Recent tie-ups between social media platforms and digital-first retailers are designed to remove the friction from shopping. But sustainability experts say that friction serves an important purpose.
ReadWinner Hanan Tantush, the founder of British adaptive clothing brand Intotum, worked with users and caregivers to test her designs.
ReadThe Paris Good Fashion association - aiming to "make Paris an exemplary capital of sustainable fashion" - in partnership with the digital service Eyes on Talents and APF France handicap, awarded the Grand Prix Inclusive Design this Thursday, June 13, at the French Fashion Institute.
ReadThe European Union’s wave of sustainable fashion legislation will have huge implications for suppliers, but compliance won’t come without a change in how the industry operates.
ReadThe deadly heatwaves that have swept manufacturing hubs across Asia in recent months highlight a challenge the fashion industry is not prepared for.
ReadFast fashion giant Shein looks set for flotation in London after plans for New York fell apart. What are the implications for the fashion industry as Shein’s business model comes under scrutiny?
ReadThe closure of Mara Hoffman and other brands that built ethical consumption into their business models is raising questions about whether there’s room in the market for brands that put sustainability first.
ReadThe nascent textile-to-textile recycling industry is emerging from crisis with fresh momentum, as Swedish pioneer Renewcell is rescued out of administration and Sri Lankan manufacturing giant MAS pledges to buy thousands of metres of recycled polyester.
ReadPowerful trade groups are pushing back on a landmark New York bill that would make big businesses more accountable for their environmental impact.
ReadAt fashion’s annual sustainability gathering in Copenhagen, the biggest question was why, after 15 years of discussion, so little has changed and whether a coming tsunami of government regulation can force the industry to evolve its practices
ReadFaced with the need to improve their environmental impact, many actors and groups in the luxury and fashion sectors have adopted evaluation methods. Thus, for the past five years, announcements of carbon footprint reductions have been flourishing.
ReadParis - On Wednesday, the Senate adopted in committee a green proposal to restrict the manufacture and sale of products containing PFAS, or eternal pollutants, slightly modifying it before its examination in the chamber on May 30.
ReadH&M, Reformation and Zalando have joined The Fashion ReModel, a new initiative from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to help brands ‘make money without making new clothes’.
ReadThe EU's Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles
ReadLabour leaders in Myanmar, the Philippines, China and Bangladesh share the insights that brands need to bear in mind before barrelling in to change things locally.
ReadThe sector’s planet-warming emissions inched lower in 2022 thanks to revised data, but they’re still on track to grow by more than 40 percent by 2030, according to a new report.
ReadIt speaks to the younger generation’s growing fascination with how and where things are made.
ReadTextile-to-textile recycling technologies could be a climate game changer for fashion’s environmental footprint. But like renewable energy, they need state support for market efforts to scale, argues Nicole Rycroft.
ReadA study published this week found traces of cotton from Xinjiang in nearly a fifth of the products it examined, highlighting the challenges brands face in policing their supply chains even as requirements to do so spread to raw materials from diamonds to leather and palm oil.
ReadThe fashion industry continues to advance voluntary and unlikely solutions to its plastic problem. Only higher prices will flip the script, writes Kenneth P. Pucker.
ReadTextile recycling trade associations say the industry is on the brink of collapse, but critics say it never existed to begin with. Beyond the noise, is there an opportunity for change?
ReadEurope’s Parliament has signed off rules that will make brands more accountable for what happens in their supply chains, ban products made with forced labour and set new environmental standards for the design and disposal of products.
ReadNew legislation is coming down the pike that will force brands to eliminate PFAS in their supply chains. The challenge? They’re everywhere.
ReadBrussels (Belgium) - Brussels added the champion of budget fast fashion Shein to the list of very large online platforms subject to reinforced controls under the new Digital Services Act (DSA) on Friday.
ReadThe European Parliament approved rules on Tuesday to ban in the EU the sale, import and export of goods made using forced labour.
ReadThree British organisations have joined forces to scale up the use of circular solutions like rental, repair, resale and recycling.
ReadThe industry needs to ditch its reliance on fossil fuel-based materials like polyester in order to meet climate targets, according to a new report from Textile Exchange.
ReadBrussels - In response to growing concerns about environmental degradation and sustainability, new EU legislation aims to improve the longevity and sustainability of products through the "right to repair." This legislative framework represents a holistic approach to supporting the circular economy, reducing waste and promoting sustainable consumption in the EU. The fashion industry should expect to be subject to textile sustainability requirements in the near future.
ReadOn Thursday, March 28, 2024, as part of the Sustainability Certificate IFM x Kering and under the patronage of Senator Jean Hingray, students from the French Institute of Fashion (IFM) will present six contributory projects focusing on sustainable development: social impact, solidarity, material valorization, circularity, eco-friendly products, participation, and engagement.
ReadThe proposal leaves experts with more questions than answers.
ReadFrance is pressing ahead with a ‘game-changing’ bill that would impose a ‘sin tax’-style penalty on fast-fashion products as high as €10 per item by 2030.
ReadA spate of new regulations could come with serious implications for an industry unaccustomed to navigating policy.
ReadThe Assembly unanimously voted on Thursday for several flagship measures, including a ban on advertising for the sale of discounted clothing flooding the market and strengthened environmental penalties to make them less attractive. This marks the first reading adoption of a text described by environmental and human rights defense associations as "crucial" or a "historic first step".
ReadThe Swedish textile recycler said it was unable to secure sufficient long-term funds to continue operations.
ReadAlready extended to include the specificities of fourteen industrial sectors, the ACT (Assessing low-Carbon Transition) initiative, which aims to be pioneering and leading in terms of the framework for holding companies accountable for climate issues, is launching a methodology for the fashion and luxury sectors.
ReadAt a time of growing environmental awareness, fashion industry giant LVMH and Paris Good Fashion, the association of fashion professionals working for more responsible fashion, have joined forces to launch an innovative initiative: the Green Store & Building Challenge.
ReadSustainability is good business, advocates like to say. But the real test comes when sustainable measures don’t produce a return on investment. Some brands are proving progress is possible anyway.
ReadDecarbonising the industry is expected to take $1 trillion over the coming decades. Where that money will come from and how it’s distributed remain open questions.
ReadWhile some companies are backing away from diversity, equity and inclusion efforts amid a conservative backlash, others are finding clever new approaches to meeting their original goals.
ReadAccra - It takes Nii Armah and her team of 30 fishermen hours to drag their heavy nets to the shore of Korle-Gonno beach in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Finally, their catch emerges: a colossal barracuda, but also masses of used clothes.
ReadBrussels - Accused of not reducing their greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently or of making false statements about their sustainable commitments, multinationals and EU Member States are being taken to court by NGOs and citizens. Several cases have been brought against them in recent years.
ReadInitiated by the City of Paris, Paris Good Fashion initially aimed to establish Paris as the capital of a more sustainable fashion by 2024, in anticipation of the Olympic Games. On the occasion of its fifth anniversary, the association conducted a review of its first roadmap in the presence of key industry stakeholders on January 23 at the Institut Français de la Mode.
ReadFive-year-old sustainable fashion body Paris Good Fashion has laid out its 2030 roadmap, including sharing best practices abroad.
ReadA finish line that looks like a cape for a new beginning. At the end of January 2019, on the premises of a French fashion institute that had not yet undergone major renovations, the Paris Good Fashion (PGF) association was born, with the support of the city of Paris and the involvement of several giants in the fashion and luxury sector. Five years later, on the evening of 23 January, it was in the amphitheatre of the same building that the members of the association and its friends celebrated the progress made.
ReadSustainability efforts have focused on incremental change at the expense of systemic transformation for too long. Experts lay out what they want to see from fashion this year.
ReadDespite a budget cut (200,000 euros previously granted by the Direction Générale des Entreprises), the 22nd edition of R3ilab, a network for professionals in the textile, fashion and creative industries, showed its relevance by projecting four possible scenarios for 2030. The aim was to help companies prepare and adapt. Dystopia? Utopian? Extrapolation from the realm of struggle.
ReadThis year is set to be a tipping point for fashion’s supply chains, as brands and suppliers race to comply with incoming legislation and meet 2025 sustainability goals.
ReadThe International Accord , an international agreement on health and safety in the textile and clothing industry, celebrated its tenth anniversary at the end of 2023. It was created in 2013, when it was known as the Bangladesh Agreement. Five years later, it became the Transition Agreement. It has been adopted by 190 global brands, fashion retailers and trade unions.
ReadSince October 2023, textile workers in Bangladesh have been demonstrating for an increase in the minimum wage. These protests have had major consequences, including the dismissal of thousands of workers. FashionUnited contacted the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) to find out more about the situation of workers in Bangladesh. "It's not entirely clear at the moment, but union leaders in Bangladesh estimate that between 3,000 and 4,000 workers have been made redundant so far. In addition, 131 workers are still trapped in prison", says a CCC spokesperson.
ReadA dumpsite near the venue for COP28 in Dubai highlights the spiralling problem of textile waste exported from the Global North
ReadBrands haven’t moved past low-stakes sustainability commitments, but bigger change doesn’t happen if no one goes first.
ReadResearchers at Nankai University in Tianjin (China) have created a system of thermoregulating garments powered by solar energy. This new device enables the body to adapt rapidly to various changes in ambient temperature.
ReadIt is "one of the pillars of the creation of a more responsible economic system", according to MEP Pascal Canfin. On 14 December, an agreement was reached on the contours of the European duty of care. This will oblige large companies to identify and prevent human rights violations and environmental damage throughout their value chain, on pain of a financial penalty of 5% of their turnover. An ambitious agreement, but one grey area: the financial sector is excluded.
ReadThe industry needs to go beyond surface-level participation and focus on transformative impact and collaboration with other sectors, experts say.
ReadDiversity is an inescapable part of any discussion on sustainability. That's why it was at the heart of the panel entitled "How to dress 10 billion people sustainably", moderated by Muchaneta ten Napel (Shape Innovate) as part of COP28 (organised in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December).
ReadThe State of Fashion 2024 explores how the frequency and intensity of extreme weather-related events are leaving the industry’s value chain increasingly vulnerable.
ReadThe European Union is clamping down on unsustainable practices in fashion with a spate of new policies.
ReadThe ultra-fast fashion giant has filed to go public in the US. Experts worry it could help it evade scrutiny on its labour and production practices.
ReadBrussels - On Tuesday, the European Parliament and EU Member States announced an agreement to ban the destruction of unsold new clothes and to strengthen the eco-design of many consumer goods to make them easier to repair and recycle.
ReadWeaker-than-expected demand for Swedish textile recycler Renewcell’s first commercial volumes of recycled cellulose pulp has sent the company’s stock price plummeting and highlighted broader hurdles challenging efforts to lessen fashion’s environmental footprint.
ReadThe Bangladesh government is close to confirming a modest raise for garment workers who say it falls below a living wage. Brands could help sway the decision, but companies aren’t weighing in.
ReadBrands are passing the buck on sustainability targets, placing an unrealistic burden on manufacturers, according to a new industry report.
ReadIn favor of more sustainable fashion, the association Paris Good Fashion (PGF) presents the results of its collection of plastic hangers and polybags.
ReadOn November 14, the French Ministry of the Economy announced the opening of a procedure concerning the activities of Shein, a multinational clothing company of Chinese origin. The action aims to examine compliance with international rules and French laws, and follows a referral from Socialist and related deputies on June 20, 2023.
ReadWithout greater commitment and investment from brands, the industry will face a 133 million-tonne shortfall in supply of lower-impact materials in 2030, according to a new report.
ReadDhaka - A textile worker was killed in Bangladesh during a violently repressed protest for better wages, police said on Sunday, bringing to four the number of casualties since the start of the ongoing movement.
ReadBrands are starting to adopt the tags in large numbers as they prepare to meet major new EU regulations coming down the pipeline. They’re using the opportunity to build in customer-facing features that can appeal to shoppers, too.
ReadDhaka - Bangladesh is facing unprecedented wage protests in the textile sector, during which a worker was killed on Wednesday by police, with Washington urging Dhaka to raise wages.
ReadAs part of the Fonds Réemploi des Textiles d'habillement, Linge de maison et Chaussures (TLC) (Clothing, Linen and Footwear Reuse Fund) run by the Refashion eco-organization, CRESS France (Chambre Régionale de l'Économie Sociale et Solidaire) has launched its Textile Call for Expressions of Interest (AMI textiles). What does it involve? FashionUnited explains.
ReadAhead of the next Global Plastics Treaty debate in Nairobi, WWF has released a report highlighting the financial impact plastic pollution has on lower-income countries. It’s a reminder of fashion’s role in the problem.
ReadThe eight founding members of the nonprofit initiative say it is the first of its kind explicitly focused on the challenge for shoes.
ReadAshulia (Bangladesh) - New clashes broke out on Tuesday in Bangladesh between the police and thousands of workers demanding higher wages in the textile industry that supplies major Western brands, the day after protests that left at least two people dead.
ReadRaw materials make fashion and apparel brands. And can break them, especially as the world confronts climate and sustainability challenges and especially because raw materials can constitute as much as two-thirds of a brand’s climate impact.1 The industry must urgently accelerate its efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030.
ReadWithout greater commitment and investment from brands, the industry will face a 133 million-tonne shortfall in supply of lower-impact materials in 2030, according to a new report.
ReadThe actors with the most leverage to tackle the challenge are structurally unwilling to change, writes Kenneth P. Pucker.
ReadMillions of tonnes of T-shirts and dresses are dumped or burned every year. Turning old clothes into new ones is possible — the question is whether it is a realistic solution.
ReadThe luxury brand’s new dress is made from waste fabric. It’s proof that circular fashion is already reality.
ReadRegulators are trying to crackdown on the pollution caused by throwaway fashion. But ensuring old clothes aren’t treated as trash is trickier than it seems.
ReadBefore this recent growth in interest in textile recycling, fast fashion’s efforts to tackle throwaway attitudes towards affordable clothing often simply added to the global textile waste mountain – especially in developing countries, say campaigners like Greenpeace.
ReadAfter the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index became a central focus for greenwashing allegations, the trade group commissioned an independent review. Its recommendations include scrapping a stand-alone materials assessment and more work to improve the data.
ReadOn 2 October, the French specialist in the biorecycling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) inaugurated its demonstrator for preparing textiles for biological recycling in Clermont-Ferrand, in the Puy-de-Dôme region. Roland Lescure, the French Minister for Industry, took part in this important milestone for the group, which is shortly expecting planning permission for its first industrial-scale biorecycling site at Longlaville, in Meurthe-et-Moselle, on the border with Luxembourg.
ReadOn 29 September, the Circular Fashion Federation presented a refined version of its joint programme, setting out fifteen measures to encourage the development of responsible fashion. The measures are based on meetings with companies and committed players, and were debated in five consultative commissions last June.
ReadThe conference area at Paris Retail Week was packed to capacity on Thursday 21 September at 3.30pm for one of the last meetings of the 2023 edition of the Porte de Versailles event. On paper, the debate had the smell of brimstone: an exchange between Peter Day, director of strategy for the global ultra fast fashion giant, and Thomas Huriez, founder of the made-in-France jeans brand 1083.
ReadThe image of fashion is undoubtedly improving", says the director of the IFM Economic Observatory, as part of a recent study on fashion and sustainability conducted by the school and the Première Vision trade show. Entitled "Sustainable fashion hits its stride", the document provides information on the dynamics at work in terms of eco-responsibility and how they are evolving.
ReadMonday 25 September sees the opening of the most eagerly awaited event in the women's fashion industry, Paris Fashion Week. An opportunity to take stock of the sector's performance.
ReadBecause the countries hardest hit by extreme weather conditions are also the countries that produce textiles, the fashion industry must prepare for major impacts on its production chain.
ReadThe killing of a union leader in Bangladesh this summer has heightened anxiety over the risks facing labour organisers amid a broader, often violent, crackdown on labour rights.
ReadWithin a year, the sorting centre run by garment re-use and recycling charity Moda Re plans to double the volume it handles to 40,000 metric tonnes annually.
ReadEfforts to measure the environmental impact of clothes have a fatal flaw: They don’t account for overproduction, argues Beth Esponnette.
ReadThe industry is on track to miss its greenhouse gas emissions targets, with potentially catastrophic consequences for people and the planet. But addressing growth is easier in theory than practice.
ReadTwo and a half years after the military takeover in February 2021, Myanmar remains a high-risk country for human and labour rights abuses. Garment workers are severely affected by the rapidly worsening circumstances.
ReadAmong the biggest seismic shifts set to transform the global textile industry in coming years is the new European Union Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.
ReadThe Sustainability Requirements introduce a minimum set of standards that all CPHFW show schedule brands must conform to by 2023
Read"When you lose your job, your life stops". Lubna Babar was made redundant at the beginning of the year, a victim of the crisis in the Pakistani textile industry, which is losing ground to its Asian competitors.
ReadThe University of Plymouth will play a key role in a multi-million project to stimulate the decarbonization of the fashion and textile industry.
ReadAs transparency and sustainability become defining factors in consumer choices, luxury brands have an opportunity to drive responsible practices within the industry
ReadShein’s controversial $15 million cash injection into non-profit The Or Foundation is going toward cleaning up Ghana’s clothing-clogged beaches and managing fashion’s unending waste stream. It’s money other brands have not been willing to give.
ReadFashion has improved its image in terms of eco-responsibility among consumers, who make production methods and the choice of materials their primary sustainability criteria, ahead of the place of manufacture. And second-hand clothing is becoming a prime gateway to sustainable consumption, according to a study conducted by the Institut Français de la Mode and Première Vision.
ReadThe production of textiles, whose primary use is in the fashion industry, has been rising steadily since the turn of the century. From nearly 60 million tonnes a year in 2000, this has risen to nearly 110 million tonnes in 2020, with forecasts estimating volumes at nearly 130 million tonnes a year in 2025 and nearly 150 million tonnes in 2030.
ReadThe death knell has been sounded for fast fashion. Gen Z-ers want to shop more sustainably, the argument goes, while profits at major players like Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing and ASOS have slumped in recent years.
ReadThe industry is becoming incrementally more transparent, but big brands still fail to disclose critical information about their environmental and social impact, according to this year’s Fashion Transparency Index.
