BERLIN — The global platform Fashion for Good is partnering with Zalando to further accelerate and scale sustainability in the fashion industry.
Based in Amsterdam, Fashion for Good operates via collaboration and community, inviting brands, producers, retailers, suppliers, non-profit organizations, innovators and funders to come together to identify, support and help establish breakthrough technologies in the fashion supply chain.
“Our mission is to bring together the entire fashion ecosystem to reimagine the way fashion is designed, made, worn and reused,” explained Katrin Ley, Fashion for Good’s managing director. “We are excited to welcome Zalando…to our network so we can continue accelerating the transition to a circular fashion industry.”
The network includes the Fashion for Good — Plug and Play Accelerator. This is a 12-week start-up program run with leading Silicon Valley accelerator Plug and Play, the aim of which is to provide the funding and expertise promising start-up innovators require for growth. Zalando, Europe’s largest online fashion platform and a fashion tech innovator in its own right, is the first technology and e-commerce company to join the accelerator.
According to Plug and Play founder and chief executive officer Saeed Amidi, “Zalando brings a fresh perspective” to the accelerator platform. Zalando, in turn, sees its role in the enterprise as a connector, recognizing and supporting “existing entities who are already doing a fantastic job in their field and connect them with the right players in the best way we can,” noted Dennis Hoenig-Ohnsorg, team lead corporate responsibility at Zalando.
“We believe the use of new technologies can increase transparency of the supply chain in our industry significantly and we are determined to own our role in accelerating this process for the good of all.”
He added that this year, Zalando will increase its investment of expertise and funding to support some of the most promising solutions that use technology to increase supply chain transparency.