In an age where as much fabric (if not more) is wasted than purchased in the fashion industry, Burberry has devised a plan to give back to both people and planet with a new initiative.

The concept is titled ReBurberry Fabric, and launched yesterday, Decemeber 8 as a pilot programme where the luxury British fashion house plans to donate its leftover fabric to fashion students who are in need. With UK students already facing student debt of up to £50,000 from school fees, housing and living expenses, fashion students are forced to pay an even bigger price to source materials for their studies such as fabrics, buttons, and zips. For those who don't come from financial security, this can be an enormous financial challenge to face.

In the name of these students, and the climate, the ReBurberry Fabric initiative has been set up with the British Fashion Council, with their Institute of Positive Fashion and Colleges Council overseeing the logistics of the operation.

"We are delighted to partner with the British Fashion Council to launch ReBurberry Fabric, as we continue to ensure we are meaningfully supporting the next generation of diverse voices across the country," stated Pam Batty, VP of corporate responsibility at Burberry. Mentioning her hope for the future of fashion and the expansion of concepts like this with other global brands."Providing resources for these communities in a sustainable way will enable them to bring their creativity to life, and continue through their programmes with the tools they need. We look forward to seeing how donations can positively impact these academic institutions and students, and hope this is the beginning of a wider industry initiative to support these communities, now and in the future." she continued.

Caroline Rush, BFC CEO echoed Batty's sentiment, stating "One of the BFC‘s priorities is to encourage the industry to move towards a circular fashion economy while supporting excellence in fashion design," she said. "We are delighted to work with Burberry, helping ensure students across the country have access to the best quality fabrics. Creative talent is at the heart of the industry and we are proud of our world leading colleges – being able to provide these students with such opportunities is a privilege."

Image: @burberry