inspiring social & environmental excellence in high-end brands

Authentic Luxury Bimonthly Bulletin #2

We are now almost 600 members, sharing more than 200 photos of our work, and 50 blogs on our views and news. Check in to www.authenticluxury.net to see what's being shared, or to share.

It's been a busy season for authentic luxury pioneers, as our selection of news items from the last 2 months highlights below. ALN members have been active, making some breakthroughs. An organic denim Sherwani designed by Prema Florence Isaac (with some input from yours truly) was featured in Magnum Photos Fashion Yearbook, snapped by world famous photograph Paulo Pellegrin (see The Eco Brigade). Another member, Anna Zegna, celebrated the centenary of luxury menswear company Zegna, and took the opportunity to explain her family's enduring commitment to sustainability, from hydro-powered factories or support for sustainable livelihoods in Peru through their Vicuna sourcing. Member Federica Ricci organised a seminar on sustainable luxury, with myself, and artist Michelangelo Pistoletto for companies in the textile area of Northern Italy, as part of thir BEST initiative. Member Christopher Cordey announced The Atelier for Sustainable Excellence, which meets next week in Lausanne, while member Michael Low announced sustainability to be the theme of this year's Wellness Summit in Singapore in October, where Ill be keynoting. This booming Asian shopping and style hub is also host to Qi-Global, a summit on sustainable

lifestyles and innovation, which as a member of ALN you have a 50% discount on tickets.

The world movement continues: in the coming months I'll be speaking at the pre launch of the world's first sustainable luxury institute, in Buenas Aires, on 5th November, and in Brisbane on November 16th at a specialist sustainable enterprise centre.

Tired eyes? Then listen to a discussion of authentic luxury, with myself and Beth Gerstein, the Co-founder and CEO of responsible jewelry company, Brilliant Earth, on Sea Change Radio this week.

If you want your news to be featured in the next bulletin, either blog about it on ALN, or tag it “authenticluxury” on www.delicious.com/

Regards, Jem Bendell

Founder, Authentic Luxury Network / Director, Lifeworth Consulting.

[Photo: Jem Bendell celebrating with Angelo Zegna at the Zegna Centennial, Milan, June 2010.]

A selection of news items on authentic luxury over the last 2 months:

BBC News - Rising clothing production costs mean 'fast fashion' is out

BBC News - Can high street fashion have a conscience?

The Future of Luxury: Can we have our world and sustain it too? | Sea Change Radio

FT.com / Reports - Education: Design schools aim to make environmen...

FT.com / Reports - Luxury goods: Premium brands respond to growing consumer awareness

Nick Clegg's wife becomes poster girl for sustainable fashion | Lif...

Luxury Brands Are Driving Retail Sector Growth in the Global Econom...