It's good news for lovers of eco fashion as Harold Tillman leades a groundbreaking initiative to allow fashion businesses to reap the rewards of adopting a more eco friendly approach and to make eco fashion affordable for consumers.

Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council and of Aquascutum and Jaeger, is quoted as saying, “We are calling on all parties to recognise the impact that tax breaks could make on one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative industries by supporting those who are working in a sustainable way and making it attractive to all businesses to be more ethical.”

This campaign is following the recent British Fashion Council's estethica debate on promoting ethical fashion and consumer engagement. The estethica press day looked at how ethical businesses and the ethical fashion industry could better engage consumers. It identified that ethical fashion products are now much more sophisticated, more design led with more to offer than a standard hemp or organic cotton t-shirt.

According to Mintel, a market research firm, the UK's ethical fashion industry is worth approximately £175 million and is set to continue growing for the foreseeable future. It's no wonder that people are calling for the sector to benefit from tax breaks so that we are able to buy a lot more ethical clothing in the future. Mintel’s 2009 report also stated that ‘61% of women feel it is important that a company acts ethically’.

Harold Tillman's campaign is being backed by major players in the fashion world, including Vivienne Westwood, Monsoon, Edun, From Somewhere, and London College of Fashion's Centre for Sustainable Fashion, and is set to increase the amount of ethical fashion that is available on the high street.

“If UK citizens can get tax breaks on more energy efficient cars and other sustainable products, why can’t they wear their values with pride and get tax breaks on ethical fashion?”, says Harold Tillman.