Guillaume Philippe

Speaker - Entrepreneur - President of the Responsible Fashion Counter

Originally from Nouvelle-Aquitaine, I was fortunate to grow up between Anglet, Bordeaux, and Poitiers. In 1999, at the age of 13, I discovered the fascinating world of Alexander McQueen. This "encounter" was a true revelation and marked the beginning of my passion for fashion and design. The boldness, constant innovation, and artistic expression quest of McQueen have profoundly influenced my creative journey. It was the event dimension that truly fascinated me, more than styling. A sense of freedom of expression in the presentation form. Aware of my sensitivity rather than my artistic talent, I decided to focus on communication and marketing strategy, while aiming for the fashion world. Every summer, I work, selling sports shoes for a major brand, to develop my interpersonal skills and overcome my shyness, which will allow me to become very comfortable in public. In 2010, after obtaining a double master's degree in management and international negotiation, I joined the agency Yo Luxury Events as an event producer. This was the fulfillment of my dream: to support great creators in producing fashion shows, pop-up shops, and showrooms. However, over time, the fashion world, while still fascinating, confronted me with alarming realities regarding its environmental and social impact. I witnessed irresponsible practices, exorbitant financial amounts committed for each event, and the discovery of textile factories in China, which led me to reconsider my place in this industry. In 2013, I decided to leave this world to focus on supporting companies engaged in responsible communication and event strategies. I trained in carbon footprint calculation, got closer to ADEME, and educated myself extensively on responsible communication, and worked in two Parisian agencies as well as in a holding company in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to refine my expertise. In 2020, I missed fashion, but I now turn to a more virtuous fashion: second-hand, Made in France, repairability… The Covid-19 health crisis accelerated my desire to leave Paris and return to Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a region dear to me. I then observe two realities: Many players in responsible fashion exist but are not sufficiently highlighted. The general public remains largely unaware of the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry. To address these issues, I decided to create, alongside my role as the head of a low-carbon communication and event company, an association dedicated to promoting responsible fashion. This association organizes BtoC events, such as responsible fashion days and festivals, as well as BtoB events like the Responsible Fashion Meetings. We also conduct workshops and conferences, while highlighting the work of local and national actors committed to a more sustainable and ethical fashion. Today, my commitment is focused on creating meaningful events that are both creative, responsible, and low-carbon, to raise awareness among the public and professionals about the environmental and social challenges of fashion.