Global fashion leaders partner with Canopy to show that sustainability is always in style

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Vancouver. May 24, 2016. Canopy is thrilled to announce its latest brand partnerships in the successful CanopyStyle initiative, which now has 65 major fashion brands, designers and retailers pledged to end the use of ancient and endangered forests in their rayon supply chains.

Companies launching their forest and fabric policies today include Esprit, the iconic retailer which in joining CanopyStyle marries forest-solutions with its landmark international fashion company, Tesco, the multinational grocery and retail superstore, Simons, a leading fashion outlet currently enjoying a successful expansion across Canada, international fast-fashion chain New Look, KappAhl, the Swedish fashion chain, and LA-based sustainable luxury brand Sage Larock.

“Today’s leaders clearly show that sourcing from endangered forests is no longer fashionable,” said Nicole Rycroft, Founder and Executive Director of Canopy. “Thanks to the forest commitments of more than 65 fashion brands, we are seeing dramatic shifts in the rayon supply chain. We look forward to bringing this momentum into our work with viscose producers in China, where in late May we continue a series of negotiations and will present at their association conference.”

“At Tesco we know our customers want great, affordable fashion. And they also want it without compromising on social and environmental standards. We’re pleased to be working with CanopyStyle and other fashion leaders to ensure that our viscose comes from sustainable sources,” said Tesco’s Responsible Sourcing Director, Giles Bolton.

“For over 20 years Esprit has paid s pecial attention to the social and environmental impacts of apparel manufacturing, pioneering the use of organic cotton, and launching green business practices long before it became standard, ” said Luis Gonzaga, Senior Vice President – Head of Global Supply, Esprit. “This partnership with Canopy, and our pledge to end the use of endangered forest fibers is an exciting new initiative for Esprit: one we are excited to be a part of it.”

Audits verifying the status of policy implementation by viscose/rayon producers are expected over the coming months. Canopy looks forward to analyzing the results of these audits along with rayon producers’ progress on forest conservation efforts and use of alternative fibers. The use of recycled clothing and/or non-wood fibers as feedstock for fabric production instead of trees is a critical element of the CanopyStyle initiative, systemically alleviating the stress off forest ecosystems and contributing to a circular economy. Another key component is leadership to help secure conservation of key ancient and endangered forests like the Broadback Forest in Canada’s Boreal forest, Vancouver Island’s Rainforests and Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem.

“Nowadays, a word class company must understand and reduce its impact on the environment. By partnering with Canopy, La Maison Simons is demonstrating its commitment to the protection of the world’s last ancient forests, including those found very close to home, in Canada’s Boreal,” said Peter Simons, CEO of Simons.

“At KappAhl our mission is to create a better everyday life for the woman in the prime of life, and her family, through offering a wide range of well-designed and feel good fashion, always in a sustainable way,” said Eva Kindgren de Boer, Sustainability Manager Production at KappAhl. “Committing to responsible sourcing and caring for the environment, and joining the CanopyStyle initiative are important steps forward for us.”

These new brand commitments add significant momentum to CanopyStyle. The collective goal is to ensure that the rayon/viscose supply chain is free of endangered forests by 2017.

Read more about CanopyStyle and these committed clothing brands here: https://canopyplanet.org/2016/05/17/making-sustainability-the-hot-trend-for-spring/

For more information, please contact Laura Repas, Communications Director, Canopy: 416-729-7484 or .

