02/01/2024
SMILEY ORIGINAL continues to support two pioneering designers within it’s Future Positive Creators Fund to aid their sustainability endeavors during major global fashion weeks. February 2024, Smiley celebrates the second iteration of the Future Positive Creators Fund, a £500k monetary fund and mentorship support scheme designed to help game-changing designers at global fashion weeks. The fund was born out of Smiley’s Future Positive sustainability initiative corresponding with their partnership with the United Nations to deliver UN-SDG Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. It has been designed to assist emerging creators in transitioning towards a more ethical, responsible, and circular approach to design, sourcing, and manufacturing. This year’s designers include; Edvin Thompson, Creative Director of Theophillo, showing at New York Fashion Week and Saul Nash who will show at London Fashion Week. Part of the Smiley Future Creators Fund supports the designers, as part of the bi-annual fund to support their overall business operations, manufacturing, sourcing, and additional funding and mentorship across marketing, digital, social and retail. Last years’ designers include; AHLUWALIA, AGR KNIT, CHET LO, KEVIN GERMANIER, RICH MNISI, SHUTING QIU Smiley has created relationships with a network of sustainable fabrication partnerships, assisting in lowering fabric minimums for these fabrics, label and packaging manufacturing and financial support to purchase circular and sustainable fabrics and finishes where required. Showing how to create more consciously through the eyes of future creatives, each designer has collaborated with Smiley on a capsule collection of clothing and accessories utilising responsible or circular sourcing solutions, incorporating their unique interpretation of the iconic SMILEY icon in each Fall-Winter 2024 collection. Nicolas Loufrani CEO, The Smiley Company comments “ The Fund has expanded its support to include several emerging designers, and I’m excited to champion these talents as they lead the way in crafting a more sustainable tomorrow. It’s an opportunity to shed new light on sustainability, with creative garment design at the forefront. Let’s establish a benchmark and motivate our global manufacturing partners to join the movement. Together, we have the power to make a lasting and positive difference”