Depending on who you ask, several images may come to mind when one thinks of the Spanish island of Ibiza. But for Karen Windle, it's a destination for luxury, eco-friendly clothes, making it the ideal site for her yearly Ibiza clothes Festival. Ibiza was once a favorite vacation spot for the British fashionista, but as time went on, she started to worry about the island because of the problems the inhabitants were having with waste, water scarcity, and the excessive tourists that was having a terrible effect on the island, reported Fashion United.
2015 saw the launch of a fashion event that served as a sort of awareness campaign for nearby environmental challenges, which Windle saw as a potential solution. This year, which was held on July 4th evening, it persisted in catering to a certain segment of the fashion business by supporting small, sustainable labels that organically blend in with the more carefree, bohemian vibe that is usually associated with Ibiza. This feature has made it possible for it to establish itself as a mainstay on the island. In an interview with FashionUnited, Windle stated, "[The festival] has grown into its own thing and become very well known on the island." "It's the only fashion event in Ibiza that is entirely sustainable."
The Ibiza Fashion Festival moved to 528 Ibiza, a new event venue, for this edition. There, 19 brands showcased their beach and resort wear collections—which included footwear, jewelry, and accessories—in both a show and a showroom area, where many of them allowed attendees to see their products. The setting was picturesque hills and a sunset. The more than 200 attendees of the event could choose between public admission, which allowed them to watch the show with a cocktail in hand, and VIP tickets, which allowed them to watch the act while receiving food and drinks in a dedicated area.
The festival also sponsors and supports beach clean-ups sponsored by Cotton Ibiza in partnership with non-profit One Pure Sea, which strives to reduce plastic waste in Ibiza, as part of its commitment to ensure a more circular approach to event hosting. After shipping such rubbish to Barcelona, the island now only runs a modest recycling collection that opened during lockdown. Ibiza Fashion Festival, which has purposefully distanced itself from this process totally, won a four-star award in 2021 for not using any plastic at all.
The idea of living without plastic is actually very seriously considered on the island. In other places, people who rate less than three stars are outright shunned, according to Wandle. A portion of the cost of a festival ticket is contributed to the beach clean-up, which is open to all attendees and takes place the following day. "On the island, it's all about the inhabitants and the local businesses. assisting them in managing their company in a more ethical and sustainable manner.