ReadStrasbourg - MEPs voted on Wednesday to ban the destruction of unsold new clothes and electronic equipment, as part of a draft regulation on eco-design aimed at making consumer products easier to repair and recycle.
ReadBérangère Couillard, the French Secretary of State for Ecology, visited the Caserne (Paris Xe) on the morning of 11 July. This was the first ministerial visit to the site, an accelerator dedicated to the ecological transition of the fashion industry, and it was also an opportunity to make official the launch this autumn of the "Textile Repair Bonus", under which consumers will be able to receive assistance of between €6 and €25 to repair their clothes and shoes.
ReadRalph Mansour, co-founder and CEO of Le Closet, a clothing rental company, invited three speakers, Yann Rivoallan (FPAPF), Marie Dupin and Jessica Almeida (Nellyrodi), to a meeting in Paris on 20 June to discuss clothing rental.
ReadThe government wants to "resolutely combat" the business model of the emblematic Chinese fast-fashion company Shein, which it deems responsible for "immense damage" to the environment, human beings, and the textile industry.
ReadThe European Commission on Wednesday proposed what would be the EU’s first law to improve soil health, aimed at curbing degradation caused by intensive farming and the worsening impact of climate change.
ReadThe Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen offered insight into the frustrations and ambitions underpinning the industry’s sustainability efforts. Critics say it remains too skewed towards the Global North.
ReadMore than 1,000 representatives from fashion brands, retailers, NGOs, policy makers and manufacturers travelled to Copenhagen this week for the 2023 edition of the Global Fashion Summit.
ReadOn 23 June, ADEME published the report on the lessons learnt from the traceability pilot project in the clothing sector carried out between 2020 and 2022 by DEFI as part of the traceability project of the Comité Stratégique de Filière Mode & Luxe.
ReadThe environmental damage and waste created by throwaway fast fashion is ‘absolutely unacceptable,’ environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told BoF.
ReadParis - In France, 3.3 billion items of clothing, footwear and household linen were placed on the market in 2022, compared with 2.8 billion in 2021, according to the Refashion eco-organisation, at a time when associations are calling for regulation of the sector, considered to be one of the most polluting.
ReadCompanies like H&M and Puma are pushing to get coal out of their supply chains by the end of the decade.
ReadParis - Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein offers "470,000 models available in real time" on its website, "astronomical" volumes that are out of all proportion to traditional retailers, with "disastrous" environmental and social impacts, according to an analysis by the NGO Friends of the Earth in a report published on Thursday.
ReadThe Sustainable Fashion Communication Playbook, co-published by UNEP and UN Climate Change, provides a shared vision, principles and guidance on how to align consumer-facing communication across the global fashion industry with sustainability targets.
ReadThe European Fashion Alliance, a coalition of groups including France’s Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode and Italy’s Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana, has weighed in on EU plans to regulate fashion. They’re not entirely happy.
ReadThe European Fashion Alliance (EFA) held its first policy roundtable in Brussels on 7 June. At a time when a number of issues relating to the sector (including the directive on corporate duty of care) are being debated at European level, the meeting was a historic moment for creative fashion and an opportunity to launch its first survey.
ReadThe startup fits into LVMH’s strategy to increase product durability.
ReadThe fashion industry is increasing its efforts to tackle environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
ReadThe British Retail Consortium’s third annual diversity report in partnership with The MBS Group shows a need to move on from talking about D&I strategies, and focus more on efficacy and action.
ReadA small but growing number of people are pledging to radically reduce the number of new fashion products they buy. But a deeply entrenched culture of consumerism makes it hard for many to stop shopping
ReadThe automation of textile recycling is developing to manage an exponential flow of used materials and meet the growing demand for recycled materials. The stakes are both ecological and economic: recycling in France is a good way of relocating the textile industry by closing the circular economy loop.
ReadA new cross-industry collaboration led by Textile Exchange and Leather Working Group aims to rid leather supply chains of deforestation and improve transparency. There are complex challenges to overcome, but signatories from Kering to H&M say they are ready to try.
ReadFor the first time, the European Fashion Alliance (EFA), with its twenty-five fashion trade federations, has publicly addressed the European Union. At an exceptional meeting held at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday 7 June, the highest authorities in the creative fashion industry gave their views on a number of pressing issues, such as sustainability and eco-design, at a time when the EU is due to approve decisive new regulations on these issues in the coming months.
ReadOn 1 June 2023, the European Parliament voted its negotiating position with the Member States on rules for integrating human rights and environmental impact into corporate governance. This step forward is in line with the project on duty of care and corporate responsibility on which the EP had already taken a position in 2021. The next stage will be negotiations with the Member States on the final text of the legislation.
ReadThe European Parliament has just voted its position on the European duty of vigilance, the famous CSDD. What are the implications? What happens next? We take stock.
ReadAfter four decades of emotionally-charged campaigns, Peta founder Ingrid Newkirk can all-but declare victory in the war on fur. Taking on more widely-used animal-based materials will be harder, however.
ReadThe EU parliament has backed recommendations to toughen proposed measures to tackle the excessive production and consumption of fashion.
ReadA while ago, WRAP released a report on textile policy options accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis, providing detailed insights into measures that can be taken towards a more sustainable future. Recent Ipsos data has highlighted the level of public concern regarding the environmental impact of the textile industry, reinforcing the significance of WRAP's report and the need for action towards a more sustainable future.
ReadA new report from the Apparel Impact Institute calculates fashion’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. The news is mixed, and there’s much action left to be taken.
ReadThe extended producer responsibility proposal should make it more costly for brands and retailers to have unchecked textile waste pouring into countries like Ghana.
ReadBrest - Microfibres generated by the clothing industry disrupt the metabolism of oysters even in small doses, and all the more so if the fibres are of natural origin, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Pollution.
ReadThe European Parliament on Thursday approved a groundbreaking draft law that would make it mandatory for large companies to check whether their suppliers are using child labour or damaging the environment.
ReadMayors from more than 30 global cities convened at ChangeNow, a prominent event focused on solutions for the planet, to raise concerns about the detrimental impact of fast fashion on their cities and the environment.
ReadWalk Free’s new Global Slavery Index tallies 50 million people living in modern slavery. Findings highlight the risks in garment supply chains, and offer recommendations for government regulation. It’s also a call to action.
ReadPrograms under consideration in parts of the US and EU would require fashion companies to pay fees based on the volume of garments they produce.
ReadThe buzzy concept is a chimaera that distracts from the root cause of fashion’s worsening environmental impact: overconsumption, argues Kenneth Pucker.
ReadParis - Recovering unsold stock, making clothes from natural yarns... The Berlier factory, inaugurated on Thursday, welcomes businesses and associations with the aim of becoming the new Parisian temple of circular fashion, with job creation at its heart.
ReadFrom today, a new pilot will test science-based targets for biodiversity and nature conservation, building on the success of targets for reducing carbon emissions. Moving nature into the boardroom will be a big task.
ReadB Corps may be overvalued now, but not for long, according to impact finance.
ReadWorldly wants to reintroduce itself to fashion as it expands its range beyond the Higg Index, whose consumer-facing transparency programme remains on hold after it was flagged for being ‘misleading’ last year.
ReadParis - Several associations announced on Wednesday that they had filed a new complaint, after an initial filing, against clothing giants such as Uniqlo and Inditex, which they accuse of having profited from the forced labour of Uyghurs in China.
ReadTextile industry accounts for a fifth of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions
ReadLaunched in 2019 to organise and develop the French wool industry, the Tricolor association is holding its second "Tricolor Days" on 11 and 12 May in Roubaix and Tourcoing. This is an opportunity for its members (breeders, organisations, industrialists and brands) to visit several local companies linked to sheep. But above all, it was the opportunity for a general assembly to define the direction of the sector, which is seeking outlets for 25,000 breeders, with a total of some 7 million sheep, and which produces 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes of wool in wool grease (unwashed) every year. This was explained to FashionNetwork.com by its general delegate Pascal Gautrand.
ReadRental, resale, and repair have risen to the mainstream by claiming to be better for the environment than linear fashion models, but attempts to quantify their impact have been criticized. Experts say better data is needed.
ReadA new survey of 1,000 US customers found that a majority don’t know what their clothing is made from and also overestimate how much clothing gets recycled. It should be a wake-up call for brands.
ReadIndia is on the brink of a potential “cotton crisis”—and no one seems to be paying attention.
ReadIn 2021, the online sales federation (Fevad) and the National Council of Shopping Centres published studies extolling the environmental virtues of their respective forms of commerce. In 2023, the French Environment Agency (Ademe) published a document noting the difficulty of assessing the impact of e-commerce logistics, while identifying sustainability levers.
ReadPurchasing practices are typically overlooked by brands, but they hold the keys to equitable supplier relationships and factory standards. A call for improvement from an investor group could spark action.
ReadNew York - A group of U.S. lawmakers has asked the Wall Street regulator to require an independent investigation of Shein, a Chinese online clothing retailer, and Uighur labour if it is listed in New York.
ReadMEPs want to regulate so-called "ephemeral" fashion. The Parliament's Environment Committee has presented a series of laws to better regulate this economic model.
ReadThree months on from the most powerful earthquake in its history, Türkiye is still feeling the impacts on fashion production, a key lifeline for its export economy. Suppliers say emotional support, flexible contracts and consistent orders are the best way for brands to help.
ReadLegislation is moving forward, and the major clothing brands are slowly adapting: since 1 January, the Agec law has forced them to be more transparent in terms of traceability. The major players in the field have more or less complied with these obligations.
ReadThe second edition of the Green Store Challenge organised by the Paris Good Fashion (PGF) association, with the LVMH group and the environmental consultancy Green Affair, rewards players committed to reducing the environmental footprint of their stores. Candidates have until July 14, 2023 to send their applications to PGF.
ReadIn the wake of 2013′s deadly factory collapse in Dhaka, more than 200 brands signed the Bangladesh Accord, a legally binding safety pact. As the agreement expands internationally, BoF unpacks why it’s widely viewed as fashion’s most effective safety campaign, how it can help brands address new sustainability regulation and what limitations remain.
ReadRothy’s is running a marketing blitz in support of a New York state recycling bill, a sign of fashion’s shifting relationship with politics and advocacy.
ReadWith legislation and investor pressure growing, reporting is a first step for fashion to tackle its plastic use and production problem.
ReadThe European Commission announced on Tuesday that it had carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies in the fashion sector suspected of cartel activity "in several EU Member States".
ReadMicrofiber filtering is on European policymakers' agenda. Caring for clothes matters.
ReadLet's go for the PGF x LVMH Green Store & Building Challenge 2023.
ReadAn annual growth of more than 20% over the next five years. This is what a ThredUp-GlobalData study announces for the American second-hand fashion market.
ReadRegenerative wool: it's the new green buzzword in the fashion industry – but can wool ever be fully sustainable?
ReadWithout textiles, there is no fashion. But textile manufacturing is highly polluting and there is an urgent need to make it sustainable. The industry and EU policymakers must work together on harmonising different national rules to turn Europe’s catwalks green. Opinion column by Pernille Weiss, MEP.
ReadThe advocates behind New York state’s Fashion Workers Act called on politicians and other industry stakeholders to support the legislation, which stalled in last year’s session.
ReadA study by the (Re)Set company for the Paris Good Fashion ecosystem looks at the need to develop textile recycling in France to revive this sector and create factories. But it will not happen without
ReadAnnounced almost two years ago, after a citizen consultation organised by the Paris Good Fashion association, the reflection on the creation of a clothes hanger recycling network has been underway for some 18 months. The initial ambition was to identify the needs to be able to collect, recover and recycle the thousands of hangers and polybags that accompany the marketing of clothes. The networks of actors that could be involved in this project were approached, as well as retailers and brands of different levels of range. Since February and until May, the experiment is underway in 37 shops on the street, shopping centres or even in business parks. Shops of the brands IKKS, Sandro, Dior, Etam, Uniqlo, Chanel but also Marques Avenue, Monoprix, Galeries Lafayette, the shopping centre of Les Halles in Paris and Le Bon Marché are participating in this experiment. A deposit five times larger than anticipated. In four weeks, in an operation launched in February in 37 shops in the Paris region, 3.3 tonnes of hangers and polybags were collected, sorted and recycled. When they began this field experiment at the request of Paris Good Fashion, the teams from Tri-O Greenwishes and Icare did not expect such volumes.
ReadOn the morning of 3 April 2023, the five round tables that animated the presentation of the study, initiated by Paris Good Fashion X Climate Chance, on the strategy of French fashion actors in terms of sustainable development, were packed in the amphitheater of the Institut Français de la Mode.
ReadHow far have French fashion brands come in meeting the challenges of social and environmental transformation? This is the question that the associations Paris Good Fashion and Climate Chance have tried to answer in a study unveiled on 3 April at the French Fashion Institute in Paris.
ReadParis Good Fashion publishes today the study it conducted with Climate Chance on the state of progress of the French fashion industry: climate, circular economy, water, biodiversity, and social issues.
ReadParis - In Europe, textile recycling "is still limited" while the quantity collected is increasing and "the reusable part is decreasing at the same time", says a report conducted by the research firm Terra for the French eco-organisation Refashion, published on Wednesday.
ReadOn March 29th, the new contract for the Fashion and Luxury sector was signed at the Made in France PV trade fair. A contract signed between the Strategic Committee of the sector (CSF) and the executive which sets twelve objectives in four main areas, of which FashionNetwork offers an overall vision.
ReadUN Climate Change News, 27 March 2023 – Companies in the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action are making promising strides when it comes to climate action, with more than 80% of them publicly reporting on their progress in line with their commitments, according to a new report jointly released today by UN Climate Change and CDP.
ReadBrands and certification schemes are in the firing line of the new EU Green Claims Directive, which calls for an end to the Wild West of environmental impact claims.
ReadA process that separates polyester from other textiles known as “chemical sorting” could help to cut the huge carbon emissions associated with the clothes industry, researchers have said.
ReadA new report from a UN climate change body is urging the world to move faster in reducing emissions. Here’s what that means for fashion.
ReadThe growing consumer interest in more environmentally friendly fashion has accelerated in recent years, but unfortunately it has been accompanied by an increase in greenwashing.
ReadInvestigative research shows that the fashion retailer does not handle returns as sustainably as it promises.
ReadEmmaus, a social integration company specialising in the resale and recovery of clothing and objects, has infiltrated the second-hand platform Vinted.
ReadThese days, it’s hard to escape the clutches of influencer culture that in many ways defines our digital landscape – from outfit of the day (#OOTD) posts on Instagram to paid partnerships with brands and the murky world of gifting. Over on TikTok, there are even now tutorials on how to become an influencer.
ReadIn its 2021 annual report, Swedish retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB identified one trend as a “high” risk to its business for the first time, higher-risk even than increased energy costs or the availability of raw materials.
ReadWhile traditional retailers such as Camaïeu, Pimkie and San Marina are dropping like flies in France, the e-commerce giant Shein is continuing its meteoric rise and has set up shop for a few days in Lyon. However, its social and environmental impacts and its much-criticised commercial practices have prompted several players to call for a ban in France. Across the Atlantic, the group is preparing its IPO, one of the biggest of the year.
ReadWhile most brands have banned fur, animal welfare is rarely discussed when it comes to more mainstream and lucrative fabrics like leather.
ReadInitiatives that seek to give suppliers a stronger voice in forging the future of the fashion industry are gaining momentum. The hope is to tap their expertise and better match brands’ sustainability strategies with the realities of the supply chain.
ReadThe responsible use and sustainable management of water is a pressing global issue that is recognized as the sixth United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). A linchpin of the fashion industry, cotton is sometimes incorrectly stated as being a water-intensive crop. Outdated stats and inaccurate data continue to be cited, contributing to the persistence of this myth.
ReadUnusual mix of stars, activists and sustainable fashion personalities attend ceremony in Hollywood
ReadGreenwashing has become part of our modern-day lexicon. Now there’s a new term, ‘green hushing,’ for when a company is too quiet about its accomplishments.
ReadClothes have become more like memes than physical goods, moments to take part in online, with catastrophic consequences for the environment, writes Alec Leach.
ReadTwenty years ago, these mid-range brands, such as Pimkie, Kookaï and Gap, were still attractive. Times have changed. Because of the health crisis, but also because of competition from online sales and the second-hand market, the sector is collapsing
ReadOther industries have a long and storied history with lobbying, but fashion has been lagging behind, experts say, widening the gap between industry players and policymakers. There’s still time to change that.
ReadInformative documentary follows luxury brand’s painstaking effort to produce clothes that do no harm
ReadThe volume of textiles exported from the EU to Africa and Asia is increasing, prompting fresh concern that companies are leaning on circular initiatives to appear more sustainable, while continuing to overproduce.
ReadDraft plan addresses inflated claims about products’ environmental credentials
ReadA demonstration will be organised on Friday 3 March from 8 to 11 am in front of the Primark shop in Centre Deux, Saint-Étienne, by a group of associations (Zéro déchet, Extinction rébellion, Amis de la terre, CCFD Terre solidaire, Alternatiba...) to "denounce the damage of disposable fashion".
ReadThe world's first commercial-scale textile recycling mill is a milestone in tackling fashion's colossal waste problem.
ReadCalling out the industry’s environmental footprint and the true cost of making clothes has touched off a complex and heated debate about the accessibility and affordability of lower-impact fashion.
ReadDiscarded textiles in Europe, including used clothing and footwear, are an increasing waste and export problem. Rapidly increasing EU exports of used textiles — some of which is reused and some of which ends up in landfills — show that Europe faces a challenge in how to handle its own used textiles, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today.
ReadThe European textile confederation Euratex and 42 partners signed the launch of RegioGreenTex on 21 February. This project has three years to identify and reduce the difficulties that are currently holding back circular initiatives in the European textile-clothing sector.
ReadPre-loved style pioneer Bay Garnett dresses stars in curated stock from Oxfam’s warehouse for LFW’s opening show
ReadThe OECD organized two days dedicated to the duty of care in the fashion industry this week. Fascinating.
ReadThe ESG initiative pledges to turn companies into forces for good, but some are wary of its growing focus on multinational corporations
ReadIt was a meeting of the minds at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, with environmental leaders from across industry and politics gathering under the umbrella of the CDP Europe Awards.
