashion design, production, and distribution.
Chancellor Benhur Ong also playfully noted Dars Juson’s growing fan base and expressed pride in the innovative aspects of the exhibition. He referred to Benilde Trailblazer Startup REPAMANA, Dars Juson’s brainchild, and thesis, launched through Benilde HIFI DOST TBI. As the sole ‘CreativeTech’ Technology Business incubator in the National Capital Region (NCR), this collaboration between academia, government, industry, and society exemplifies the dynamic that Her Excellency Annika Thunborg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of the Philippines, emphasized in her answer during the Q&A portion of the program.
Ambassador Thunborg highlighted the Quadruple Helix Model of Innovation as a framework that has contributed to Sweden’s success in achieving circularity in the fashion and textile industry. She emphasized that the relationships among the stakeholders are dynamic and built on collaboration. The Swedish government has prioritized textiles, strongly emphasizing advancing sustainable fashion production and consumption. This commitment is an integral part of Sweden’s broader efforts to align with the global sustainable development goals outlined in Agenda 2030 and meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The following guest speakers graced the special occasion. Camille Escudero, the founder of Lily of the Valley, invited aspiring fashion designers in the audience to join them in the transformation of used intimate wear into works of art. “We are committed to environmental protection, employee well-being, and community safety by optimizing resource usage, monitoring consumption, practicing responsible waste disposal, and replacing disposables with reusable alternatives.”
Zarah Juan, the creative director of her eponymous bags and accessories brand, moved from mass production to made-to-order unique pieces in her journey as a fashion designer. “Every bag we design includes partner communities who weave, sew, and cut each component to exact measurements. Their passion to elevate their work is evident in each bag we sell.”
Adrian Zethraeus, program manager for sustainable consumption at Science Park Boras, and is leading the F/ACT Movement initiative in Sweden, shared innovative campaigns via virtual call, which inspired sustainable fashion choices for consumers and supported companies in the transition to circular business models and climate-smart solutions.
Rachel Vanessa Tan, Sustainability Manager for H&M Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines), also joined via virtual call and discussed H&M’s vision to lead the change towards a sustainable fashion future while being a fair and equal company.
Dars Juson expressed his gratitude to the Benildean community for their support. “I only graduated last July; now, here we are. We’re addressing the issue of bedsheets from the hospitality industry ending up in landfills. Each piece in our collection is thoughtfully made, and we follow rigorous protocols in collecting and sanitizing the bedsheets for re-use.” With the tagline, “circularity through second chances,” Dars reminded the audience to always stick to their big ‘why.’ “If you know what your purpose is and what your reason is for the things you do and not only for design, it will be easier to stick through the ups and downs of the industry.” REPAMANA is also selected to participate in PHx Station by the PHx Fashion group from October 20 – November 16 at Greenbelt 5 Makati.
The new generation of souls joining the fashion industry has an additional point they must make. Creativity, innovation, and profit must equally be met with sustainability and circularity. The latter two are not mere buzzwords anymore but a more ethical approach as they discover what kind of professionals and individuals they want to become.
The Exhibit is open every Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10AM to 6PM (Except on Holidays and Suspension of Class).
Registration is required at least two days before the chosen schedule to visit. Both Benildeans (students and associates) and the general public are welcome to see this unique Exhibit via this link – https://bit.ly/