About Canopy

Canopy is an international not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting our forests, species and climate. Canopy collaborates with more than 750 companies to develop innovative solutions, to make their supply chains more sustainable, and to help protect our world’s remaining ancient and endangered forests. Canopy’s partners include H&M, Sprint, Penguin Random House, Zara, TC Transcontinental, The Globe and Mail , and Scholastic. Canopy’s work relies on the support of individual donors who share our passion for the planet. www.canopyplanet.org

About Esprit

Founded in 1968, Esprit is an international fashion brand that pays homage to its roots and expresses a relaxed, sunny Californian attitude towards life. Esprit creates inspiring collections for women, men and kids made from high-quality materials paying great attention to detail. All of Esprit’s products demonstrate the Group’s commitment to make consumers “feel good to look good”. The company's "esprit de corps" reflects a positive and caring attitude towards life that embraces community, family and Esprit’s collections are available in over 40 countries worldwide, in around 870 directly managed retail stores and through over 7,500 wholesale points of sales including franchise stores and sales space in department stores. The Group markets its products under two brands, namely the Esprit brand and the edc brand. Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1993, Esprit has headquarters in Germany and Hong Kong. www.esprit.com/press/sustainabilityreport/Canopy_EspritCommitment.pdf

About KappAhl

KappAhl is a Swedish clothing chain founded 60 years ago with a revolutionary idea – it was coat store where all women could afford to shop. KappAhl now has roughly 400 stores in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Poland, as well as an expanding e-commerce presence. KappAhl’s business concept is simple: to offer value-for-money fashion with a wide appeal to the many people – women, men and children, with particular emphasis on the woman in the prime of her life. KappAhl does a great deal of work to run sustainably, and give customers value-for-money fashion with quality — produced with respect and care for people and the environment. https://www.kappahl.com/globalassets/about-kappahl-corporate/documents/sustainability-documents/steering-documents/kappahl_canopy_policy.pdf

About New Look

The New Look story began in 1969 as a single fashion store in the UK. From there, New Look has grown to become a leading fast-fashion brand, with 569 stores in the UK and over 200 across Europe, China and Asia. New Look’s transactional website newlook.com now ships to around 120 countries worldwide. New Look has a significant presence in social media, over 3 million Facebook fans, 269,000 following the company on Twitter and over 741,000 following New Look on Instagram. https://www.newlookgroup.com/sustainability/environment

About Sage Larock

Sage Larock is a Los Angeles based women’s apparel company that creates all clothing from sustainable, recycled or organic materials and produces ethically and locally in Los Angeles, using non-toxic and plant based dyes. Sage Larock is committed to environmental and social responsibility throughout every stage of production, and seeks to offer women a modern image of luxury - clothing that is naturally beautiful both inside and out. They offer beautiful, limited edition pieces that transition with ease from day to night and can be worn season after season. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/513ea468e4b029d609be789a/t/57429bad859fd0707c2f92a6/1463983023215/ForestFabricPolicy_SageLaRock+.pdf

About Simons

Simons was founded in 1840 in Quebec City by John Simons. Since it’s inception the company has developed a passion for fashion, and built a solid reputation for excellent customer service. Today Simons remains family run and is managed by brothers Peter and Richard, who are the guardians of the brand and who take painstaking care in cultivating creativity, and building lasting relationships with customers, employees and partners. Simons offers eight private collections for men, women, and the home, under the house brands twik, Icône, Contemporaine, Miiyu, Djab, Le 31, I.Fiv5 and Maison. These unique brands compliment a selection of other Canadian brands and international designers collections carried by Simons. Each of the 12 Simons stores across Canada provides an original and irresistible shopping experience that inspires our customers, creating both space for fashion, as well as art and architecture. https://imarcom.simonscdn.ca/imarcom/webfolder/409/4dd/4094dd780b27c7b6e4db6139b834068c.pdf?__9b64642cda7a8069f129b8a189ade848

About Tesco Stores Ltd F&F aims to be the world’s leading, affordable fashion retailer. Tesco and F&F wants to delight our customers with the quality products they love, sourced from suppliers the company are both proud to work with and with whom they work in true partnership. Tesco’s F&F is a global brand, and the company wants to be a force for change in both reducing their social and environmental impact and confronting head on the challenges facing the fashion industry now and in the future. Ethics and environmental issues are as important to Tesco as they are to Tesco’s customers, which is why the company has made social and environmental targets integral to the way they work. https://www.tescoplc.com/tesco-and-society/our-disclosure/timber-policy/