Ethical Fashion Forum launches sourcing database

The Ethical Fashion Forum has announced that it is launching a new online sourcing database that promotes sustainable firms.

Announced at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, the new online platform named ‘Common Objective’ aims to be an intelligent business network that matches fashion professionals with suppliers, buyers, experts, and resources, to help them to succeed sustainably.

The new Common Objective will replace Ethical Fashion Forum’s current B2B database, Source, and will use a new algorithm to rank firms with strong sustainability credentials higher in its search results.

“Common Objective has the potential to transform the way the fashion industry operates,” said Tamsin Lejeune founder and chief executive of the Ethical Fashion Forum. “We are levelling the playing field, making sustainability an opportunity, rather than a cost.”

The platform, which is scheduled to launch this summer, is currently open for pre-registrations, and aims to become the world’s leading sourcing and intelligence database for sustainable fashion business, featuring more than 10,000 profiled members in 141 countries, as well as a wider network of over 150,000 individuals.

It has been created in partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation, Global Organic Textile Standard, World Fair Trade Organization and the Centre for Sustainable Fashion.

New sustainable sourcing database ‘Common Objective’ launched at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit

The Ethical Fashion Forum raised seed funding for Common Objective at the close of 2016, with investors made up of industry leaders including the organisation’s chairman, Harold Tillman and leading fashion brands such as Roland Mouret. The platform also has the support of industry leaders and influencers including Vivienne Westwood and Amber Valletta.

Harold Tillman, Comment Objective chairman, said: “There is undoubtedly a movement towards more responsible and transparent practices in the fashion industry, but it’s often difficult for fashion professionals of all levels to know how to improve. Common Objective is responding to this need and it has huge opportunities for growth.”

Last month, Common Objective was selected as one of the first start-ups to take part in the Fashion for Good accelerator programme, a joint venture between Kering, C&A Foundation, and start-up accelerator Plug and Play. The three-month programme aims to support and facilitate the growth of sustainable fashion initiatives set to promote positive developments within the industry and will take place at the Fashion for Good headquarters in Amsterdam.

Image: via Common Objective website