ReadIn recent years, the fashion industry seems to have become aware of its negative impact on the environment. To change this, the sector is increasingly investing in ethical materials.
ReadToday's decisions under the regular infringement decisions include 74 letters of formal notice, 19 reasoned opinions and 33 referrals to the European Court of Justice.
ReadBrands in New York, from Collina Strada to Dion Lee, are drawing inspiration from nature. Following the Schiaparelli heads, the trend is raising questions about the industry’s conservation efforts.
ReadSince 1 January 2022, the anti-waste law for a circular economy requires that unsold non-food products can no longer be destroyed. Clothes and shoes thus fall within the scope of this law.
ReadSummary. For two decades progressive thinkers have argued that a more sustainable form of capitalism would arise if companies regularly measured and reported on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. But although such reporting has become widespread, and some firms are deriving benefits from it, environmental damage and social inequality are still growing. This article, by Timberland’s former COO, outlines the problems with both sustainability reporting and sustainable investing. The author discusses nonstandard metrics, insufficient auditing, unreliable ESG ratings, and more. But real progress, he says, requires not just better measurement and reporting practices but also changes in regulations, investment incentives, and mindsets
ReadTORONTO - Canadian researchers say they have developed a coating which could reduce the amount of microplastic fibres shed when washing synthetic fabrics by more than 90 per cent.
ReadOn the occasion of the Première Vision trade show, which took place from 7 to 9 February 2022, Gildas Minvielle from the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) gave a lecture on the sourcing strategies of French retailers. A representative panel (first price, mid-range and premium) composed of a hundred brands, chains, popular hypermarkets and department stores.
ReadIt's official: carbon-neutral companies are (often) rubbish
ReadPatagonia, ThredUp, and J.Crew are killing it at resale, but it’s still not curbing people’s voracious shopping habit.
ReadHow can we tell if the clothes in our wardrobes really are what they claim to be?
ReadIn a context of climate emergency, synthetic fibres, which represent more than two thirds of textiles, have become a major cause of the crisis
ReadThe European Commission has launched a new campaign – ReSet The Trend – which aims to engage Europeans in the battle against fast fashion and raise public awareness about the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.
ReadFashion could learn a lot from the closure of coal mines when it comes to coupling social and environmental impact, experts say. But the process of a just transition is complex, and requires a radical mindset shift many brands are reluctant to embrace.
ReadFrom products made of recycled plastic to take-back programmes, some of fashion’s favourite sustainability solutions are problematic, argues Beth Esponnette.
ReadMicrofibre shedding occurs at almost every stage of a garment’s life cycle, causing harm to humans and the planetary. But its impacts are still often overlooked, a new report from Forum for the Future finds.
ReadCritics say carbon offsetting does more harm than good by allowing companies to exaggerate their climate progress. Proponents say it’s a necessary solution in the economy we live in today. Where does that leave fashion brands?
ReadHow to best spend the large sums it will take to cut the fashion industry’s carbon emissions? The Apparel Impact Institute is launching a pre-vetted portfolio of climate solutions in an effort to better direct investment. UK ministers are trying to spur companies into action, to help achieve a national goal to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
ReadThe AAFA, CFDA and more look to vocalize sustainability demands for policymakers.
ReadA EU funded research project has been launched with the ambitious goal of developing new solutions to reduce #textile waste by as much as 80%
Read“Eco-friendly.” “Vegan.” “Organic.” “Ethical.” “Sustainable.” These clothing labels have become ubiquitous as consumers continue to grow more concerned about the industry’s significant environmental, climate and social impacts, prompting many brands to rush to signal that they too care about the planet and its people.
ReadShifting weather patterns are making shopping behaviour harder to predict, adding to inventory management challenges for brands and retailers.
ReadSustainability hasn’t traditionally been a major talking point among menswear designers. Marine Serre, Jeanne Friot and (Di)vision are among those looking to change that.
ReadBrands selling into France are getting a taste of changes to come, as a new wave of sustainability legislation calls for greater transparency and traceability. Experts say the industry isn’t ready.
ReadThis week, a spoof press release claimed Adidas had appointed a co-CEO to address rights violations in its supply chain, a sign of more disruptive and confrontational tactics from advocacy groups focused on the industry.
ReadEver considered the carbon footprint of manufacturing your favourite shirt?
ReadA new report raises questions over the validity of existing efforts to quantify the fashion industry’s record on sustainability.
ReadParis - TikTok and Instagram, new vectors for promoting more responsible fashion? On these networks, temples of unbridled consumption, influencers are trying to promote clothing choices that are more respectful of the planet.
ReadInvestors aren't doing nearly enough to get fashion to act on key ESG issues like synthetic fibers, biodiversity and more, according to Planet Tracker.
ReadMADRID – Leading fashion firms have united to launch the Association for Textile Waste Management in Spain.
ReadThe business of fast fashion, an increasingly profitable model that wreaks havoc on the environment and working conditions.
ReadWith purchasing practices that undercut the cost of production, big brands are shortchanging workers and undermining their own commitments to operate more responsibly, according to a new study.
ReadThe Higg Index is under review, though the process may take some time.
ReadNew transparency requirements in France are testing big brands from Louis Vuitton to Zara as they prepare for an oncoming wave of sustainability regulation.
ReadLeaders from LVMH, Kering, Burberry and more are making new hires and focusing on fashion’s relationship with nature in the year ahead.
ReadFaced with the difficulty of recruiting technically qualified workers in the luxury and fashion sector, the Comité Stratégique de Filière Mode & Luxe (CSF) has published an interactive online guide, including videos and podcasts, on career opportunities as part of its "Savoir Pour Faire" campaign.
ReadThe European Fashion Alliance (EFA), founded in June 2022, held its first summit in Spain, in Maspalomas, from 19 to 20 October at the invitation of the Gran Canaria Moda Calida network and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria organisation. The summary of this event was released on Tuesday 10 January.
ReadThe designer has released her company's latest environmental impact report, revealing the challenges of running a green business and the damage that wool, silk and cotton production can have on the planet.
ReadTo kick off 2023, FashionNetwork.com asked leaders in the fashion and luxury sector to share their thoughts on the year 2022, which has just ended, as well as their apprehensions and hopes for 2023. Today, the view of Yann Rivoallan.
ReadMajor high street fashion brands have paid factories in Bangladesh less than the cost of producing their clothes, researchers claim.
ReadThe various ADEME barometers show that the French are aware of the climate emergency and the need to change their lifestyles. However, this change requires an in-depth reorganization of the economic and political model.
ReadIt’s clear what needs to be done. In the year ahead, it’s time to implement at scale, say experts and industry executives. Par Rachel Cernansky
ReadThe International Safety Accord, formerly known as the Bangladesh Accord, is set to roll out a new program in Pakistan.
ReadThere is no point in multiplying communications around potential environmental commitments, consumers are not fooled and expect real action and transparency. This is the finding of a new study in the UK, which shows that the fashion industry is one of the least trustworthy sectors in this respect.
ReadThe "Anti-waste for a circular economy" (AGEC) and "Climate and Resilience" laws, enacted in France on 10 February 2020 and 22 August 2021 respectively, aim to transform our lifestyles in order to move towards a more sustainable model of society. Since their promulgation, many decrees have been published that have a direct impact on the daily life of the French and on the fashion sector.
ReadRefashion, the eco-organisation of the textile sector of clothing, household linen and footwear, has obtained the renewal of its approval by the public authorities for the period 2023-2028. During these next six years, the organisation plans to continue the transformation of the sector by following the objectives set by the Ministries of Ecological Transition and Economy. These targets include the collection of 60 per cent of TLC (Clothing, Linen, Shoes).
ReadFor suppliers, the year ahead will be plagued by inflation uncertainty, but there are also opportunities to diversify, explore new technologies and strengthen relationships with brands.
ReadFrom fast fashion bans to "Fashion Act," these are the moments where sustainability saw major gains in 2022.
ReadFrom 1 January 2023, certain textile and clothing companies will have to inform consumers about the environmental qualities and characteristics of their products.
ReadThere are 20 recycled fibre factories with the recycling capacity of 2.4 million tonnes and they mostly use garment jhut or waste as raw materials
ReadFrom widespread protests and legislative action, to screaming matches on Twitter about Shein – we travel back over the year in sustainability
Read2022 started with promises from fashion brands to make real progress in reducing their impact on the environment. There were notable gains that laid a solid foundation for next steps. There’s still plenty of work to be done.
ReadThe current paradigm is defined by sustainability, which permeates all aspects of life, especially what we wear. Customers always have an impact on the fashion business, and at the moment they are calling for a paradigm shift that will make sustainability, ethical behavior, and transparency the norm.
ReadFrom 7 to 9 February 2023, the international sourcing fair, Première Vision Paris, will be bringing together fashion professionals to discover the latest trends from 1,200 exhibitors from 44 countries.
ReadAs supply chains remain under pressure, garment manufacturers have an opportunity to lean into vertical integration, nearshoring and small-batch production, while seeking closer upstream and downstream collaboration, according to The State of Fashion 2023.
ReadIt’s too early for mainstream adoption, but Web3 mindsets have already shifted fashion’s definitions of reality and its balance of power.
ReadUN Biodiversity Conference, is seeing heightened involvement from fashion companies. Here’s how they’re showing up.
ReadFashion reached several sustainability milestones this year, but there’s growing pressure for the industry to make real progress, not just announce its intentions to do so.
ReadWhen most people buy new clothes, the impact this has on the planet is something they may not think about. However the impact is significant.
ReadThe "Decarbonization Plan" will require companies (or half the fashion industry) to commit to science-based targets.
ReadWhipsawing consumer demand is squeezing fashion suppliers and their workers in countries like Bangladesh, Sarah Kent reports from Dhaka.
ReadSome of the biggest fashion industry-specific news out of the United Nations’ COP27 came on Monday, with well-known companies ranging from Zara-owned Inditex and fellow fast-fashion retailer H&M to Gucci and Balenciaga’s parent company Kering announcing a commitment to collectively purchase 550,000 tons of “low-carbon, low-footprint alternative fibers” – such as agricultural residues and recycled textiles – for use in manufacturing “fashion textiles and paper packaging” in order to “support the protection of the world’s vital forests and ecosystems and lower forest degradation pressures from the fashion and packaging supply chains.”
ReadIndustry leaders said the goal of sustainability wouldn’t happen without changes to the business model and more efforts to educate consumers.
ReadThe fashion industry has long avoided significant costs and risks in its supply chain, but a reckoning is looming, argue Cornell’s Jason Judd and Sarosh Kuruvilla.
ReadPolitical and economic situation, figures on the evolution of the fashion market, potential of recycling and second hand... On Thursday 1st December 2022, the fashion ecosystem was invited to the annual seminar of the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) to "rethink fashion". Rethinking, reinventing or, literally, "restarting" a system that no longer functions (definitively?) as it used to.
ReadJamey Heron-Waterhouse looks at whether increasing the sustainability of the fashion world requires ditching consumerism entirely. Consumerism is the notion that buying goods and services is desirable, benefitting both the economy and the buyer. Buying products makes the buyer happy and sustains their needs whilst driving the economy forward by funding companies so that they can make more goods for the buyer: a symbiotic relationship.
ReadThe fashion industry has a fossil fuel problem.
ReadThe necessities of food, shelter, and clothing have all become a mix of what is needed and what is wanted as basics evolve into luxuries. What we wear, the places we inhabit, and even the food we eat are often designed to be aesthetically pleasing. We live in a world where scarcity and poverty are widespread, but poverty is not experienced by most people in most places. According to the U.S. Census Bureau: “The official poverty rate in 2021 was 11.6 percent, with 37.9 million people in poverty. Neither the rate nor the number in poverty was significantly different from 2020.”
ReadRising living costs and increasingly precarious work are trapping the low-wage workers who power the fashion industry in a crushing squeeze, Sarah Kent for BOF reports from Dhaka.
ReadIn a last-minute win for the UN climate summit COP27, global leaders agreed to a loss and damage fund, which has opened up a conversation about the relationship between climate and colonialism.
ReadThe Atacama Desert in northern Chile is home to tons of used clothes, but also end-of-life cars and tyres from all over the world, threatening its unique ecosystem.
ReadNew season, new styles, buy more, buy cheap, move on, throw away: the pollution, waste, and emissions of fast fashion are fueling the triple planetary crisis. The annual Black Friday sales on 25 November are a reminder of the need to rethink what is bought, what is thrown away, and what it costs the planet.
ReadThe richest consumers in countries such as the U.K., U.S. and Japan should only buy an average of five new fashion garments per year by 2030 to keep the 1.5-degrees Celsius climate target alive, says a new report set to be published Thursday.
ReadMany of the clothes donated to the dump are unusable because of a lack of quality. They often end up in Africa, particularly in Ghana. A pollution denounced by Ghanaians, gathered in Paris.
ReadVestiaire Collective has said it will ban fast fashion from the platform. The move has raised questions over how fast fashion should be treated by circular business models.
ReadParis - The Ministry of Ecology on Thursday gave details to the press of the billion euros that will be made available over the period 2023-2028 thanks to the eco-contributions of producers in the textile sector on the "polluter pays" principle, which will go to waste management in this sector.
ReadAn action plan worth €1 billion over 6 years should enable the textile industry and consumers to accelerate the shift towards the circular economy. Explanations in this article co-signed by the Secretary of State for Ecology, Bérangère Couillard, and the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Christophe Béchu.
ReadLab tests found concentrations of hazardous chemicals that breach EU regulatory limits in 15 percent of products, according to a report published Tuesday.
ReadThe pullback on returns comes after the e-commerce sector spent the past two decades removing costs from supply chains and customer service. But returns had barely been touched, leaving them as one of the few places with lots of room for reducing expenses.
ReadSatatland offers ‘guilt-free’ recyclable clothing using tech to cut waste and encourage consumers to reuse
ReadWhile business imperatives for making sustainability claims are clear, being able to prove them has become a stumbling block for the industry
Read‘Stop Lying, Stop Greenwashing’ — Key Messages From COP27
Read"This year is crucial," said Global Fashion Agenda's Federica Marchionni as brands commit to action, investment.
ReadFashion had a limited impact on negotiations at this year’s UN climate change conference. Activists are clearer than ever on what needs to happen, and who needs to be part of the conversation moving forward.
ReadFounder La Rhea Pepper is stepping down and Claire Bergkamp, who built Stella McCartney’s sustainability department, will take her place. At the top of her agenda: asking the hard questions.
ReadThe spending power of the global majority continues to rise, yet consumers from minority ethnic backgrounds still feel undervalued by luxury brands, a new report from advertising giant WPP shows. It’s an untapped opportunity for growth.
ReadThe latest initiative is led by environmental nonprofit Canopy.
ReadEfforts to stave off catastrophic climate change are failing, reports from the UN’s COP27 climate summit show. From cotton yields to forced labor, here’s what that means for fashion
ReadSharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) - The fashion industry has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. But at the UN climate conference in Egypt, industry representatives had to admit that this target would be very difficult to achieve. Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) - The fashion industry has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. But at the UN climate conference in Egypt, industry representatives had to admit that this target would be very difficult to achieve.
ReadExtreme and unpredictable weather events are becoming increasingly common, with knock-on effects for fashion’s natural fiber supply. Experts say regenerative agriculture, circular business models, and increased traceability could help mitigate risks.
ReadAt the UN’s COP27 summit, fashion’s chances of achieving lofty climate targets still rest on ‘a leap of faith,’ with the industry just starting to lay the basic foundations required to deliver.
ReadFrom 1083 to Slip Français, Cocorico, Dim, or Dop, no less than 1,000 companies manufacturing in France are hosting MIF Expo, the 'made in France' trade show, from 10 to 13 November, for its 10th edition. This is an opportunity to talk to Fabienne Delahaye, founder, and president of the show, about the origins of this project and the changes in French purchasing practices and behavior over the last decade.
ReadThe global textile and clothing industry experienced a contraction in its carbon emissions during the international confinements. The latter is back on the rise for eight of the ten major groups studied by the environmental organization Stand.earth, which points out that the trajectories taken by the sector's giants are in contradiction with the objectives set by the UN Fashion Charter (the UN fashion industry's charter for climate action), to which all these brands are nevertheless signatories.
ReadOn the occasion of the MIF Expo trade fair, which takes place from 10 to 13 November at the Porte de Versailles (Paris 15th), Le Slip Français is deploying a 1,400-metre "factory of the future".
ReadHow Global Fashion Agenda and the SAC are making way for new partnerships at Cop27.
ReadAs COP27 opens in Egypt from 6 to 18 November, Thomas Ebélé, co-founder of the ethical and eco-responsible fashion label SloWeAre, and co-author of the guide "The hidden face of labels", deplores the lack of action and political will to reduce the carbon footprint of the fashion industry, which is estimated to amount to 1.2 billion tons of CO2, or about 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
ReadBig brands are changing the way they talk about sustainability following a regulatory crackdown in Europe. But exactly how companies should be required to substantiate their eco-marketing claims remains hotly debated.
ReadAre brand’s making progress towards addressing their climate impacts? Newly released data from Good On You paints a distressing picture.
ReadThe UN’s annual climate summit is taking place against a challenging backdrop. But coming together to agree on tangible action has never been more critical.
ReadBrands from Canada Goose to Patagonia still rely on PFAS for performance attributes like waterproofing.
ReadThough King Charles himself won’t be traveling to Egypt, fashion has him well represented at the climate summit.
ReadSince 2020, the majority of fashion value chain actors (from raw material producers to garment manufacturers and brands, as well as other organisations) around the world have signed the United Nations-initiated Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, committing to reduce their emissions to zero by 2050. While this commitment is long-term and requires many adjustments to be effective, the goal is far from being achieved at the moment.
ReadReshoring, social impact and new alliances to promote textile recycling were all on the agenda at the first annual Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum, backed by luxury heavyweights including Fendi and Prada.
ReadThe Global Fashion Agenda is developing a film series about social and environmental sustainability in the fashion industry that will be produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.
ReadDuring 4 days, from 4 to 7 November at the Hotel Président Wilson in Geneva, visitors to the RE-Luxury fair will be able to buy, have their luxury items appraised, resold or repaired and attend conferences with experts from the luxury sector.
