Copenhagen is a city with a keen sense of its own history: a succession of green plinths line its pretty cobbled streets in homage to celebrated figures of the past. A fitting venue, therefore, to seek out modern-day heroes; a new school of leaders whose energy and ideas will inspire a generation to live cleaner, greener lives.

The fashion industry may seem an unusual place to seek out such role models – it is, after all, a business whose very survival relies on feeding the insatiable appetite of a trend-obsessed consumer – but the Nordic Fashion Association's Fashion Summit at the magnificent Copenhagen Opera House attempted to do just that. Several hundred delegates assembled for the launch of NICE, a ten-year action plan for fostering and promoting a sustainable and ethical Nordic fashion industry.

An impressive roster of speakers offered their vision of what a sustainable future might look like, including the Managing Director of Business for Social Responsibility, Peder Pruzan-Jorgensen. Acknowledging that 70% of our ecosystems are degrading faster than they are recovering partly as a result of excessive water use, Jorgensen declared blue the new black, and called for the development of new cotton cultivation technology to help curb the industry's water consumption.

Vanessa Friedman, Fashion Editor of the Financial Times, sought a similar efficiency in the industry's method of communication. She argued ‘sustainability' is often a confusing term, and that consumers are crying out for a lexicon that is clear, concise and consistent. "Every revolution needs a language," she stressed.

Fittingly, it was the Vice President of high-end department store Barney's New York who returned our attention to the most important topic of discussion: the product. Julie Gilhart urged delegates not to forget the romance of fashion, and explained that the success of Barney's 2007 ‘Have A Green Holiday' campaign boiled down to good old-fashioned story telling. Every purchase made of their special 22-carat gold necklace, for example, meant ten trees were planted; a symbolic but meaningful gesture that resonated well amongst consumers.

As the event drew to a close, the NFA was keen for the Summit's attendees to make a similar connection to its own manifesto, copies of which were distributed to the crowd. The extent to which this aim is realized shall be revealed as the next decade unfolds.

Claire Hamer is the Sustainable Sourcing specialist on Fashion Capital and the founder of EI8HT. claire.hamer@ei8ht.org

Article published in UN Copenhagen conference newsletter 11/12/09.