On the 5th anniversary of the British Fashion Council’s (BFC’s) Institute of Positive Fashion, philanthropist and sustainable champion Mr Zach Du Chao pledges his support through the BFC Foundation to further the BFC’s industry-leading sustainability programme. Mr Du Chao has a longstanding record of working with a range of not-for-profit organisations, including acting as NYU Shanghai Global Philanthropy Mentor and as a member of the UNICEF International Council.
The first action enabled by the pledge is for an inaugural IPF Research Fellowship: a new research project which seeks to understand the fashion industry’s impact on planetary health, with the overall objectives to drive responsible business decisions across the supply chain and inform policy change. No other organisation is currently investigating Fashion’s specific impact on planetary health. This Fellowship seeks to pioneer a new global framework for change.
In recognition of this support, Mr Du Chao will become a British Fashion Council Foundation Sustainability Ambassador for Planetary Health. The BFC Foundation Trustees thank Mr Du Chao for his generous support enabling the BFC to continue to be at the forefront of research and part of the growing discourse on the relationship between environmental protection and public health.
For press inquiries please contact:
Davina Wedderburn, Head of Communications
davina.wedderburn@britishfashioncouncil.com
Eve Cousins, Senior Communications Executive
eve.cousins@britishfashioncouncil.com
ABOUT BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL
The British Fashion Council (BFC), formed in 1983, is a not-for-profit organisation focused on the relentless innovation, responsible growth and local and global amplification of the British fashion industry. Its mission is to champion British fashion on the world stage by pioneering world class programmes that unlock and elevate British creative talent. This is fuelled by an extraordinary diverse and inspiring community of advocates, icons, experts, and fans. The BFC amplifies excellence in creativity and its role in the UK’s cultural influence through The Fashion Awards and London Fashion Week. The BFC prepares businesses for positive change through relentless innovation with a focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B), Web 3.0 and pivotal areas of the UK Circular Fashion Ecosystem through the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF). The BFC enables responsible growth through a dynamic, inclusive, and unified community that advocates for creativity, innovation and collectively supports the industry to grow and talent to gain access. The BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 11852152) was created in 2019 for charitable purposes and grant giving; attracting, developing, and retaining talent through education and business mentoring. The BFC Foundation offers support to designers through four talent prizes: BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, BFC NEWGEN in partnership with PULL&BEAR and the BFC Fashion Trust. With the support of the BFC Colleges Council, the BFC Foundation offers BA and MA scholarships to students, as well as links with industry through design competitions and Graduate Preview Day. The Fashion Awards is the primary fundraiser for the BFC Foundation. For more information visit: britishfashioncouncil.co.uk / londonfashionweek.co.uk / instituteofpositivefashion.com
ABOUT THE IPF
The BFC’s Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) leads the UK fashion industry to address its environmental and social impact in response to the climate crisis. As a climate think and action tank, the IPF convenes the industry to accelerate responsible business shifts. Through its three pillars: Climate & Nature, Business Change through Circular Economy, and Social Change, the IPF develops and delivers practical programmes of change, research, and reports – all with global relevance and impact. From infusing sustainability into BFC’s Designer Initiatives and Designer Community for responsible growth, to driving wider systemic change for a just and prosperous industry, the IPF’s work informs policy change at national and international level. For more information visit instituteofpositivefashion.com.
ABOUT IPF CFIN
The Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) is an industry-led programme led by the BFC and UK Fashion and Textile (UKFT) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to accelerate the UK towards a Circular Fashion Ecosystem. The network brings together industry, innovators, NGOs, academia and broader stakeholders through an action-led roadmap. CFIN’s framework for change is split across 6 different themes, namely - Circular  Business Models, Recycling Infrastructure, Sustainable Manufacturing, Novel Technology, Diverse and Futureproof Workforce, and Green Growth. For more information visit instituteofpositivefashion.com/The-Circular-Fashion-Innovation-Network.
ABOUT IPF LCT
The Low Carbon Transition Programme (LCT) led by the BFC moves the fashion sector one step closer to achieving net zero. The programme supports 50 x SMEs* decarbonise their supply chains by implementing low carbon transition plans. For more information visit instituteofpositivefashion.com/Our-work/Low-Carbon-Transition-Programme.