SUSTAINABILITY TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT WWD CHINA SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT BETWEEN LU YAN AND IWC’S CMO FRANZISKA GSELL
Schaffhausen, 22nd April 2021 – WWD China hosted a digital summit between IWC Schaffhausen’s CMO Franziska Gsell and newly-announced IWC brand ambassador, supermodel and Chinese fashion entrepreneur Lu Yan. Chaired by Johannes Neubacher, co-founder and chief content officer of WWD China, the webinar took place on April 22nd to mark Earth Day and focused on the theme of sustainability.
Franziska Gsell and Lu Yan represent two leading lightsfrom two different industries: Swiss luxury watchmaking and fashion. With a shared passion for sustainability, the wide-ranging conversation between the two covered a great deal, including insights into each companies’ programmes for sustainability, an exploration of what lies ahead and the importance of innovation and communityaction in creating change.
After starting modelling in France in 1999, Yan enjoyed incredible global success, gracing runways and magazine covers worldwide. In 2013 she decided to retire from modelling to launch her own womenswear label, COMME MOI. Founder of the now internationally acclaimed brand, Lu has a hands-on role in the company, known for its designs’ luxurious wearability. She also has a long-standing association with Teach China which promotes progress by harnessing education’s power.
“I was delighted to join the summit and to be asked to talk about issues which are truly important to me personally and professionally,” explained Yan. “At COMME MOI, I have always spearheaded a sustainable approach to fashion, and as well as making beautiful clothes, I dedicate my time to finding workable solutions for real-world needs.”
Franziska Gsell has been the Chief Marketing Officer of IWC Schaffhausen since 2015 and chairs the company’s Sustainability Committee. IWC has long been a proponent of sustainability in Swiss luxury watchmaking. In 2018, the company led the industry by being the first brand to release a Sustainability Report in line with the best-practice standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), providing a transparent window into the world of a luxury Swiss watch company never offered before. A second report, also conforming to GRI standards, was released last year. In March 2021, IWC was the first luxury watch brand to attain Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), confirming the gold and platinum used in its supply chain are responsibly sourced. Recently, IWC also launched TimberTex watch straps, a new range of vegan straps made from a low-impact, FSC-certified paper-based material.
“The long life of our products is matched by our longterm thinking. Our work for a more sustainable future has such an important focus for IWC that it’s always rewarding to talk about it. Our collaborative and transparent approach to the topic ensures it’s incorporated into every aspect of our business. Like Lu, we are dedicated to managing our social and environmental impact and adding value to society. The WWD China Sustainability Summit was a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas and share insights.”
Host Neubacher started his career at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and was responsible for designing and implementing various sustainability programmes throughout China. He became China’s first foreign editor-in-chief, launching various lifestyle titles during his 15-year career in Chinese media. He co-founded WWD China in 2019.
“Sustainability is one of the key content focuses for WWD China,” he added. “Our role is to share the latest insights and intelligence, as well as support the industry, especially the supply chain in China, to reach their sustainability goals. Through events like this one, we aim to bring together the global community to prompt important conversations and brainstorm for a brighter future.”
A recording of the WWD X IWC Schaffhausen Sustainability Summit can be watched via the following link: https://www.iwc.com/ch/en/company/sustainability-at-iwc.html
IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.