The CISL Accelerator experience: Innovators for sustainable fashion

29 March 2021 – CISL’s Accelerator is designed to accelerate the world’s leading sustainability innovators, with new organisations and transformative business models that will decarbonise our economy, restore nature and create inclusive societies. But what is the experience like? In this blog, participants from our Innovators for sustainability fashion programme reflect on their time with us and all they learned.

Our 2020 Innovators for sustainable fashion accelerator took a cohort of 33 small businesses and entrepreneurs on a six-week journey to help fast track their sustainability solutions.

Selected from over 300 applicants, this diverse group had a unifying mission: to pioneer the future of fashion with their tech-based products and services.

What was the experience like? We’ll let our innovators do the talking…

In week one, founder of Sussed Sustainability Consulting, Shaunie Brett led a session that discussed the many challenges the fashion industry must tackle to be more sustainable.

Week two saw our sustainable fashion innovators meet former UN Environment Secretariat of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, Michael Stanley-Jones; CISL’s Business and Nature Senior Programme Manager, Cath Tayleur; and Head of Fashion Innovation for University of the Arts London, Matthew Drinkwater. They reflected on what 'good' looks like for the industry, as well as the future of sustainable fashion.

Prominent fashion investor and CEO of Yu Holdings, Wendy Yu joined us for week three and our innovators learned the dos and don’ts of pitching. They also explored the power of truthful storytelling with Sean Ansett, founder and president of At Stake Advisors Ltd.

In week four, our cohort learned about the essentials of business planning and marketing – from co-creating value with consumers and building a sustainability-led value proposition, to the why, who, what, where, when and how of promoting their business. This session was led by CISL Accelerator Programme Manager, Viola Jardon.

In week five we welcomed Atul Bagai, Head of Country Office at UN Environment Programme India, and Bohao (Richard) Li, Independent Consultant and Senior Partner for the Luxury Brand Research Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University. They spoke to our innovators about global trends in India and China, and the opportunities that exist for businesses wishing to succeed in these markets. Afterwards, the cohort explored business model innovation for the circular economy with Emma Fromberg, Course Director at CISL.

A highlight for many of our CISL Accelerator participants is the opportunity to pitch to a panel of investors and experts, as well as their peers, receiving immediate and in-depth feedback. In week six, we wrapped everything up with Demo Day.

Since then, our innovators continue to share and connect as part of the CISL Accelerator community. We’ve brought them together through various networking events and look forward to their updates, as we work together to change the future of fashion.

Our mission is to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across different sectors as they make the transition to net zero, whilst restoring nature and being inclusive. 

To join our community and receive this support, head here.