Dame Vivienne Westwood has teamed up with the British Fashion Council (BFC) and the London mayor in a bid to persuade the fashion industry to do their part in tackling climate change.

The designer – whose name is a byword for eclectic British style – is fronting the Switch to Green campaign, to persuade major partners in the fashion world to switch to an eco-friendly energy supplier by 2020.

The initiative was launched for maximum awareness on day one of London Fashion Week. Already, a number of major labels have come on-board to lend their support.

Harvey Nichols, Marks & Spencer, Selfridges and Stella McCartney are among a growing roster of British brands who have pledged their commitment to Switch to Green.

 “People ask, ‘what can I do to help save the environment?’” says Westwood, in a video for Switch to Green (above). “In all my time as an activist, I’ve never had a satisfactory answer. Now we know: Switch to a Green Energy supplier.”

Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC, says she hopes the push towards sustainable sources will “encourage brands and businesses to increase the demand for green energy”.

This in turn will “help accelerate investment and the rate and scale of renewables in the UK”, she says.

Justine Simons, deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries says she is “delighted” at the BFC’s pledge to fight climate change.

 “London Fashion Week is the greatest fashion showcase in the world,” she says. “Now is the fashion industry’s chance to make going green the number-one trend this autumn.”

The Switch to Green campaign is part of the BFC’s wider Positive Fashion initiative aimed at creating a more sustainable and renewable future for the industry.

It's supported by high-profile figures including model and activist Adwoa Aboah. 

“It means taking on the responsibility of sending out a good message to everyone,” Aboah says, in a video explaining what Positive Fashion means to her (above). “...By sending out the right message, you can change someone’s view on something. We’re all open to a change, and we’re all wanting it.”

Stylist’s fashion team fully supports the Switch to Green campaign. 

We’re playing our own small part in the battle against climate change by using an electric car by Tesla, a global leader in renewable energy solutions, to transport us around the shows at Fashion Week. 

Using clean energy technology, Tesla is working to accelerate our move towards a zero-emission future.

Our model X Tesla is a cross between a minivan and SUV. It not only boosts some rather bling falcon wings – sliding up rather than out – it’s also miles more eco-friendly than many other similar vehicles out on the road.

Bring on our greener future…

Photos: Rex and Stylist’s own