ReadFrench-American investment fund L Catterton, co-created by the LVMH group in 2016, has announced the creation of a platform, named L Catterton Impact, with the mission of generating positive and measurable social and environmental impact along with financial returns.
ReadThe Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which is behind the Higg Index, is figuring out how to move forward after it pulled a consumer-facing tool earlier this year over concerns about the data behind it.
ReadAs the UN warns the world is on track for dangerous levels of warming, companies must treat climate change as a real business risk, not just a marketing opportunity.
ReadLeather alternatives have been boosted as eco-innovation and dismissed as mere plastic, but the truth is more complicated than that and demands clearer marketing to avoid misleading consumers.
ReadIndustry executives gathered in Venice for the seminal two-day Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum.
ReadClimate Chance Global Obervatory of climate action has just published the 4th edition of the Global Climate Finance Report, in partnership with Finance for Tomorrow.
ReadShein, Zara, and Pretty Little Thing have all launched resale. While there is potential to shift consumer behavior, experts say without degrowth, it’s closer to greenwashing.
ReadAt a time when a growing number of fashion brands are offering their virtual collections in the metaverse, the Ministers for Culture and Digital Affairs, Rima Abdul Malak and Jean-Noël Barrot, received an exploratory report on these connected universes on 24 October. This 116-page document, initiated on 14 February by three specialists, contains ten proposals to position France firmly in the virtual universe market.
ReadH&M, Sainsbury’s and Nestlé are among more than 300 companies urging governments to agree to the pledge at Cop15 in December.
ReadThe trade organization Alliance du commerce and the consultancy firm Deloitte have resumed the publication of their "Cahiers de la mode durable", a practical magazine for the clothing sector informing on the eco-responsible challenges to be taken up to limit its impact on the planet. The third part, published a few days ago, focuses on extending the life of products, encouraging brands and retailers to question their operations in order to produce articles that will last and be used for longer.
ReadESG risk intelligence beats out company disclosures for a number of reasons, experts contend.
ReadFrom Bidart, on the campus of the ESTIA engineering school (Ecole Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées), the Biarritz Good Fashion event, organized on Thursday, October 20, by the Bali Chair and Paris Good Fashion, mobilized big names such as Salomon, the Eram group, Decathlon, Petit Bateau, alongside key players in innovation such as the CETI, COATS or Ecollant.
ReadHigg, Bluesign and ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) have discovered the power of three in their shared quest to promote the use of environmentally safe chemicals in global textile and apparel production.
ReadFor up-and-coming brands, a few small, cleverly designed stores in the right locations can have a bigger impact than a giant flagship.
ReadEuropean online fashion and lifestyle platform Zalando has launched its first adaptive collection featuring more than 140 styles across its private labels in 25 markets as part of its ongoing commitment to inclusive fashion.
ReadParis Good Fashion publishes its glossary of sustainability and fashion!
Read"Pre-Owned" will offer new services in its 60 stores and online as part of a sustainability pilot program.
ReadSix leading Italian luxury houses are joining forces to tackle the problem of end-of-life clothing. The Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Moncler, OTB, Prada, and Ermenegildo Zegna groups have created the Re.Crea consortium, coordinated by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), to manage end-of-life textile and fashion products and promote research and development of innovative recycling solutions.
ReadThe Agec law will soon impose a reparability index on new textiles in the fashion industry and decoration brands. This regulation is driving the growth of Tilli, which specializes in repairs to clothing and decorative fabrics. To meet the demand, the application has just raised 1.2 million euros.
ReadCircular economy and upcycling are increasingly at the center of attention in the luxury industry. While LVMH launched Nona Source in 2021, a site for reselling its dormant stocks of fabrics and materials, Chanel initiated the Atelier des Matières four years ago, via a slightly different circular transformation model, which works on the recovery and revival of unused materials as well as unsold or unused manufactured products from the fashion and luxury sectors.
ReadThe documentary "Untold: Inside the Shein Machine", broadcast on Channel 4, highlights the (very) poor working conditions and pay faced by the workers who produce for the fast fashion brand, Shein.
ReadThe project is being carried out within the framework of a call for tenders from the City of Paris. The industrial hotel, i.e. the site, is one of the major programmes run by the RIVP (Régie Immobilière de la Ville de Paris) for social economy companies. It is located not far from Station F, the world's largest incubator for start-ups.
ReadThe spray-on fabric worn by Bella Hadid during Paris Fashion Week is thin on sustainability credentials. It’s also a reminder, for many, that fashion is falling short on sustainability in exactly the place it should be strongest: making it fashionable, desirable — and buzzworthy.
ReadIn November, the French government will validate its new roadmap for the so-called extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the textile, household linen and footwear sector (TLC). Starting in 2023, it will change the relationship between the State, producers (brands, wholesalers ...), collectors, recycling actors and eco-organizations and this for the next six years. The stakes are high: some 600,000 tons of TLC are put on the market each year in France.
ReadWhat would a society that respects the limits of life look like? If no one has yet been able to clearly describe it, we might as well do it together! Meeting with the director Valérie Zoydo, one of the initiators of this writing experiment on an unprecedented scale.
ReadVogue Business looks at how the avatar fashion landscape has evolved over the years, the brands involved and what this says about consumer appetite for digital fashion.
ReadShein parent Zoetop Business Company is on the hook for $1.9 million in fines to New York state for failing to “properly handle” a data breach that stole the personal information of tens of millions of customers and then lying to them about it, New York attorney general Letitia James said Wednesday.
ReadAccording to a study conducted by Fashion Revolution in the UK, a quarter of the people who have ever thrown away a piece of clothing did so because they didn't like it anymore. Why this dislike? Color that no longer pleases, cut that no longer fits... but also, let's be honest, an evolution of trends that ends up making it "old fashioned". Seriously, who kept his Bensimon or his denim leggings from the early 2010s?
ReadRetailers are busy right-sizing their inventory. That doesn’t bode well for garment workers, who may be even more vulnerable amid rising prices and stagnant wages than they were early in the pandemic.
ReadPutting on a little wool to counter the effect of the cold is nothing new. But as energy prices soar, and a shortage threatens for this winter, the country is committed to a strategy of energy austerity, voluntary or not. On the clothing market, several brands have observed for a few weeks a strong increase in their sales on certain product categories that promote body heat, namely sweaters, down jackets or thermal underwear.
ReadThe French influencer, followed by more than a million subscribers on YouTube and Instagram, made a name for herself with her fashion and beauty-focused videos. But after a click, she turned everything upside down, her life and her business model. Today, she tells the story of this not-so-rare addiction.
ReadClothing that can be disassembled and reimagined saw a resurgence during Paris Fashion Week. Sustainability experts say it could change shopping behaviours, but only if designers move beyond the gimmick.
ReadDutch and Norwegian authorities have issued joint guidance, based on current European Union law, on how the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) can continue to use the Higg Materials Sustainability Index to make environmental claims without running afoul of greenwashing regulations designed to protect consumers from misleading information.
ReadTransform Trade charity says British-based companies are among main bringers of cases based on bilateral investment treaties.
ReadThe RREUSE non-profit network of social enterprises involved in the reuse, repair and recycling sector has published a position paper on the European Union's (EU) Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.
ReadBetter Cotton wants sustainability to be a team sport. The cotton farming nonprofit unveiled Thursday the Delta Framework, a shared set of environmental, social, and economic indicators to measure sustainability across the cotton and coffee commodity sectors.
ReadBig brands from Adidas to Patagonia are on track to eliminate virgin polyester from their products. But the pivot to materials mostly made from recycled plastic bottles is an imperfect solution.
ReadThe estimated value of the apparel, footwear, and accessories resale market is between $100 and $120 billion worldwide, more than three times the size it was in 2020, according to new research by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Vestiaire Collective, a global platform for preowned fashion. The report, titled What an Accelerating Secondhand Market Means for Fashion Brands and Retailers, is being released today.
ReadLouise Linderoth wins the Grand Prix Inclusive Design, organized by Eyes on Talents, Paris Good Fashion, associated with APF France handicap and Axians, thanks to clothes designed for disabled people.
ReadThe global textiles industry is producing more than ever before, but shifts from conventional materials to lower-impact alternatives have stagnated, according to a report published Wednesday by non-profit Textile Exchange.
ReadParis Fashion Week was star-studded and as action packed as its schedule. The city’s most promising young designers cut through the noise.
ReadConvinced that it is essential to involve creative minds in order to raise awareness about sustainability and inclusivity, Eyes on Talents and Paris Good Fashion launched the Grand Prix Inclusive Design with APF France handicap in order to reward creative minds committed to designing a more sustainable world.
ReadA new report has called out fashion as one of the world's most polluting industries and while the good news is that it's only number six on the list, the bad news is that the amount of pollution created by the industry is still massive, despite efforts to be more sustainable and planet-friendly.
ReadUntil recently, eco-labelling on clothing has been a voluntary disclosure made by fashion brands. But with climate neutrality on every government’s agenda, fashion too is under legislative scrutiny. Releasing information about sustainable action is set to become a mandate: from clothing with digital IDs to carbon labels, change is brewing.
ReadThe textile industry is one of the most polluting in the world, both in terms of water consumption and CO2 emissions. Yet, the number of clothes produced each year around the world is constantly increasing, while it would be enough to change our way of consuming to put an end to this environmental carnage.
ReadWhile President Emmanuel Macron has called for "saving 10% of what we currently consume", digital sobriety is now an essential lever to achieve this goal. This is what the first barometer of digital eco-design highlights thanks to RAZOSCAN, a solution for measuring the environmental footprint of websites launched by Razorfish, the leading digital experience agency in France, and its partner GreenIT.fr, a group of experts specializing in digital sobriety, eco-design and slow.tech.
ReadAccording to a 16-month study conducted in six countries, some 494,000 tonnes of low-value or non-reusable textiles collected (74% of the total) can be recycled. This is the conclusion of the "Sorting for Circularity Europe" project conducted by Fashion for Good, which looks at the nature of the fibres disposed of and the industrial networks that need to be developed to take them in. This work is all the more interesting at a time when the French government has just announced a major consultation on this topic during the month of October. According to a 16-month study conducted in six countries, some 494,000 tonnes of low-value or non-reusable textiles collected (74% of the total) can be recycled. This is the conclusion of the "Sorting for Circularity Europe" project conducted by Fashion for Good, which looks at the nature of the fibres disposed of and the industrial networks that need to be developed to take them in. This work is all the more interesting at a time when the French government has just announced a major consultation on this topic during the month of October.
ReadThe Euratex confederation, Inditex, PVH, Decathlon, Lenzing, Oxfam and ReFashion are among the 27 members of the new Cisutac consortium. Co-founded with the European Union, the consortium aims to identify and eliminate the bottlenecks hindering the circularity of the clothing sector.
ReadThe French Alliance du Commerce is launching a training course on responsible fashion for in-store sales teams: "The textile life cycle: know it well to advise well".
ReadThe textile industry is recruiting. Problem: there are not many candidates... To remedy this shortage, Pôle Emploi in Andrézieux-Bouthéon has proposed to four companies to join forces to train and recruit their future employees.
ReadFor one month, the french actors of the textile sector will meet around a table to discuss a draft decree aimed at introducing a bonus system for the most sustainable clothing and footwear.
ReadCalls for change came in 2020, but fashion shows were back in full force this season — with sustainability agendas, awareness and education largely left off the runway. Advocates say more must be done to challenge the system.
ReadThe British Retail Consortium (BRC) has published voluntary guidelines to help businesses selling second-hand and pre-loved items on their journey to a circular economy.
ReadThe association Une autre mode est possible (UAMEP), founded in 2017 to promote a more sustainable industry, is organizing its first 'Week of Other Fashions' in Paris, from October 3 to 8. An event supported by the Paris City Hall and sponsored by the Canals, which is divided into several phases: the unveiling of a manifesto, routes in the capital and a festival in three Parisian venues.
ReadIn the field of sustainable fashion, upcycling is still a niche. It is difficult to find collections today that are entirely designed from used finished products or dormant stocks. Faced with a polluting industry, brands are adopting new solutions to extend the life of a garment. Revibe, a new e-commerce platform dedicated to slow fashion, has chosen to make upcycled fashion its specialty.
ReadAt a time when, to go beyond the verbiage around sustainable fashion, we need to talk about traceability and transparency, here is a digital platform that gives an instant overview of the supply chain.
ReadLast week, CDP has announced that it will expand its global environmental disclosure system to help solve the plastic pollution problem, with expertise and support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, Minderoo Foundation, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
ReadOn Sutton Page's ravaged cotton fields, there is almost nothing left to pick. The Texas farmer managed to salvage maybe a fifth of his crop, but the rest was lost to the severe drought that has taken a steep toll across the region.
ReadIt is not commonly understood that the climate crisis is as much about people as it is about the environment. For most of its existence, commercial fashion has run on women’s labour and cotton cultivation. The two are not mutually exclusive.
ReadIn the Landes region, a large-scale program is underway to organize and industrialize the sorting and recycling of shoes in the first instance, and fashion items in the second. Explanations.
ReadIn the environmental, social and governance era, there’s no industry that has been selling “world-changing” or “life-changing” sustainable products more than the fashion sector. However, the reality is we’ve witnessed the rise of scandals, such as falsely claiming the use of recycled material or misleading customers with sustainable claims.
ReadBefore the start of the new government, President Emmanuel Macron had set the tone: the era of carefree living and abundance (of land, materials, water) is over. Global warming, combined with the health crisis and the strengthening of authoritarian regimes, promises upheavals in our value scales. Energy sobriety, once mocked by the Keynesian doxa, will suddenly climb to the highest rungs of this scale, supported by the imprecations of political ecology.
ReadWe unpack the sustainable shopping habits of today’s Gen Z Chinese consumers, and what brands can do to capture their spend.
Read27.6 million people around the world are victims of forced labour, in many sectors of activity. With this in mind, the European Commission has presented a text to ban forced labour products from the European Union market.
ReadH&M will remove the 'Conscious choice' indicator from its e-shop worldwide. And Decathlon, via a statement from the ACM, "commits to adjust or discontinue the use of sustainability claims on its apparel and/or websites".
ReadFrom floods in Pakistan to drought in Texas, extreme weather is mixing with political upheaval, economic challenges and trade tensions to threaten cotton supply.
ReadThe transition from conventional to regenerative agriculture is costly and loaded with risk, yet farmers are typically expected to shoulder the burden. A new coalition invites others to share the risk — from Reformation to Outerknown, brands are starting to bite.
ReadHow much CO2 does the fashion industry emit each year? How much does fashion contribute to global warming? We take stock of this controversial subject.
ReadThe billionaire founder of the outdoor fashion brand Patagonia has given away his company to a charitable trust.
ReadBoohoo’s latest marketing move — tapping a mega-influencer as ‘sustainability ambassador’ — embodies the conflicts inherent in sustainability marketing.
ReadFlax is still being woven in France. A new spinning mill project is on its way in France, in Brittany, near Morlaix. The project is led by two young entrepreneurs, Xavier Denis and Tim Muller, two "communicators" associated in the communication agencies Bow Tie Agency and Tolvek (created in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic with the objective of assisting local businesses).
ReadThe fashion industry, which has become one of the most damaging to the planet, is having a moment of reckoning. But which changes make a difference, and which ones just come out in the wash?
ReadA new documentary investigating the impact of animal-based materials used for fashion launches today on free streaming platform, WaterBear. Co-produced by one of the directors behind Cowspiracy, which made ripples for its exploration of the meat industry’s link to the climate crisis, Slay follows director Rebecca Cappelli across seven countries to track the supply chains of leather, fur and wool.
ReadOn 28 July 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the first Ukrainian State Day. On this occasion, the Ukrainian President announced that Demna Gvasalia - Balenciaga's Artistic Director - was appointed ambassador of the United24 fundraising platform for the "Reconstruction of Ukraine" and that the brand would market an exclusive t-shirt (available since August 26th) with 100% of the profits going to the Ukrainian organisation.
ReadFuzzy definitions and bad data have left fashion consumers facing an array of claims and counterclaims as new and established materials jostle to market their sustainability credentials.
ReadWhile SheIn would be responsible for 22% of the emissions of teenagers*, the ultra fast-fashion does not cease to vampire a young generation fed with social networks which, despite its ecological claims, seems to have become completely addicted.
ReadBuy, try, return. This is the new fad of influencers on social networks. They don't hesitate to order mountains of clothes from the fast-fashion industry to submit them to their followers during proper fitting sessions. If they like the clothes, they keep them, if not, they send them back, no matter the environmental cost that these mass returns may generate. This is the "keep or return" challenge, which has (already) millions of followers.
ReadA climate reporter in Washington set out to test clothes designed for keeping cool. He found a few good (but pricey) options, along with some questionable claims.
ReadThe UN has accused China of "serious human rights violations" in a long-awaited report into allegations of abuse in Xinjiang province.
ReadFashion brands continue to explore augmented reality and the potential of NFTs, but the emphasis this season is likely to be on celebrating and enhancing the physical experience of a fashion show.
ReadLabour groups are warning of a new crisis on the horizon, as brands cancel orders ahead of the holiday season and living costs rise.
ReadJoin us on Thursday September 15th at 9am for the next Paris Good Fashion webinar (in French).
ReadWhile we are well aware of the disastrous effects of overconsumption and ultra fast fashion on our carbon footprint, a new trend is encouraging teenage girls to buy more and more.
ReadUltra-fast fashion e-tailer PrettyLittleThing is the latest brand to launch a secondhand marketplace, playing into a debate over whether resale is becoming a smokescreen for even more and faster consumption.
ReadReports from The RealReal and Thredup suggest even when buying used, customers crave constant newness and still overconsume.
ReadBrands must anticipate future regulations at French and European level and comply with the new requirements of the AGEC law.
ReadNow that the more elementary steps have been taken, the growing accountability to more parties, the increasing complexity of the topic and the remaining questions to solve force retailers to learn how to navigate the
ReadBrands face new legal challenges around the world that advocates hope lead to structural change.
ReadCalls are growing from the UN and beyond for fashion to promote sustainability as an aspirational lifestyle. Lingerie brand Wolford is bringing in influencer Doina Ciobanu to drive progress, but the strategy comes with risks.
