Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023

The fashion industry’s efforts to become more sustainable were in danger of derailment during the coronavirus pandemic. However, recognising that sustainability is a business imperative, many brands and retailers continued to invest in cleaning up their supply chains and introducing new models of working, despite the unprecedented trading conditions.

The Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards recognise the strides that are being made in reducing the industry’s environmental impact and creating fairer working conditions across the supply chain.

Judged by an independent panel of experts, this market-leading awards programme shines a spotlight on best practice within the industry, so others can learn how to change for good. The judging will be underpinned by the UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals, which address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental degradation.

Open to any fashion brand or retailer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award recognises the most innovative project aimed specifically at reducing a company’s carbon footprint within the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for a clear strategy that incorporates relevant and achievable objectives, and evidence that these objectives have been met in part or in full. This category must be entered by a retailer or brand, but can include reference to a key supplier.

Please note that if you are a technology/software supplier, you must ask a partner retailer/brand to enter the project.

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Open to any fashion brand or retailer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award recognises a traditional fashion retailer or brand that has made significant progress towards adopting a more circular business model in the past 12 months.

Judges will be looking for evidence that the company has eschewed a linear production model – which starts with new material, and ends with clothing being discarded in landfill – in favour of a more circular approach aimed at minimising waste and making the most of existing resources.

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Open to any fashion brand or retailer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award will recognise the most effective marketing campaign run by or in collaboration with a fashion brand or retailer over the past 12 months, which tells the story of the brand’s sustainability journey in a creative and credible way.

For example, the campaign may have aimed to educate customers about the impact the fashion industry has on the environment or the treatment of workers in the supply chain – and ultimately to change the culture of over-consumption of fashion.

Judges will be looking for evidence that a campaign has cut through and achieved its aims of engaging with new and/or existing customers, as well as raising awareness of the importance of sustainability in fashion.

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Open to any fashion brand or retailer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award recognises the fashion brand or retailer that has made the most progress in improving its supply chain over the past 12 months, with reference to a specific initiative.

Judges will be looking for evidence that the company identified a critical issue in its supply chain and found a way to improve it, or eradicate the problem altogether. This may have been through a process of collaborating with one or more suppliers – for example, to monitor resource use and reduce waste, or to address concerns about working conditions; putting in place systems that improved transparency; or by investing in new technologies such as blockchain to solve a particular challenge.

The winning initiative will be able to clearly demonstrate positive outcomes.

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Open to any fashion brand, retailer or manufacturer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award recognises the role technological innovation plays in making fashion more sustainable. It is open to retailers, brands and manufacturers that can show how use of technology over the past 12 months has helped to achieve greater sustainability within their business. For example, you may have started using artificial intelligence to better forecast customer demand; introduced new 3D design software or fit technology; or used new technology to reduce waste at manufacturing stage.

Please note that if you are a technology/software supplier, you must ask a partner retailer/brand to enter the project.

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Open to textile manufacturers, designers and brands, this award recognises innovative, sustainable alternatives to traditional textiles – for example, textiles made from repurposed formerly discarded by-products, or lab-grown cultures. As well as evidence of sustainable credentials, judges will examine the commercial viability of each submission. The innovation must have been developed within the past three years.

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This award recognises a bricks-and-mortar store with an outstanding sustainable design and visual merchandising offer. Strong design, creativity and presentation of product appropriate to the brand and its customer base should be balanced with enhanced sustainable credentials, such as responsibly sourced materials.

The Sustainable Store Design category can be entered either directly by the retailer or on their behalf by the appointed design agency and architect.

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This award recognises an individual who has led a cultural shift within their business and the wider fashion industry within the past 12 months. The sustainability champion will have gone above and beyond the normal requirements of the day job to bring about positive change.

You can nominate yourself or a colleague. Eligible candidates must work for or own a fashion brand, retailer or supplier, a higher education institution or an association that is based in the UK or Ireland.

Please provide clear examples of at least one initiative led by this individual over the past 12 months that has transformed the way the business and/or industry thinks and operates for the better. Include evidence of the positive impact/outcomes.

The Sustainable Fashion Champion 2022 will be chosen by the Drapers editorial team.

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Open to any fashion retailer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award recognises the fashion retailer, direct-to-consumer brand (without a wholesale presence) or marketplace that has sustainable values at its core.

Judges will be looking for a clear sustainability strategy that incorporates relevant and achievable objectives, and evidence that these objectives have been met in part or in full. Please include as much detail as possible about specific initiatives, innovations or collaborations that enabled the business to deliver the strategy.

Where relevant, retailers should also highlight how they have worked with their suppliers to improve working conditions and/or reduce the amount of waste in the supply chain over the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of constructive engagement with suppliers, including during the coronavirus pandemic.

Please note that wholesale brands should enter Brand of the Year. We also have the Positive Change Award for more traditional/established retailers that wish to highlight recent efforts to become more sustainable.

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Open to fashion rental, resale and recycling companies, operating in the UK and/or Ireland.

This award recognises the emerging breed of fashion companies that are built on circular values, such as rental or buying and selling second hand. Judges will be looking for evidence of growth over the past 12 months, both in terms of brand awareness and financially, as well as new collaborations and innovations.

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Open to any fashion brand or retailer that operates in the UK and/or Ireland.

At Drapers we recognise that many of the more established fashion brands and retailers were not necessarily built on sustainable values, but are still making serious efforts to improve their operations.

The Positive Change Award recognises the established brand or retailer that has made the most progress towards its sustainability goals in the last 12 months. Judges will be looking for a clear sustainability strategy that incorporates relevant and achievable objectives, and evidence that these objectives have been met in part or in full. Please include as much detail as possible about specific initiatives, innovations or collaborations that enabled the business to deliver the strategy.

Where relevant, companies should also highlight how they have worked with their suppliers to improve working conditions and/or reduce the amount of waste in the supply chain over the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of constructive engagement with suppliers, including during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Open to fashion brands and retailers that have been trading in the UK and/or Ireland for between one and three years.

The Ones to Watch list recognises new and emerging fashion brands or retailers that are built on sustainable values. We are looking for evidence that a start-up is both sustainable and commercially viable, so entrants must be able to demonstrate early signs of financial success, and wholesale brands should include a list of stockists.

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This award will be given to the graduate collection that demonstrates a mix of strong design and sustainability credentials. Judges will look at how the concept was researched and executed, and any innovative alternative fabrics or processes used. The collection should show commercial viability and scalability.

Entrants must be in their final year or have graduated within the past 12 months from a fashion course based in the UK or Ireland (undergraduate or postgraduate).

Supporting material:

Please supply your portfolio and images of the finished collection, alongside your entry.

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Open to an established wholesale or direct-to-consumer fashion brand that has been operating in the UK and/or Ireland for at least two years (newer brands should enter Ones to Watch).

This award recognises the fashion brand that has made the most progress towards its sustainability goals in the last 12 months. Judges will be looking for a clear sustainability strategy that incorporates relevant and achievable objectives, and evidence that these objectives have been met in part or in full. Please include as much detail as possible about specific initiatives, innovations or collaborations that enabled the business to deliver the strategy.

Where relevant, brands should also highlight how they have worked with their suppliers to improve working conditions and/or reduce the amount of waste in the supply chain over the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of constructive engagement with suppliers, including during the coronavirus pandemic.

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