After joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as a Network Member last year, luxury French fashion house Chanel has now become a Partner. Over the next three years, the Foundation will work closely with the house and support its circular economy journey.
Marking the start of our Partnership, the Foundation helped design Chanel’s Circular Economy Hackathon in Paris — bringing together more than 200 employees, students, manufacturers, suppliers, and experts to raise awareness about the circular economy and explore how Chanel can support the transition from linear to circular.
Following its first Hackathon last year, on the theme of tackling plastic pollution, this year’s event focused on the circular economy. Organised by the fashion branch of the French house, the event was held at Chanel’s Rue Cambon headquarters last month.
Participants created their own circular economy solutions designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.
The Foundation’s CEO, Andrew Morlet, opened the event and our Executive Lead, Network, Joe Murphy, joined the jury with President of Chanel Fashion Bruno Pavlovsky, Oceanographic Institute Chair Patricia Ricard, Politecnico di Milano Professor Luca Magagnin, University of Cambridge Director, Cambridge Zero, Emily Shuckburgh, Bigger Than Us documentary filmmaker Flore Vasseur, and senior members of Chanel’s leadership team.
The jury selected winning circular economy solutions that will be implemented at Chanel in the coming months.
“The 2023 Chanel Fashion Hackathon is part of our in-depth transformation of the House’s activities, which began several years ago. The aim of this unprecedented event is to accelerate a global virtuous evolution towards a more circular fashion and luxury industry.”
Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Chanel Fashion and President of Chanel SAS
“We were delighted to collaborate with Chanel as a Network Partner and look forward to working closely with the team as our relationship continues to evolve over the next three years. The Circular Economy Hackathon offered a dynamic and exciting approach to solving challenges, and we are excited to support Chanel as it pioneers the transformation towards a circular fashion industry.”
Andrew Morlet, CEO, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Our Network, which includes businesses, policymakers, financial institutions, and academia, is a pioneering global community committed to taking action to drive systemic change. Chanel, together with our other Network organisations, shares an ambition to change the way it works. We look forward to supporting the house, and facilitating collaboration opportunities across our Network, as it strives to accelerate the global transition to a circular economy.