ReadChina committed “serious human rights abuses” against ethnic Muslims in the Xinjiang region and may be guilty of crimes against humanity, the top United Nations rights official said in a report that the government in Beijing had tried to block.
ReadThe dramatic floods that have been ravaging Pakistan for three months have, according to official figures, caused more than 1,130 deaths, destroyed nearly one million homes, and displaced 33 million Pakistanis on the roads.
ReadDuring its 30th anniversary, the international OEKO-TEX® Association is still seeing positive business development despite numerous global challenges.
ReadYounger generations can’t get enough of watching people try on “hauls” of clothing on TikTok and YouTube. Previously associated with ultra-fast fashion brands, now secondhand platforms are seizing the opportunity.
ReadBrands are stepping up in-store offerings and investors have bet millions on start-ups in the space as interest in sustainability and resale boosts demand to keep clothes in good condition for longer.
ReadA hotline has just been set up in the United States to support young consumers in their efforts to stop buying disposable fashion, considered as extremely polluting and harmful for the environment. The initiative comes from second-hand retailer ThredUp in collaboration with "Stranger Things" star Priah Ferguson.
ReadEvery week, Vanessa Friedman, chief fashion critic NYTimes will answer a reader’s fashion-related question. This week: Is Renting My Clothes Really the Most Sustainable Shopping Option?
ReadThe harvest in Brazil is already falling below expectations. Lower global supplies seen sending cotton prices higher
ReadFashion brands and standardised measurements of their sustainability have come under greater scrutiny for inaccuracy and greenwashing. What can the fashion industry do as it seeks to become more sustainable? Karen Sim, Senior Sustainability Strategist at Forum, calls out for the inclusion of the ‘opaque middle’ to lead change in the fashion industry: manufacturers.
ReadSweepstakes, jet travel, fast fashion, sports cars... Influencers are increasingly being criticised for their lifestyles that are incompatible with climate change. In a context of energy crisis where everyone is called upon to make efforts, the daily life staged by these promoters of an ultra-luxurious lifestyle is becoming less and less acceptable. Awareness in this sector, which is still not very well regulated, is emerging, but it needs to accelerate.
ReadAn American consumer is suing H&M Group for greenwashing. The fashion group's information about the sustainability of its products is allegedly false and therefore misleading. H&M has embellished its environmental performance by turning negatives into positives. Literally.
ReadBoF shares key insights from two talks positing innovations to wholesale models at Copenhagen’s International Fashion Fair, which returned for its 59th season last week.
ReadFashion designers, activists and thrifters weigh in on the history and relevance of thrift and fashion upcycling for National Thrift Shop Day.
ReadHow denim group Citizens of Humanity is partnering with cotton farmers in a long-term bid to secure all of its cotton from regenerative agriculture.
ReadFlipping is big business, with many high-income resale shoppers engaging in the clothing hack.
ReadInvestors wanting to gauge the health of global consumer sentiment should look no further than China’s factories right now.
ReadA recent study shows that women's clothing is subject to much higher inflation than men's. This is "pinkflation", a direct reference to the famous pink tax.
ReadIn the post-Covid era, retailers who rethink their supply chains will lower their exposure to risk and unlock profound competitive advantage, argues Doug Stephens.
ReadIs the 2018 Manifesto for an Ecological Awakening finally bearing fruit? The start of the 2022 school year sees a slew of programs focused on transition issues at universities and colleges across the country.
ReadConversations around the backlash against improperly donated clothes are not novel. The critical gaze cast upon the global west, for using low-income countries as dumping grounds, has not softened. Yet every year, millions of tonnes of second-hand clothing waste reaches the ports of Ghana, Kenya, India, and Philippines. What happens next and who is responsible?
ReadYesterday (26 July), Fashion for Good, an innovation platform centred on sustainable fashion, and Textile Exchange, an NGO creating positive climate action in textiles, have together released a guide detailing the application of physical tracer technologies into textile supply chains.
ReadOn July 18, France's major food retailers (Leclerc, Carrefour, Casino, etc.) presented an "energy sobriety" plan aimed at reducing their electricity consumption starting this fall, in light of the risk of supply shortages and winter power cuts recently highlighted by the government.
ReadLouis Vuitton, Prada and Valentino have adapted core brand signifiers to project sustainability efforts to consumers. The move blends conspicuous consumption and virtue signalling, but it’s also a sign of real change.
ReadEuropean online retailers About You, Yoox Net-A-Porter (YNAP) and Zalando have teamed up to reduce carbon emissions within their value chains and across the fashion industry. The e-retailers are launching an online learning platform to support their brand partners in setting climate targets aligned with science, to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
ReadProgress is looking promising in the partnership between biotech firm Geno and sustainable textile company Aquafil, the company behind Econyl, to develop a plant-based version of nylon.
ReadTikTok's monthly minting of new trends is fueling a rise of new aesthetics, including e-girl, clean girl, Y2K, fairy-core, alt, mall goth, cottage-core, coconut girl, dark academia and coastal grandmother in just the last year.
ReadGarments made from living microbes have broken into the luxury sphere. Advocates say the science is a breakthrough for sustainable materials.
ReadFiber-to-fiber recycling at scale could be achieved by 2030, creating a new and sustainable circular industry in Europe.
ReadFashion Revolution's seventh annual Transparency Index ranks brands on public disclosure across sustainability criteria. Find out who made the list.
ReadMore and more companies are calculating their carbon footprint, but depending on the method and scope chosen, the result in tons of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the resulting reduction targets may vary.
ReadThe Eileen Fisher foundation has partnered with Pentatonic, a sustainable design and technology consultancy, to release a report calling for changes to the supply chain to reduce textile waste.
ReadThe Fashion Green Days, which took place on July 7 and 8 in Lyon (France), welcomed more than 700 visitors who attended this event on circular fashion. About fifty speakers were expected to discuss the issues and new opportunities offered by ethical fashion.
ReadTwo weeks ago, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition suspended the use of its product labels, employed by companies like H&M and Amazon, as concerns over greenwashing engulfed one of the industry’s top sustainability tools.
ReadAn unprecedented consortium rallying 17 public and private European organizations to establish a circular economy.
ReadGen Z population wants brands to prove their sustainability claims, while global regulators now require transparency across all supply chain practice.
ReadMcKinsey released a report this month titled "Value creation in the metavers".
Read90% of French, Italian, German, British and American consumers want to dress more responsibly. This growing interest is strongly linked to the choice of materials and the proximity of production. However, the main obstacle is not the price but the lack of information among consumers, according to a study conducted by the Première Vision Chair at the French Fashion Institute.
ReadBuying and selling second-hand clothes online is popular with French people who want to save money while protecting the environment, but researchers warn that this solution promotes over-consumption.
ReadThe BFC’s first diversity and inclusion report includes data from European fashion companies that has historically been challenging to gather, analyse and publicise.
ReadLuxury Goods companies have demonstrated their resilience with a return to pre-COVID performance levels. However, the sector is now more than ever facing paradigm shifts linked to exogenous factors.
ReadTo enable public ordering to contribute to the relocation effort while meeting current ecological challenges, the Fashion and Luxury sector committee is publishing a guide for public buyers.
ReadDespite progress, France can and must do better: that is the message of the High Council for the Climate in its 4th annual report.
ReadEurope will need a capital expenditure investment in the range of €6–7 billion to reach a fibre-to-fibre recycling rate of around 18–26% by 2030. This would mostly be needed to scale up sufficient sorting and processing infrastructure. The economic, social, and environmental value which could be realized, potentially total an annual impact of €3.5-4.5 billion by 2030.
ReadSupply chains may have to shift to recyclable, durable clothes — with uncertain consequences.
ReadFrom sub-zero temperatures to forest fires and droughts, performance wear brands are designing for the climate of tomorrow. Finding sustainable materials that function in extreme weather is a challenge.
ReadThe European Union is banning forced labor products! And the consequences could be major for many companies.
ReadBig brands are buying more recycled polyester, better cotton and responsible leather than ever, but more radical action is needed to really transform supply chains, a new report from Textile Exchange finds.
ReadThe ultra-fast fashion company launched a $50 million fund to tackle waste at the industry’s annual sustainability gathering in Copenhagen this week. Many saw it as greenwashing, but it’s straight out of fashion’s sustainability playbook.
ReadFrance’s Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode and Italy’s Camera Nazionale Della Moda are among the 25 members of the the European Fashion Alliance announced Tuesday and spearheaded by the Fashion Council Germany.
ReadHave you seen Don't Look Up? ... And read the latest IPCC report? Could pop culture mobilize where political and scientific discourses have failed? This is the subject of a study conducted by ADEME.
ReadThe Paye ton Influence collective is campaigning for influencers to make their own ecological transition and stop promoting ungreen companies to their millions of followers. But Amélie Deloche, co-founder of the collective, knows that they will not be able to revolutionize the influence sector which is worth 14 billion dollars.
ReadSneakers and swimsuits made from recycled bottles or plastic pulled out of the ocean are one of fashion’s most visible sustainability efforts. Experts say it’s only one side of the coin.
ReadThe Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin and Promincor - Lingerie Française have published a new guide produced by Bluequest and financed by the DEFI, to help French fashion brands in their responsible communication strategy.
ReadToo few fashion brands and retailers are naming their suppliers, and the financial — and reputational — consequences are a burden to bear.
ReadEcological awareness seems stronger than ever. Yet, far ahead of ethical and sustainable fashion, fast fashion continues to attract a large part of the population, mainly because of budget issues.
ReadLast week, fashion leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the annual Global Fashion Summit. There were collaborations and commitments, but voices on-stage lacked diversity.
ReadThe EU has been warned that new draft legislation designed to halt forced labour is still insufficient to tackle the problem.
ReadGiven the vast quantities of clothing they produce, the rise of ultra fast fashion brands in recent years is clearly at odds with the current sustainability push taking place in the industry.
ReadThe open-source playbook from TrusTrace, Fashion Revolution and Fashion for Good offers a one-stop guide for fashion brands wanting to fulfill on the new business imperative for transparency.
ReadThe fashion industry, which has become one of the most damaging to the planet, is having a moment of reckoning. But which changes make a difference, and which ones just come out in the wash?
ReadAhead of the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen this week, the non-profit organisation has launched the GFA Monitor, a report to guide fashion towards a net positive future.
ReadZara canceling its free return policy made headlines, but wasteful returns are a perpetual problem in retail that can’t be remedied by any one retailer.
ReadSecond-hand goods are among the solutions adopted by the French to reduce their impact on the planet. But this alternative is not without consequences for the activity of certain charities such as Emmaus, one of the pioneers of second-hand goods. Valérie Fayard, executive director of Emmaus France, looks at the effects of the rollout of these platforms, both on donations and over-consumption.
ReadOrder a favorite piece, then wait two or three months for the product to be manufactured. This is what more and more consumers are willing to do against the generalized overproduction of fashion. With ecological and economical advantages, pre-ordering is taking a strategic place among small brands as well as the big ones.
ReadThe 30 largest listed fashion firms must do more to hit Paris climate accord targets and U.N. sustainable development goals, although some are improving their social and environmental credentials, The Business of Fashion said in a report on Tuesday.
ReadAfter a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic and a digital-only event in 2020, the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana Sustainable Fashion Awards are returning IRL on Sept. 25 at the tail end of Milan Fashion Week with their fifth edition, to be held at La Scala theater.
ReadSustainability and the metaverse: friend or foe? We investigate how it works, the potential benefits and pitfalls, and why—despite the hype—it isn’t a silver bullet for the current fashion crises.
ReadTo attract foreign companies, especially those in the textile sector, the countries of South Asia play between union demands and low wages. Asian workers are therefore often paid the minimum wage. The problem is that the latter is not enough to live on.
ReadU.K. reality TV show Love Island is making a big change for Season 9, which is set to launch this June. After partnering with the likes of Missguided, Boohoo and I Saw It First for eight seasons, the ITV show is finally going in a different direction for the wardrobes of its contestants.
ReadIn 2009, the Danish Fashion Institute held one of the first sustainable fashion summits in Copenhagen, just around the time of the United Nations’ COP15 summit. This was back when everyone thought it was funny to make jokes about green being the new black, and most people thought “eco” and “vegan” and “organic” all meant kind of the same thing, and if any major fashion companies even had chief sustainability officers, they were based in tiny rooms many floors and winding corridors away from the heart of the C-suite.
ReadThe Planet First program initiated by the H&M Foundation and world-renowned The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has recently resulted in an innovation that could potentially be a game-changer when it comes to fighting global CO2 emissions. The Carbon Looper project — clothing that captures CO2 from the air and then releases it as nutrition for plants — is now being tested by the restaurant staff at Fotografiska Stockholm.
ReadIn recent decades, the growth of the fashion industry, with its emphasis on profitability, has encouraged an increased desire for low costs, flexibility in design and quality, and speed to market on behalf of retailers, further compounding the problem.
ReadSeven months following California’s SBC2 Garment Worker Protection Bill win and four months after New York’s Fashion Act was presented, the FABRIC Act shines through—labour justice in the fashion industry is gaining momentum, one policy change at a time.
ReadVestiaire Collective's acquisition of the American peer-to-peer clothing resale platform, Tradesy, last March highlighted France's progressive and forward-thinking circular fashion mentality.
ReadLast week, 8 students from AgroParisTech called on the rest of their class to “leave” the agro-industry. The student collective “For an ecological awakening” is tackling the climate issue with a vigorous action this week: they will be displaying the IPCC in the metro all week. A QR code refers to a “takeaway” summary that summarizes the 10 main points of the latest report.
ReadThe European Confederation of Linen and Hemp (CELC) will welcome brands, manufacturers and designers at 3 Mazarium (Paris VIe) on June 9 for a day of meetings dedicated to the fiber bast. Fiber that is currently experiencing a revival of interest with the opening or relocation of specific mills across France. Three fields of flax will be deployed for the occasion in the hamlet of the Queen, in Versailles.
ReadPraiseworthy on paper for its responsible and ecological virtues, the second hand market tends to push its followers to consume more and turns them into 2.0 merchants.
ReadBuilding on the success of the competition in 2020, the European Metropolis of Lille is launching a second edition of the trophies in partnership with ADEME, the Hauts-de-France Region and the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis agency.
ReadBusinesses shape how we talk about climate change, and sometimes this can stop us from paying attention to their actions.
ReadThe display of the origin of textiles will become mandatory from January 1st 2023, under the french circular economy law (called "AGEC" law). A "revolution" welcomed by French manufacturers.
ReadEstablished and emerging players are redesigning physical retail with sustainability in mind. We spotlight some of the game-changers.
ReadWFA is issuing first-of-its-kind guidance on how brands can make sure environmental claims featured in their marketing communications are credible for both consumers and regulators at its Global Marketer Week in Athens.
ReadDiscover the pilot of the Paris Good Fashion x IFM's webserie on sustainable fashion !
ReadANDAM awarded the 2022 innovation prize to the start-up Ever Dye on April 20 at La Caserne.
ReadBrands are embracing resale in the name of circularity, but repairs, an essential part of getting that right, is still lacking. Can repairs ever be as cool as resale?
ReadThe decree of April 29, 2022, relating to consumer information on the qualities and environmental characteristics of waste generating products was published in the JORF of April 30, 2022.
ReadThe Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a global non-profit alliance for the consumer goods industry, has partnered with Fair Wear and the Ethical Trading Initiative focused on facilitating collective action across the industry towards achieving the 45 per cent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction by 2030.
ReadThe number of successful brands in the sustainable fashion industry worth more than $1 billion is becoming increasingly hard to ignore. It’s fair to say that the land of unicorn companies is getting greener and more circular. They might just be replacing the capitalist linear economy for good.
ReadAlthough the path to decarbonization remains unclear, retailers can prepare by better understanding how costs could be distributed along the value chain.
ReadThe special edition of The State of Fashion report by The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company explores the great tech acceleration gripping the industry. Download the full report to understand the key imperatives that are spurring top brands and retailers to ramp up investments in technologies from AI to blockchain, to both address pain points and boost their competitive edge.
ReadEuropean efforts to introduce standardised rules governing how brands back up environmental claims are fuelling a heated debate that stands to create winners and losers.
ReadPatagonia, The North Face and Levi’s are the brands most committed to fashion circularity, says research by management consulting firm Kearney, which found only 7 per cent of brands regularly employ recycled materials, 54 per cent of companies use them just for a few selected items or product features, while 39 per cent use no recycled materials at all.
ReadBrands, retailers and third-party marketplaces are collaborating to scale circular fashion, working towards in-store resale, mass digitalisation and low-carbon local buying.
ReadThe association Paris Good Fashion, which aims to promote and accelerate sustainable fashion initiatives in the French capital, has just published the 2022 version of its map of places involved in this responsible transformation of the industry. 422 addresses are now listed on the Mapstr application.
ReadCall for expression of interest - DURHABI project: evaluation, integrating use, of the life span of textile/clothing articles.
ReadBrands from Lululemon to Hugo Boss to Steve Madden have rolled out their own resale programmes, touting sustainability claims like circularity and smaller environmental footprint. Experts are sceptical.
ReadIs the traditional Parisian fashion landscape ready to make space for disruptive fashion tech startups?
ReadNew regulations would make it easier for investors to consider companies’ environmental footprint when deciding which businesses to back.
ReadThe new marketplace will sell new but damaged clothes, footwear and accessories from over 100 brands including Off-White and The North Face, at up to 60 per cent off.
ReadFrom 1 January 2023, it will be forbidden to advertise a product in France as "carbon neutral" without being able to prove it. The government is taking steps to ensure all companies back up their claims with data, or promise compensation in favour of the environment.
ReadChina has reportedly announced a plan to be recycling a quarter of the country's textile waste into two million tonnes of new fibre a year by 2025 as part of its climate change targets.
ReadA group of experienced and youthful French executives have launched the Fédération de la Mode Circulaire, a novel project designed to inject dynamism into the fight to stop global climate change caused by the fashion and luxury industries.
ReadCompanies like The RealReal and ThredUp promised Wall Street that with scale comes profit. But operational costs and competition have kept them in the red.
