Swedish Fashion Council – growing the second-hand market, a circular ecosystem, and diversity in fashion

By Malin Norman

With a robust creative sector, a strong focus on innovation, and proximity between policymakers and industry leaders, Sweden is in a unique position to lead the fashion transformation.

Spearheading this fashion transformation is the Swedish Fashion Council (SFC). By promoting, innovating, and educating the industry, the organisation is accelerating the transformation and actively shaping the future of fashion. In August, SFC saw proof of the ground-breaking approach when its CEO Jennie Rosén was awarded Innovation of the Year at NK Galan in Stockholm.

“At SFC our aim is to promote, educate and innovate the Swedish fashion industry to become globally leading. It’s an honour to get recognition through this award,” says Rosén. “The work has been a challenge both professionally and personally, but I truly believe we have been able to see the bigger picture, showing a new era of Swedish fashion that has impacted the industry both nationally and globally.”

Swedish Fashion Council – growing the second-hand market, a circular ecosystem, and diversity in fashion

HODAKOVA.

Diversity in the fashion industry

In November, the Swedish Fashion Council presented the second edition of the Fashion Transformation Report at [Fashion X] Stockholm. Topics include the economy of fashion, a circular fashion industry, the technological acceleration of fashion, and political initiatives.

The Swedish Fashion Council and the British Fashion Council are the first players to launch reports showcasing quantitative data on diversity. This latest edition of the Fashion Transformation Report is the first quantitative report measuring diversity in the fashion industry, highlighting an industry struggling with unequal access to opportunities, lack of leadership representation and anxiety around discussing issues related to diversity and inclusion.

This year’s edition also shows how the acceleration of the second-hand market is still increasing. Together with Svensk Handel, SFC has developed a KPI to measure the growth of the second-hand market. According to Svensk Handel’s own report, Pre Loved, the total second-hand market in January had a revenue of SEK 1.1 billion, of which SEK 371 million was within the fashion sector.

HODAKOVA.

Achieving a circular ecosystem

“Sweden is at the forefront of design, sustainability, and innovation in fashion and textiles,” says Rosén. “Collaboration is more important than ever, not only within the industry but also across industries.”

HODAKOVA is one example of a brand demonstrating the value of collaboration in achieving a circular ecosystem. It is part of the SFC [INCUBATOR] and a 2024 LVMH semi-finalist. The brand was launched in 2020 and aims to convert old materials into luxurious goods. Its founder, Ellen Hodakova Larsson, is an alumna of the Swedish School of Textiles, one of the world’s top universities for fashion and textile design.

HODAKOVA’s collections are locally produced at XV Production, a micro-factory in Borås. This is a growing trend, according to Rosén: “We see a lot of micro-factories popping up, especially in the west coast of Sweden, making it easier for Swedish brands to produce locally.”

CTF 2023.

Challenge the Fabric in Milan

This spring, Rosén is looking forward to the next edition of Challenge the Fabric, in Milan, from 14-15 May. CTF is hosted by Ekman & Co, a global sales and marketing organisation, strategically aligning buyers and sellers of forest products around the world. “Challenge the Fabric aims to scale impact through collaboration. The pioneering cross-industry initiative is a unique platform that enables the entire supply chain of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) to meet, collaborate and create change.”

CTF 2023.

The event invites industry leaders and stakeholders from the fashion, textile, and forest industries to help shape the industry of tomorrow. This edition will also host the CTF Award, a talent competition challenging emerging designers to create looks made from MMCF fabrics as a way to promote and encourage a switch to biobased and recycled materials. The winner will be announced in Milan and receive a cash prize of $10,000.

Swedish Fashion Council – growing the second-hand market, a circular ecosystem, and diversity in fashion