You are what you wear… or at the very least, you covey who you are by what you wear. From over-played Coach bags to over priced Birkin’s, you are being judged. This is part of the reason why I love independent fashion so much. An Evil Kitty T-Shirt, a dress from Elroy or a ring from Carolyn Koslen will keep you looking fabulous while setting you apart from the masses. Speaking of the masses… The World Wildlife Fund has released a must have for anyone who wears, loves or creates fashion. Deeper Luxury is “A fascinating, ground breaking, must read wake-up call for all professionals of luxury goods industries, the consumers of their products and the celebrities that endorse them.*” The report analyzes, dissects and offers solutions for the ever growing luxury industry.

For instance, the study analyzed and ranked the 10 largest publicly-traded luxury brand-owners on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. “The ranking is derived from a combination of two types of information: what the companies themselves report to the ethical investment community; and what media and non-governmental organisations have been saying about them. This information was scored, weighted and combined to create a score out of 100, expressed as a grade from A (best) to F (worst).” Both Tods and Bulgari received F’s. Richemont (Mont Blanc, Cartier), PPR (Gucci, YSL, Puma), Swatch and Tiffany all received D’s (Tiffany actually got a D+). L’Oreal was the top performer with a C+.

The best part about the free, 50-page download, is that it not only highlights problems, but also offers meaningful solutions. It highlights designers like Linda Loudermilk (above left) who are creating gorgeous fashion while remaining socially conscious. Whether you’re out shopping for yourself or looking for ways to expand your design company, I really encourage you to give Deeper Luxury a read. You’re sure to gain a deeper understanding of the collateral effects of this ever growing industry.

*Katharine Hamnett, Ethical Fashion Designer.