ReadReports are putting a valuation of $100 billion on Shein, following a recent funding round for the popular Chinese retailer. The latest round, which closed last week, saw Shein raise between $1 billion and $2 billion, according to the Wall Journal, with private-equity firm General Atlantic participating in the round, along with existing investors Tiger Global Management and Sequoia Capital China.
ReadOn 8 April 2022, the 35 students of the IFM-Kering Fashion Sustainability Certificate presented 10 projects that contribute to the evolution of the fashion industry and on which they have been working since November.
ReadYoung fashion graduates want to unshackle themselves from the big luxury brands that are on the catwalk at fashion weeks around the world. Critical of "fast fashion," they aspire to another model more in line with their values – but with more risk.
ReadNEWCASTLE - Drying a load of laundry in a tumble dryer releases almost as many microfibres into the air as go down the drain when the same load goes through a washing machine, according to a new study.
ReadIn the context of the presidential elections in France, Refashion, the eco-organization of the french textile sector, has just published ten concrete measures to alert the political leaders. Its objective: to accelerate the transformation of the sector and to put the ecological transition in the center of the concerns.
ReadGreenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025, say climate scientists in what is in effect their final warning
ReadThe rise of the circular economy, with the emergence of a consumer-seller profile, is pushing fashion brands and retailers to review their model. An evolution from which they have everything to gain. These are the findings of an in-depth survey on this topic conducted by the Cetelem Observatory in 17 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the UK).
ReadNew rules presented by the European Commission on Wednesday (30 March) aim to better protect consumers against false environmental claims and introduce a ban on greenwashing and planned obsolescence.
ReadRetail industry charity the Retail Trust has launched a new certification, together with Foot Anstey LLP, a national law firm, which aims to protect and reassure shop workers in the midst of “rising levels of abuse and inappropriate behaviour”.
ReadInitiated by the L'Oréal Group and the Club Landoy, 32 companies in France have made commitments to promote the role of employees over 50 in the company.
ReadThe Groupement de la Façon Française (or GFF), which currently gathers the main French clothing companies, has just structured its CSR approach around a label "Les Ateliers Engagés".
ReadCertification programs, labels, and other various initiatives in the fashion sector aimed at making it greener would ultimately only serve to guide the industry towards more greenwashing. This is the sad conclusion of a report by the Changing Markets Foundation.
ReadCustomer behaviour and government policy mean greater incentive for both Chinese manufacturers and brands to adopt new sustainable practices.
ReadFashion for Good welcomes eight innovators into its 2022 Global Innovation Programme, chosen from a group of innovators scouted across the globe, who pitched their innovative solutions to Fashion for Good partners. The selected innovators participate in the nine-month programme, which provides a bespoke approach to validate their technologies in preparation for implementation across the fashion value chain.
ReadInitiated in 2021 by the French government and the French Federation of Online Sales (Fevad), the "Charter of commitments to reduce the environmental impact of online trade" sees its ranks strengthened by 18 new signatories, including Afibel, Damart, Blanche Porte or Mondial Relay.
ReadHow are consumers' perceptions and attraction to fashion products made in France evolving? On the occasion of its emblematic show for the French fashion industry, Made in France, Première Vision commissioned an exclusive study, conducted by Opinion Way.
ReadLVMH’s Métiers d’Excellence initiative is embarking on a tour of five French cities to meet talented future employees, targeting both junior, high school and university students, as well as people seeking reskilling opportunities.
ReadA growing number of niche brands are finding success with apparel repurposing; but many larger apparel companies have no best practices in place for managing their enormous volumes of unsellable merchandise. Fortunately, a new sub-industry of upcycling partners is stepping in to ‘reimagine’ increasingly large volumes of deadstock.
ReadThe American chemical group Eastman, manufacturer of the cellulose fiber Naia, will invest 875 million euros in France to set up a plant for the molecular recycling of polyesters from household waste and textiles.
ReadWhether resale benefits the planet will depend on if it actually offsets consumption, or promotes it.
ReadYou’d be forgiven for thinking that the fashion industry is becoming more sustainable, but the opposite is true. The media is awash with ‘sustainable’ materials and rental and resale options, but how sustainable are they? What difference do they actually make? And why, despite these efforts, is the planet heading even faster towards climate catastrophe, as demonstrated by the 6th IPCC report?
ReadThe French Ministry of Ecological Transition has validated on February 1st the "Triman" and "Info-tri" signs intended for all textiles, household linen and shoes to prepare the end of life of products. Brands now have until February 1, 2023 to comply, and until August 2023 to sell products manufactured or imported before that date.
Read"We're a community-centered organization. We're working for and with our community to create change."
ReadDigital fashion has gone from a niche to an emerging industry. As technology and knowledge improve, so does the data-backed understanding of what people want to buy and wear virtually. Vogue Business gets the exclusive on a new survey.
ReadVirtual world Decentraland announced on 24th February that it will host the world’s biggest, entirely digital, fashion week with the launch of Metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW). Taking place from 24th to 27th March, Decentraland will host four days of runway shows, fashion experiences, pop-up shops, and afterparties, featuring a mix of luxury labels and digital brands.
ReadThere are still effective ways to adapt that can also lower emissions, the latest report from UN scientists finds.
ReadA few days before the start of Paris Fashion Week, PETA awards eleven winners in the Vegan Fashion Awards. A way for the association to congratulate the actors of the sector who are committed to the animal cause.
ReadThe European Commission has announced it will be pushing a due diligence law that will require companies to adopt sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout their production chain.
ReadA ban on the term ‘vegan leather’ and other plant-based prefixes has been announced in Portugal. Alt leather companies now using prefixes such as ‘vegan’, ‘plant-based’, or ‘pineapple’ or even “synthetic” along with the word “leather” in their product marketing may face fines and criminal proceedings.
ReadThe Richemont-owned brand claims its tool is the industry’s first for measuring a firm’s social impact, and will be launching it with an open-source model.
ReadThe European Confederation of Flax and Hemp is publishing the initial results of a strategic study based on a life cycle analysis of European flax/linen, conducted using the new PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) method of the European Commission.
ReadFrom Veja to Stella McCartney, how brands are creating animal-free leather, fur and silk products more environment-friendly than common alternatives
ReadThe organic cotton movement in India appears to be booming, but much of this growth is fake, say those who source, process and grow the cotton.
ReadGone are the days of fur and skins, as well as materials that are too polluting. The fashion industry has launched a frantic race to eco and animal-friendly fibers. Not a month goes by without the sector's players unveiling new materials that are unusual, to say the least, ranging from expired milk to dandelions, gradually designing the dressing room of the future.
ReadThe partnership will encourage job training, educational programs, workshops and community activities.
ReadAs part of its annual survey dedicated to the the French apparel market, the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) looks at the CSR strategies implemented by brands and retailers.
ReadDesign education needs a radical overhaul, argues Li Edelkoort.
ReadThe founders of three plant-based textile companies have joined forces to create the FIBRAL Material Alliance. The organisation aims to bring together companies and individuals working with both traditional and innovative plant-based fibres.
ReadAndrée-Anne Lemieux, Professor and Director of the IFM-Kering Chair on Fashion Sustainability, explores circular fashion initiatives, including sourcing, design, manufacturing, retail and events.
ReadThe clothing industry is embracing the demand for second-hand. Those off-trend will soon be out of vogue.
ReadWe highlight small-scale case studies of degrowth in action, as academics and activists place greater emphasis on the model as the way forward for fashion.
ReadDans le cadre du mouvement Paris Good Fashion, dont la vocation est de co-construire avec les acteurs du secteur mode une feuille de route pour agir concrètement et transformer progressivement les pratiques pour faire de Paris LA capitale de la mode responsable d’ici les Jeux Olympiques de 2024, Eyes on Talents organise les Grands Prix du Design Inclusif pour l’APF France Handicap.
ReadIn a look ahead to Summer 2023, a future that is beautiful and fragile was in the forecast at Lineapelle’s New York leather fair. Human impact on the earth and its ecosystems has been so outsized that the severity of our effect has forced us to face our own fragility in recent years. But the theme intends for optimism—that moments of fragility can lead to renewed strength, spark creative solutions, and construct a new narrative. That new narrative for the leather industry revolves around sustainability, reducing harmful chemical waste, and working together with all stakeholders in the supply chain to ensure a proper environment for animals and workers—all topics explored at this year’s show.
ReadThe AGEC law, which invites the fashion sector to rethink its model in favor of a more responsible production, states in its article 13 that consumer information on the traceability of textile products extends to each of the manufacturing stages (fiber production; spinning and weaving; dyeing and garment making, etc.).
ReadSales are unthinkable and destruction is now forbidden in France: between meticulous management of stocks, employee sales, donations and recycling, luxury brands are organizing themselves to move their unsold products.
ReadBrands are pursuing a raft of initiatives to adopt recycled textiles, regeneratively farmed cotton and mushroom-based leather, but giving fashion’s major materials a sustainability makeover still requires billions of dollars worth of investments and deeper, longer-term commitments to scale. BoF breaks down some of the key innovations, the companies leading the charge and the barriers to change.
ReadRevealed Monday, Textile Exchange establishes its latest baseline: the “Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis."
ReadBuilding on a model of the biological, socio-psychological, and structural drivers of luxury consumption, this article explores when and why luxury consumers consider ethics in their luxury consumption practices, to identify differences in their ethical and ethical luxury consumption.
ReadCopenhagen Fashion Week has published its annual sustainability report, showcasing its progress on the second year of its 2020-2022 Sustainability Action Plan
ReadThe secondhand clothing market is growing, and it is estimated to be worth $84 billion by 2030 — more than double the estimated worth of fast fashion for the same year. Recently, a plethora of big name brands, including fast fashion companies, have been jumping on the secondhand bandwagon by implementing their own secondhand marketplaces, including Urban Outfitters, H&M and ASOS — but is fast fashion resale truly operating in a way that reflects the values of a circular practice? Or are these markets simply a new avenue for profit?
ReadDownlite Outdoor, of Mason, Ohio, has been selected as a partner for recycled down jacket collections by leading brands such as Patagonia, Ralph Lauren, and Banana Republic for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
ReadIn recent years, the fashion industry has been keenly experimenting with bioplastics: a small but rapidly growing market that is aiming to make fossil-fuel fashion a thing of the past. You may already have sneakers with bioplastic soles or sunglasses made from bio-acetate. In the not too distant future, you may be sporting a bio-based sequined dress or a faux fur coat.
ReadThe circular economy is the star of foreign investment in France. Eastman, Ikea, Loop... these giants will commit billions in France to develop circular economy projects including "the world's largest molecular plastics recycling plant." An opportunity for France to shift industrial models towards greater sustainability, while reducing its dependence on raw materials.
ReadThe current ways clothing is produced and sold is unsustainable and undergoing transformation. Many of these changes are already underway – and will transform our economies, environment, and closets.
ReadThe global sustainable initiative Fashion for Good has launched a new consortium project called the D(r)ye Factory of the Future.
ReadProduction on demand, second hand, inclusion..., to get out of its existential crisis, the fashion and textile industry continues its transformation. Here are eight initiatives capable of accelerating its sustainable transition.
ReadSince 2019, the "Savoir pour Faire" campaign launched by the Comité Stratégique de Filière Mode & Luxe (CSF) aims to promote the industry's professions and connect talents with companies looking to recruit employees, work-study students or interns.
ReadIs the metaverse good for the world? Retailers must bake environmental and social awareness into their strategies from the start, argues Doug Stephens.
ReadA growing number of companies are jumping on this more sustainable sales system, with immediate economic success.
ReadTransparency and traceability is all the rage when it comes to clothing, and it is finally reaching the tags on the rack.
ReadBrands are looking to align themselves with more activists and socially or environmentally minded content creators in a bid to stay relevant in the current climate.
ReadBangladesh is to introduce national guidelines on the use of chemicals in the textile and garments industry in a bid to better protect workers and the environment.
ReadThe state would be the first to pass legislation setting broad sustainability regulations for the industry.
ReadNew products range from washing machine filters and balls to fabrics made from kelp and orange peel. From filters to bags to balls, the number of products aimed at stopping the torrent of microplastic fibres being flushed out of washing machines and into rivers and oceans is increasing rapidly.
ReadThere's a $5 trillion circular fashion play (including the metaverse). Experts weigh in on their list of considerations to unlocking it.
ReadAs the year comes to a close, Olivia Petter reflects on progressions – and shortcomings – within the sustainable fashion sector
ReadAware of the harm caused by relocation, some companies have chosen to revive the French textile industry by perpetuating know-how. Meetings and explanations with the brands Le Slip Français, Broussaud, 1083 and B. Solfin.
ReadFrom huge wins for garment workers to forays into wild new sustainable materials, here's how the industry made progress in another extraordinary year
ReadIncinerated clothes or furniture, it's over: in France, from January 1st, producers and distributors of non-food products will be forbidden to destroy their unsold goods, a measure that could encourage donations to associations.
ReadThe second-hand luxury market is growing: by 2020, it will be worth 28 billion euros worldwide, according to a report by Bain & Company. The multiplication of platforms and the creation of dedicated spaces in stores has accelerated the trend.
ReadFounded four years ago in Roubaix, under the impetus of the Fashion Green Hub association, Plateau Fertile - a place dedicated to circular and ethical fashion - is coming to Paris.
ReadThe Microfiber Innovation Challenge seeks upstream solutions to halt microfiber pollution, an increasing threat to human and planetary health. Conservation X Labs will award $650,000 in prizes to innovations that help prevent further microfiber pollution.
ReadThe likes of Gucci, Balenciaga, and Burberry are spinning up fashion and accessories that you'll never even wear.
ReadAmid mounting evidence of fashion’s dramatically negative climate impact, countries, communities and companies are mobilising around protecting the planet. However, a new era of climate action will be required if fashion is to meet ambitious targets to reverse the damage being done.
ReadKnown worldwide as the cradle of luxury and haute couture, the French capital now intends to become a model for ecological transition.
ReadThe crazy metaverse fever is here to stay. In South Korea, the new giant leader is called Zepeto, and avatars are walking around in Dior or Gucci.
ReadSustainable fashion has a bright future ahead of it... if it communicates. The Haute école de conseil en image and the cabinet Thotaim, specialized in CSR strategy, have studied the consumption trends of the French. They unveil their national survey with results showing many opportunities but also challenges for this sector.
ReadResale and rental have both been on the rise in recent years, as the fashion industry steps up its efforts to become more sustainable. But one aspect that often gets left out of the conversation is the importance of repair, alteration and restoration when it comes to extending the life cycle of products – and preventing them from unnecessarily ending up in landfill.
ReadIn an article published in "Le Monde", the leaders of eleven French digital industry associations identify six issues that the presidential candidates must integrate into their programs in order to build sustainable, reliable and competitive technologies in France and Europe.
ReadHot on the heels of Italian fashion group OTB announcing the creation of BVX, its company in the metaverse, Kering-owned Balenciaga has revealed similar plans. During a conference, Cédric Charbit, CEO of the Parisian label, announced that the company is creating a department dedicated to the virtual world, in order to explore its marketing and commercial opportunities.
ReadBalenciaga surprised everyone at the beginning of October by collaborating with the satirical series The Simpsons for a "feel good" video featuring the fall-winter 2022 collection. One month later, the series seems to want to set the record straight, and shows the negative environmental and social consequences of the fashion industry, and of fast fashion in particular.
ReadDesign less, design better, design knowing, design values and design together. Those are the rules Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been preaching for the last four years in fashion. Now, the sustainability-bent organization is encapsulating its vision in a book: “Circular Design for Fashion,” launching Dec. 2.
ReadAmong a host of challenges facing the fashion industry in light of climate change, the sourcing of natural fibres is likely to become more difficult. Diversifying supply chains is only a temporary solution.
ReadIn 2022, the fashion industry can return to growth as changing category landscapes, new digital frontiers, and advances in sustainability continue to present opportunities.
ReadPre-loved fashion is on the rise, as old clothes find new wearers via global technology platforms. What are the rewards and the risks of this resale revolution?
ReadLaunch of the new edition of the Climate Chance Observatory’s Sector-based Report “Back to the Future. 2021 : The great acceleration of climate action… and emissions”.
ReadNonprofit organisation, Global Fashion Agenda, has released its Scaling Circularity report in the wake of the COP26 conference.
ReadTechnology giant Google has developed a new digital platform to shed light on the environmental impacts of sourcing various textile fibre types and is expected to license the system to industry non-profit Textile Exchange next year.
ReadIn vogue, the vintage market is worthing more than 1.16 billion euros in France (Kantar figures). From historical stores to new addresses, vintage clothing is growing in every neighbourhood, forcing players to adapt, segment their offer and protect their supplies.
ReadEdikted is less than a year old but it’s all over TikTok and already topping search rankings among Gen-Z consumers. The brand’s founder explains his formula.
ReadThe Résilience project, born during the Covid crisis, organizes its first festive and educational event at the Galerie Joseph, located in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, from November 30 to December 2, with the aim of discovering the different ways in which the social and solidarity economy has initiated the relocation of the textile industry in France.
ReadA new report, co-authored by Fashion for Good and Apparel Impact Institute and sponsored by HSBC, for the first time charts a trajectory for the industry to meet the net-zero ambition, mapping the integral levers across existing solutions, such as renewable energy, and innovative solutions, such as next generation materials.
ReadThey are piling up in our trash cans, overflowing on the sidewalks: with the boom of e-commerce, packaging is an increasingly visible pollution, against which distributors promise to react.
ReadWWD's A-Z catalogue of some of the latest next-gen materials on the market that are prioritizing sustainability.
ReadSix popular clothing brands may be making spurious sustainability claims, an investigation by Dutch consumer and markets authority ACM has found.
ReadThe fashion industry is raising its collective ambition with updated science-based emission reduction targets under the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
ReadRain boots in the middle of the Atacama desert: in the north of Chile, the wild dumps of used clothes and shoes are growing to the extent of the frenetic production of low-cost fashion.
ReadOn Monday, November 8, 2021, NGO Zero Waste published a document to launch the first part of its campaign against fast fashion. In parallel to these recommendations, the association encourages citizens to report greenwashing operations, preparing the second part of its campaign, focused on advocacy.
ReadThink tanks and sustainability advocates petition world leaders to recognise the industry’s role in resolving the climate crisis
ReadA new report applauds fashion’s belated but accelerating progress on recognising the need for dedicated biodiversity efforts. But there’s more work ahead.
ReadIt is a "blind spot in public policy" that this text intends to address. The proposed law to "reduce the environmental footprint of digital technology in France" returns to the Senate, where it will be examined on second reading on Tuesday.
ReadAs the United Nations Climate Change Conference kickstarts today in Glasgow, there’s worldwide momentum building around the sustainability conversation.
ReadLes marques et les sociétés de production testent de nouveaux outils destinés à réduire l'impact environnemental des défilés, des shootings et de leurs autres activités de marketing.
ReadChinese fast fashion companies have sprung up, copying the models of brands like H&M and Zara—and growing even faster.
ReadThe French Ministry of Culture, supported by a jury of professionals (federations and experts) has rendered its verdict for the award of "aid for digital and sustainable development of fashion". A call for projects initiated four years ago, which selected in 2021 no less than 26 brands and companies in the sector among 135 applications submitted. The winners will share an envelope of 500,000 euros, with a ceiling set at 20,000 for each beneficiary.
ReadFrom trendy designers to fashion giants, projects to produce clothing in the north of France are multiplying, driven by the upheaval of the health crisis. But this old textile land is struggling to find workers.
ReadReplay of BIARRITZ GOOD FASHION 2021 event held on October 14th (in French).
ReadRethinking fashion: this is the major theme that the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) will address during the next edition of its "Fashion Reboot". This annual meeting for textile, fashion and luxury professionals will take place on November 18 at the IFM's new campus, located in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.
ReadThe generation credited with leading the charge on climate activism and social justice is also propelling the growth of fast-fashion behemoths like Shein and Boohoo.
ReadFashion’s impact on the natural world is massive, but for years few brands were factoring that into sustainability plans. Now, biodiversity, the focus of a UN conference taking place this month, is gaining attention.
ReadTo guide consumers and help them make informed choices, the YouCare association is launching "1% For Animals". This label also aims to finance projects to strengthen animal protection and the fight against deforestation, thanks to the participation of companies committed to animal welfare and the preservation of biodiversity.
ReadNew major step for the Fabrique Nomade. On October 14, the structure promotes its work of insertion with refugees and migrants' artisans through an event around the collaboration with Agnès B. and the Slip Français.
ReadThe Leather Working Group (LWG) trade body has linked up with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in a bid to drive environmental and social change in the leather supply chain.
ReadInitiated by the Bali's Chair, the textile meeting of the "Basque Country", Biarritz Good Fashion will be held on October 14 at Estia (École Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées), in association with Paris Good Fashion.
ReadMore than 60 million workers around the globe will benefit from concrete guidance on improving safety and health in one of the world’s oldest manufacturing sectors.
ReadOne day, digital fashion pioneers predict, everyone will be able to choose clothes in impossible colors or designs by walking through huge virtual warehouses, put them on instantly, throw them away and start over.
ReadSince August’s IPCC climate report declared a ‘code red’ for humanity it’s becoming more difficult to write about sustainable fashion. Who wants to read about a recycled plastic sneaker when science is bellowing “decarbonise—NOW!”
ReadThe radical overhaul proposed by independent designers last year never gained traction, but the pandemic has been a catalyst for individual brands to shift the way they market and deliver collections.
ReadAs part of Paris Fashion Week, journalist Pierre M'Pele (@pam_boy) interviews the co-founder of Paris Good Fashion, Isabelle Lefort, Alexandre Capelli - deputy director for the environment at LVMH - and Romain Brabo - co-founder of Nona Source - on the initiatives carried out to build the fashion industry of tomorrow.
ReadThe French eco-organization financed by brands and importers to manage the end of life of textile products, ReFashion, launches from October 8 to 17 its campaign #RRR ("Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Reduce). On this occasion, an OpinionWay study looks at the relationship between the French and their used textiles, as well as the obstacles to circular behavior.
ReadThe Italian fashion organisation, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) is teaming up with the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) to launch a joint environmental, social, and corporate governance due diligence and corporate sustainability reporting framework for the fashion industry.
ReadParis Fashion Week was officially launched on Tuesday with a press conference (physical and digital) organized at the Palais de Tokyo by the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) to illustrate its program of initiatives to emerging brands, Sphere. But above all, it was an opportunity for Executive President Pascal Morand to talk about the many parallel projects set up by the federation. In particular, the launch of an ecodesign tool to measure the impact of Fashion Week. "A world first," as Pascal Morand described it.
ReadBrands are increasingly looking to reduce the environmental impact of trading online — investing in tech now could mean lower costs in the future.
ReadThe British Fashion Council’s Institute of Positive Fashion on Wednesday presented a blueprint to achieve a circular fashion economy in the U.K., the Circular Fashion Ecosystem Report.
ReadThe health crisis has accelerated consumer awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry, but does this really influence their daily purchases? A new study reveals that sustainable fashion is gradually gaining ground in France without becoming the norm, particularly because price is the main obstacle to more responsible consumption.
ReadWith six weeks to go until COP26, the delayed 2020 UN climate change conference in Glasgow, many people are considering how their personal and professional behaviour can help tackle the climate crisis. This includes rethinking the extent to which we are defined by our consumption or our citizenship.
ReadRenting clothes has a significant edge over buying new, according to a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind study by Rent the Runway. Undertaking the life cycle assessment study last year to understand the impact of its rental business, the study follows the cradle-to-grave environmental impact of renting versus buying new across 12 clothing categories (or about 85 percent of RTR’s total inventory).
ReadIn a world where the ecological footprint has become important, several companies have decided to integrate "made in France" wool in their products. It's not about the scratchy artisanal sweater but about trendy brands.
ReadThe French Minister of Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili announced on Monday an envelope of 370 million euros to support recycling and its R&D. The aim is to find solutions for waste that is not very or not recyclable. Today, only 21% of plastics are treated.
ReadThe (Re)Store space is part of an ambitious revamp that includes a 43,000-square-foot shoe department and a wealth of new services.
ReadIf the first edition was almost cancelled in September 2020 because of the pandemic, the second will make the news.
ReadTo date, governments have mostly left individual corporations to deal with fashion’s environmental impact. But the European Union wants to step in and start proposing legislation that will help the industry control its waste issues better.
ReadTo illustrate the commitment of French manufacturers to social and environmental responsibility, the GFF (Groupement de la fabrication française) is preparing a dedicated label for early 2022, called "Les Ateliers Engagés" and developed in the wake of ISO 26000 certification.
ReadVestiaire Collective is the latest in a growing roster of fashion companies that have spent months teasing out company policies and practices to qualify for the highly regarded sustainability certification. How can others do the same?
ReadA sector alliance that was formed to tackle issues relating to microplastics has completed the next phase of its project to develop a harmonised industry standard for the supply chain. The Cross Industry Agreement (CIA) has revealed the results of a fibre fragmentation trial that has been carried out in advance of establishing a CEN Standard (from the European Committee for Standardization).
ReadThe non-profit organisation "Savoir Faire Ensemble", recently renamed "Façon de Faire", will unveil at the Made in France trade fair its platform for bringing together brands and manufacturers of Made in France products and materials.
ReadIt’s been celebrated as a pathway to sustainability, but digital fashion doesn’t come without its own set of challenges
ReadThe French law drawn from the work of the Citizen’s Climate Convention will sustainably anchor ecology in our contemporary society. This text has already paved the way for a new type of law-making, based on a more participatory democracy. It will also enable us to transform our society and our growth model.
ReadMerchants are contending with more extreme weather than ever, but can also benefit by keeping an eye on the daily forecast.
ReadIt's a first. In September, The Conscious Festival is coming to France, at La Caserne, the ecological transition gas pedal in Paris.
ReadA new agreement intended to protect workers in the Bangladeshi garment industry was unveiled on Wednesday, August 25th, after months of deadlock between international fashion retailers and trade unions, and local factory owners.
ReadCommunicating about brand commitments is good. Keeping your promises is better. What should we learn from the latest RepTrak report on Corporate Activism?
ReadIf consumers are still questioning whether Zara and H&M fall into the fast-fashion category, how far has the industry really come in communicating the serious need for greater sustainability?
ReadGrowing demand for ethical products is creating new business opportunities — and new responsibilities — for PR professionals.
ReadOver the last three years Greta Thunberg has become the most recognisable activist in the world, calling upon world leaders to halt the climate crisis. Given our love of nature, we could think of no one more fitting for Issue 1 of Vogue Scandinavia. Here, she talks with our own Tom Pattinson and two Swedish conservationists, the artist duo Alexandrov Klum, who shot Greta for this issue’s cover, about their shared vision of a sustainable future
ReadThe accord, put in place after the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, could expire despite evidence that it protects worker safety — that’s why brands are pursuing alternatives.
ReadYoung and emerging brands are seeking more sustainable ways to work with indigenous artisans to support and promote their craft.
ReadMade from fossil resources, polyester represents 60% of the textiles produced and a third of the industry's emissions. Interview with Benoît Illy, president and co-founder of Fairbrics which develops CO2-based polyester.
ReadProduced from wood pulp, viscose had recently seen its specialists worried about a strict framework of the material in the framework of the European directive "Single Use Plastic", which aims to ban a whole series of single-use products. Viscose will not be classified by the EU as a plastic in the end, to the great satisfaction of the European textile industry.
ReadA new rulebook has just launched to help guide companies when they make sustainability claims. Called the Provenance Framework, it lists the criteria that companies need to fulfill to credibly make an environmental claim. By following the rulebook, firms can avoid greenwashing or misleading consumers.
ReadSome 205,000 tons of used clothing and fabrics were collected in 2020 on the French territory. A contraction of 20% compared to the previous year, which is explained by the decline in the number of pieces put on the market over the year, falling to 2.4 billion (-18%), according to the eco-organization of the sector ReFashion.
ReadIn July 2019, the Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative launched The Jeans Redesign, a project which saw 80 industry experts input on a set of guidelines to create denim jeans aligned with the principles of the circular economy.
ReadGlitter is made of tiny plastic particles that damage the environment, and brands are on a quest to make it sustainable—but it’s a tougher job than it might seem.
ReadFollowing the example of the Nutri-Score in the food industry, environmental labelling in the textile sector should make it possible to compare two garments by easily visualizing the one that is less harmful to the planet... Explanations.
ReadAs part of its mission to accelerate the recycling of textiles and footwear, the French eco-organization Refashion innovates with a free networking tool for recycling professionals: from mapping of the various deposits of non-reusable textiles, to the identification of transformation processes and the incorporation of these new materials into new products, Refashion's RECYCLE is a first step towards a secondary raw materials exchange.
ReadThe Microfibre Consortium (TMC) has announced the public release of its test method that determines the level of microfibres shed from fabrics during domestic laundering. First unveiled in 2019, the globally aligned and standard test has thus far accessed more than 250 materials and yarns provided by TMC brand, retail and supplier members, all of which have been logged on the consortium’s Fibre Fragmentation Data Portal.
ReadA new report criticises fashion’s heavy use of plastic in its clothing, in the form of synthetic fibres. Some brands say they’re unavoidable.
ReadTRIBUNE - Faced with the environmental emergency, several heads of French textile companies such as Asphalte and Good Fabric are asking to be "more regulated".
ReadSince traditional fashion brands are testing the sale of second-hand clothing one after the other (Gémo, Pimkie, Bocage...), the french initiative "Alliance du Commerce" has decided to publish a guide detailing the legal issues that retailers trying their hand at second-hand must face. Selling second-hand products must meet several legal criteria, sometimes complex, which differ according to the options taken by these distributors.
ReadCreated in 2018 to lay the foundations of a French wool industry, the Tricolor is bringing together brands (Balzac, Saint James, Le Slip Français...), breeders, industrialists and institutions, the organization to initiate a series of structuring projects in 2021 (definition of quality criteria, inventory of environmental impacts, establishment of an investment fund dedicated to the sector...).
ReadTextile Exchange's new Organic Cotton Market 2021 report shows that with the largest volume of organic cotton fiber harvested to date in the world, 2019/20 was a record year.
ReadThe European Union’s (EU) System Circularity and Innovative Recycling of Textiles (SCIRT) project held its virtual kick-off meeting from June 9 to 11 to start tackling the issue of clothing waste and recyclability, one of the biggest challenges faced by the fashion industry. With 18 partners from five countries, the project aims to accelerate the transition to a circular fashion system through technological innovation in textile-to-textile recycling.
ReadBorn in a hurry to unite French weavers and manufacturers around the production of masks for caregivers, the collective Savoir Faire Ensemble is now renamed Façon de Faire.
ReadSustainability is trendy. A plethora of brands have appeared in the last 24 months, each one more responsible than the other. But behind these ambitions, there are still many obstacles. Survey.
ReadThe market created from second-hand sales platforms tends to become a norm and induces a lasting dilution of brands' power. As a facilitator of interchangeability between products, these platforms impoverishes the function of brands within market mediation. Sellers and buyers agree and exchange products through platform, and thus become the guarantors of market mediation, to the detriment of brands. The purpose of the "Vinted" case study is not so much to analyze the platform's economic model, but to imagine how it will have a lasting impact on the relationship between consumers and fashion brands.
ReadThe European Confederation of Flax and Hemp - CELC has revealed the exciting results of its Flax Barometer 2021. Conducted with the help of the l'Observatoire économique de l'Institut Français de la Mode, this survey measures the attractiveness of the fiber and the general public's purchasing intentions in the coming months.
ReadParis Good Fashion x Eyes on Talents are rewarding photographers and their creativity to raise awareness on society’s habits related to fashion consumption, a topic that concerns all of us.
ReadThe ZDHC Foundation's mission is to enable brands and retailers in the textile, apparel and footwear industries to implement best practices in sustainable chemical management throughout the value chain, with a focus on zero discharge of hazardous chemicals, through collaborative engagement and standard setting.
ReadAmsterdam-based Fashion for Good is launching the Renewable Carbon Textiles Project, bringing together a powerful consortium to accelerate the development of polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHA polymer fibres – a promising biosynthetic alternative to fossil based fibres with the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the fashion supply chain.
ReadThe new footwear category is riding the gorpcore wave and enjoying swift sell-throughs at luxury retailers, but it also comes with a questionable sustainability component.
ReadInstances of wage theft, reduced hours and pay and employment rights violations have increased over the course of the pandemic, according to a study conducted by the University of Sheffield and the Worker Rights Consortium, pointing to reduced demand from brands and cancelled orders as two driving factors.
ReadSustainable fashion initiative Fashion for Good has launched a project to accelerate the development of Polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHA polymer fibres, a biosynthetic alternative to fossil-based fibres.
ReadMonday 14 June, Textile Valley has been officially launched at the Piscine de Roubaix museum. This organisation is intended to designate all the buyers in the textile sector in the Hauts-de-France region. Under the impetus of the Union des Industries Textiles & Habillement Nord, its objective is to amplify and accelerate the reindustrialization that the territory is experiencing.
ReadThe union makes the force. A "club of knitters" will be created, bringing together all actors in this sector through their regional textile federations. All headed by the Federation of the Knitwear, Lingerie and Swimwear.
ReadFinnish start-up Spinnova has been named the 2021 ANDAM Innovation Award winner for developing 100 percent sustainable textile fibre directly out of FSC-certified wood and waste streams without dissolving or other harmful chemical processes.
ReadEtsy’s deal with Depop points to the rise of the second-hand economy
ReadThe commitment had been made in September 2019. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) had decided to make available to its members and to the brands listed in the Official Calendar of Paris Fashion Week and the Haute Couture weeks, two eco-design tools.
ReadCould the arrival of a new natural material put an end to the use of plastic in our shoes? As fashion brands seek to reinvent themselves to reduce their impact on the planet, they are gradually turning to sugar cane as a sustainable alternative to polluting materials.
ReadThe launch of Higg’s consumer-facing product profiles is a step towards a more transparent, unified framework for talking about the impact of our clothes. But longstanding criticism of the initiative behind this programme points at wider tensions in the industry.
ReadGen Z’s shopping behaviours are “strongly influenced” by brands commitments to social and environmental sustainability, according to a new report from marketplace Depop and consultancy firm Bain and Company.
ReadAs sustainability claims become increasingly prominent, regulators are scrambling to tighten guidance and clamp down on breaches. What does this mean for fashion?
ReadSAC and Higg launched the first phase of a new transparency program, which allows brands, retailers, and manufacturers to communicate the environmental impact of their products.
ReadSustainability, alone, does not determine consumer purchasing behavior, but “it is of growing importance,” a new joint report revealed, finding that 94 percent of consumers say a more sustainable lifestyle is important to them and with 47 percent saying that they would pay more for “sustainable” products.
ReadLocal, biobased or upcycled materials are now essential for the fashion industry, which is trying to reinvent itself in order to reduce its impact on the environment. Like linen, hemp is one of the fibers that could well take over our wardrobes in the months and years to come.
ReadThe U.N. Economic Commission of Europe has launched a platform that provides traceability and transparency solutions for tracking any garment or item of footwear.
ReadMomentum has been building for some time around brand purpose – a reason to exist beyond making money. Now, given the latest research published today, we know that it’s no longer acceptable or smart to ignore sustainability in business. It should be of considerable interest to the business community then that a key finding in a new global report from The Economist Intelligence Unit, commissioned by WWF, shows a staggering 71% rise in online searches for sustainable goods globally over the past five years.
ReadThe growing quantity of plastic packaging to be recycled, linked to the extension of household waste collection, requires the reinforcement of innovative sorting systems, such as the use of artificial intelligence. A challenge that has repercussions for the fashion industry.
ReadChampioning values has become one of fashion’s favourite marketing tools. But as brands get more political, they also have an opportunity to drive real impact.
ReadIn England, the government is to double the charge for single-use plastic carrier bags in England from 5p to 10p and end the exemption for smaller shops from April 2021, as it steps up efforts to tackle plastic pollution.
ReadThe acceleration of retail digitalization has been undoubtedly reinforced by the health crisis, which has forced companies to revolutionize their retail experiences. But e-commercehas its inconveniences: higher return rates, ephemeral consumer engagement and standardized solutions.
ReadScalefast’s Dan Wallace-Brewster discusses the growing appetite for resale and how brands can take ownership of the consumer journey.
ReadRachel Cernansky uncovers the businesses, brands and technology offering real solutions for the fashion industry as it faces the climate emergency.
ReadThe Italian fashion chamber has issued its most comprehensive guidelines on the use of chemicals yet.
ReadAcademics at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have developed a new circularity toolkit in a bid to support the fashion and textile industries’ sustainability push.
ReadDigital-fashion house The Fabricant has collaborated with RTFKT to create the gender-fluid RenaiXance collection of digital garments, which were minted as NFTs.
ReadAmong the events to follow on the side of responsible fashion, appointment taken this week with the webinar "Acting all together for a more responsible fashion", organized Thursday, April 29 at 10am.
ReadBrands including Reformation and Allbirds are working with the nonprofit Climate Neutral to track their carbon footprint. It’s a good first step, environmental advocates say. But climate positivity should be the goal.
ReadThis week, the dissonance between Earth Day marketing and a Roaring 2020s-style resurgence in consumption made clear that fashion’s sustainability pledges and its growth ambitions are on a collision course.
ReadThe growth of e-commerce in the fashion industry, already the largest e-commerce market segment, is accelerating, spurred on by the closure of brick-and-mortar stores due to the pandemic. As such, the demand for single-use packaging, and waste generation, is increasing. However, reusable options, which aim to transform packaging from single-use to multi-use assets, are being implemented as a sustainable alternative.
ReadChina is the world’s largest consumer of fashion and a major production hub. How it tackles its mountain of annual waste will impact global brands’ ability to embrace a more circular supply chain.
ReadWith 56 million tons of clothing sold in 2020 and 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases emitted each year, fast fashion has imposed a hellish pace. All stages of fashion are affected, from manufacturing to distribution, including the manufacturing process of synthetic dyes. Of petrochemical origin, these poison the workers who handle them and are the cause of numerous pollutions.
ReadAfter launching a guide on responsible fashion in 2019 focusing on the life cycle of the garment, the l'Alliance du commerce is focusing this year on reducing greenhouse gas emissions produced by the clothing sector (transport, logistics, points of sale...).
ReadClothes able to photosynthesize, natural pigments from micro-organisms... Halfway between fashion and microbiology, fast fashion can go to hell.
ReadBy now, you’ve probably been overexposed to headlines with declarations about how “the future of fashion is fungi.” While mushrooms have been an important part of the natural world for millennia, this newfound adoration in popular culture is merely a resurgence of collective appreciation that originally sprouted back in the late ‘60s.
ReadThe European Commission is set to launch a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry. The ‘Beyond Your Clothes’ campaign - part of the European Union-funded 'SMART Textile & Garments' project - will be launched on Monday 12th April. It aims to raise awareness of the environmental impact of growing clothes consumption which it says has increased by 60 per cent in the last 15 years.
ReadModern slavery disclosure is weak, says Find It, Fix It, Prevent It
ReadThe shortage of raw materials is generating supply disruptions and delivery delays, as well as a rise in prices increased by an unprecedented disruption of freight. These supply fluctuations impact the entire upstream textile industry (spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, laminating), which in turn affects the entire supply chain.
ReadThe unused fabrics from leading U.K. fashion houses will be put to good use thanks to a new initiative by the British Fashion Council (BFC).
ReadIn a report published at the end of March 2021, the French Academy of Sciences takes stock of the role of plastics in the world and the extent of the pollution they cause. In view of the worrying findings, it presents a series of recommendations, first of all setting out the conditions for the rational use and production of these polymers, which have become essential in many fields.
ReadLet's start at the beginning: to answer the question of what we will wear tomorrow, the right question to ask is not "what?" but "how much? "and the answer can only be "less". In just a couple of decades, we have gone into a bulimia of buying clothes.
ReadEurope is working on new criteria for sustainable fashion. But the complexity of these criteria makes us fear that independent brands will be excluded from them, while initiatives are flourishing.
ReadFour french fashion industry federations have set up a collegial support program to accelerate the CSR projects of French brands. Financed by DEFI (a support organization for fashion and clothing companies), PARSE, a plan to boost corporate social responsibility, was launched by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the Fédération Française du Prêt à Porter Féminin, the Fédération des Industries du Vêtement Masculin and Promincor - Lingerie Française.
ReadFrench deputies have validated Tuesday, March 9 in committee the implementation of an environmental labeling on products, a "carbon score".
ReadThe pandemic has been a lot of things. But to the fashion resale market, it’s been a windfall. There’s nothing like being stuck in the house for a year to prompt many Americans to realize they have a lot of clothes. And for consumers who saw their incomes shrink, it only makes sense to sell some items. This has led to a significant increase in sales for second-hand sites.
ReadAssociated with a conscious, virtuous and ecological mode of consumption, the boom in second-hand clothing seems to illustrate one of the positive aspects of the times. But it remains a lever of social differentiation that does not correspond to the aspirations of the poorest.
ReadFashion’s shift to digital is not as sustainable as we may have been led to believe. The more time we spend online, the greater the need for electricity, which has seen internet usage increase 40 percent worldwide in 2020. A study by Yale university shows a surge in digital activity – from online shopping to following a fitness class to meeting on Zoom - has hidden environmental costs, with 42.6 million megawatt hours of additional electricity to account for.
ReadIn its fourth barometer, the French Committee for Textile Care Labeling (Cofreet) notes a growing desire among textile-clothing consumers to be careful with care, while environmental criteria are gaining in importance at the time of purchase itself.
ReadToday, being a size 48 and finding high-end, eco-friendly and trendy clothes is mission impossible. And it may be the clothing rental services that will shake up the industry.
ReadThe first test method that can reliably measure the amount of small plastic particles released from textiles during domestic laundering has been developed by scientists.
ReadOn March 10, a strong majority of European parliamentarians voted in favor of a draft initiative on the duty of care, laying the foundations for increased control of companies and their subsidiaries. While it is now up to the European Commission to put this text into practice, the vote was welcomed by many European and international NGOs.
ReadThe Colbert Committee, which gathers the major French names in luxury, is launching this Wednesday for the first time an advertising campaign to defend the territorial roots of luxury, its French know-how and thousands of jobs provide.
ReadOne year after the release of the ASPI report accusing 82 multinationals of participating in the exploitation of the Uyghur people, Clear Fashion takes stock of the commitments of textile brands. After having made available an open access document summarizing all the brands' responses to the scandal, the application that allows consumers to discover what is behind the clothes analyzes the commitments of the brands involved.
Read77% of textile coloration professionals believe there is a widening skills gap in the dyeing industry, with 53% of agreeing this is now at crisis point, says SDC survey.
ReadThe fashion industry is aware of the problems caused by some of the most commonly used fabrics and fibers - particularly those derived from animals. Groups such as PETA and the Humane Society of the United States have campaigned against animal-based materials for decades, promoting several brands and retailers to boycott harmful fabrics such as fur and exotic skins. However the ecological issues relating to animal-based materials are not restricted to those used in luxury fashion.
ReadInterview with Paul de Montclos, President of the Vosges Terre Textile label and pioneer of the Fédération France Terre Textile, which now has a hundred of approved companies. "Alsace Terre Textile", "Nord Terre Textile", the various regional labels certify short circuit or all French productions: with strict specifications, it is the most demanding in the textile sector.
ReadThe retail and brand development company has leased a 17th-century mansion for a slew of projects.
ReadA new generation of brands provides on-demand manufacturing with a focus on sustainability and digital tools.
ReadThe number of textiles facilities certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) organisation grew by 34 per cent globally last year, to a new high of 10,388.
ReadParis will replace New York as the world’s leading fashion city by 2025, according to an exclusive Vogue Business commissioned ranking by IFDAQ. Besides the big four fashion capitals, Shanghai and Moscow are cities to watch.
ReadFrance is the world's leading producer of linen. However, due to a lack of spinning mills, it has to send 90% of its production to China and India for processing. Several players want to move up a chain in France, starting with "Linportant", which has just created a range of French organic linen T-shirts. From the boom in second-hand clothing to the boom in ethical fashion applications, Novethic is weaving the fabric of more sustainable fashion.
ReadFind out Paris Good Fashion's interview on BFM Paris Business
ReadTOMRA and STADLER delivered the fully automated sorting plant for Sysav Industri AB, which sorts pre- and post-consumer mixed textile waste in southern Skåne, in Sweden. Four of TOMRA’s AUTOSORT® units are an integral part of the plant built and designed by STADLER. The plant is part of the Swedish Innovation Platform for Textile Sorting (SIPTex) government-funded project, which aims to develop a sorting solution tailored to the needs of textile recyclers and the garment industry.
ReadA more ethical and responsible sector focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), this is the commitment made by the Filière Française du Cuir at its first digital press conference in 2021.
ReadSustainability experts are calling on the fashion industry to go beyond harm mitigation and create positive impact. This is what brands need to know.
ReadLimiting risks was the leitmotiv of French distributors before the crisis, and it has become even more important since then. This involves more medium-term supplies (between 6 and one month before the start of the season), less dependence on Asia and a strengthening of local and proximity sourcing. Here are the main findings of the IFM (Institut Français de la Mode) Observatory study carried out in December 2020 among a hundred or so international distributors, and presented during the Première Vision "digital talks".
ReadEntitled 'Driving for Circularity: Collaborating for Industry Impact', the new report launched by the open platform for techsyle innovation The Mills Fabrica, explores the drivers and barriers behind circularity, as well as suggesting blueprints for industry pilots and collaborations.
ReadAs our online shopping habits continue to grow, how can we as consumers trust that return items aren’t adding to fashion’s waste problem?
ReadA new publication called the Open Source Fashion Cookbook aims to share ‘recipes’ and tips for leading the best sustainable fashion life.
ReadThe app’s super-short clips are driving a trend for ‘thrift flipping’ — upcycling secondhand clothes into something new
ReadThe public consultation on sustainable fashion presents its results. More than 100,000 French people submitted their ideas on second-hand, relocation or the end of "polybags", the plastics that protect more than 4 billion fashion items. So many ideas to regenerate a sector that has lived a black year in 2020.
ReadA group of fashion industry actors in France have drawn up local measures following a citizen consultation.
ReadOver 30 renowned fashion brands, manufactures and recyclers are collaborating in a new initiative to capture and reuse textile waste in Bangladesh.
ReadThe secondhand market is booming, and a growing number of labels are piling in. But selling pre-worn trousers and handbags online — and turning a profit — is challenging.
ReadOutlining some of the biggest hurdles facing the fashion industry, PACE’s latest report offers a practical agenda for implementing a more circular system. Charlotte Turner, Eco-Age’s head of sustainable fashion and textiles, offers her insight into the report.
ReadPopular for their practicality, designated as good substitutes for plastic bags, tote bags are "trendy" accessories, and that may well be the problem. Their environmental impact, which is often little known, should encourage people to consume them sparingly.
ReadThe European Commission recently launched the Green Pledge Engagement, the first initiative under the new Consumer Programme and part of the European Climate Pact, a European Union (EU) initiative inviting individuals, communities and organisations to participate in climate action and build a greener Europe. The signatories promise to accelerate the contribution to a green transition.
ReadSustainable fashion related to vintage on TikTok has sad roots in grossophobia.
ReadAfter opting for a "phygital" (partly physical, partly digital) event in August, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CFW) - which hosts Scandi's stars such as Ganni, Stine Goya and Rotate Birger Christensen - is going 100% digital for the first time, due to restrictions imposed by Covid-19 in Denmark. But while the format may look different, one thing hasn't changed: fashion's urgent need to step up its action on the climate crisis.
ReadNEW YORK - According to a new report published by the Changing Markets Foundation (CMF), the fashion industry has become "dangerously dependent" on cheap synthetic fibres.
ReadThe technology company, Fibretrace, is launching its new Fibre Impact Monitoring (FIM) module. The Fiber Impact Module (FIM) is an integrated impact benchmarking platform that captures primary supply chain data, supported by third party verification.
ReadIn order to achieve the objectives set by the Paris Agreement by 2050 and to effectively combat climate change, the French textile industry points out that textile manufacturing in France emits little CO2 and makes it possible to reduce the carbon footprint of textile products in a decisive way. The Union des Industries Textiles therefore wanted to carry out a comparative study on the carbon footprint of 17 pieces of clothing and household linen.
ReadTo tackle the measurement of the environmental impact of the use and end-of-life phase of its products, luxury group Kering launched the first major survey of its kind in October 2019 and recorded the behaviours of over 3,000 luxury fashion consumers in France, the UK, Italy and China, the US and Japan. Participants answered a wide range of questions about representative products they had purchased, including their frequency of use, product lifespan and care behaviours.
ReadIn the midst of the pandemic crisis, the International Apparel Federation (IAF) has released its vision for a better apparel industry (measured in terms of people, planet and profits). This "Priority Issues 2021" vision is written and fully supported by the IAF Board of Directors, a group of 23 industry leaders representing industry associations, companies and the wider fashion ecosystem from all continents and covering the entire apparel supply chain.
ReadLast July, after the mobilisation of the French industry to alleviate the shortage of masks, the State entrusted the "Fashion & Luxury" Strategic Committee (CSF) with a study on the prospects for relocating and supporting sustainable fashion. The aim of this report, submitted on 19 January by Guillaume de Seynes, the chairman of the CSF "Fashion & Luxury" to the ministers for ecological transition and industry, is to explore the possibilities of relocation in France and to evaluate the benefits and attractiveness of France in the face of the development of sustainable fashion, which is in full expansion. To put it plainly, since France is the worst performer in Europe in terms of labour costs, identify new business models that reconcile economic performance, respect for the environment and the attractiveness of the regions. The aim is to double the share of made in France in the consumption of textiles, household linen and footwear "in the long term". And to reach a quarter of purchases made in France.
ReadNew UK government measures add to US and European controls, including fines for non-complying businesses and a review of export controls, but critics lament the lack of official sanctions and targeted measures.
ReadWhile circularity is gradually establishing itself as a central challenge for industry, the public investment bank, the Ministry of Employment and the waste processing and recovery sector are setting up an accelerator, called Valorisation, dedicated to SMEs offering waste treatment and reuse solutions.
ReadThe Fashion Revolution organisation conducted its first-ever consumer survey in 2018 among 5,000 people aged 16-75 in the five largest European markets: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. In August 2020, a follow-up survey was carried out in the same countries to find out their buying behavior over the past 12 months and their current views on some of fashion's most pressing social and environmental issues.
ReadThe clothing sector has not been spared by the annus horribilis 2020. With a turnover that would have fallen by 55% despite the considerable boom in online sales, what are the prospects for the fashion industry?
ReadFlorentin Letissier, the deputy for the social and solidarity economy (ESS) of the City of Paris, unveils his roadmap for Challenges until 2026. The Covid-19 emergency will have enabled this economics professor, who works for the Greens, to obtain a larger envelope to support a sector particularly affected by the pandemic.
ReadWhile the whole world will be looking to Paris for the Olympic Games, the city is also dreaming, in 2024, of being an exemplary example in the world of sustainable development.
ReadTextile Exchange's Corporate Fibre and Materials Benchmark (CFMB) programme is launching a new tool to help the fashion and textile industry take urgent action on biodiversity. The Biodiversity Benchmark, developed in partnership with The Biodiversity Consultancy, Conservation International and kindly supported by Sappi, will enable companies to understand their impacts and dependencies on nature, chart a path to achieving positive biodiversity outcomes and assess their progress.
ReadIn the final episode of The Future of Fashion podcast, host Hilary Milnes speaks to Gabriela Hearst about the importance of sustainable design.
ReadThis year, Ralph Lauren and Lululemon have joined the likes of H&M Group, Kering and Chanel in pouring money into innovations that could reduce the industry’s environmental impact.
ReadThe non-profit organisation dedicated to the sustainable use of GreenBlue materials, in partnership with NSF International, announces the launch of the public consultation period for the Recycled Material Standard (RMS), which is due to be published in early 2021. Once published, this will be the only standard that provides both a mechanism to guarantee recycled content claims by companies and creates a certificate trading system that directly incentivizes value chain participants to invest in increased recycling capacity.
ReadThe first wave of the pandemic devastated fashion’s supply chain. Fresh restrictions in Europe this month have already led to more cancellations and price pressure, and more pain is on the horizon as cases worsen in North America.
ReadThe spring forecast was therefore correct. While the firm Bain & Company was expecting an overall drop of -20 to -35% in the sales of luxury goods by the end of 2020, the trend seems to be heading for a drop of -23% to 217 billion dollars.
ReadScaling technology that can recycle old clothes back into new ones has eluded the industry for a decade. A series of new projects this year suggest fashion may be nearing a tipping point.
ReadInitiated in 2017, Green Friday, an alternative movement to Black Friday to encourage more committed consumption, is celebrating its fourth edition at the end of November against the backdrop of a global pandemic that has exploded online sales and changed consumers' purchasing priorities. A priori, the Covid crisis should benefit from such an initiative. However, as a new Yougov poll shows, opposing Green Friday to Black Friday still resembles a fight worthy of David against Goliath.
ReadThe Conseil National du Cuir (CNC) is launching a consumer consultation to better identify their relationship with leather and products from the sector. And above all the importance they attach to production made in France in their purchasing decisions.
ReadWith the launch of the Collectif Tricolor, initiated by Made in Town with Paris Good Fashion, Deloitte and more than thirty prestigious players (manufacturers, producers, distributors, institutions and territories) approaching, Le Figaro devotes a long article to the importance of supporting the rebirth of the wool industry in France.
ReadWhile the coronavirus pandemic continues to paralyse the fashion industry, major brands are taking advantage of the situation to rethink their strategies to better meet consumer expectations for products that are more environmentally friendly and more easily recyclable.
ReadThe European Commission is taking another important step to protect European consumers from dangerous substances in frequent contact with human skin, which are known to cause cancer and reproductive health problems. On Sunday 1 November, a restriction limiting consumer exposure to 33 chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR) comes into force.
ReadNot surprisingly, it is a new paradigm that is being established with new processes, new types of providers, different approaches and, above all, new consumer expectations. Brands have first started to work on their sourcing, refining the audits of their subcontractors and selecting new materials. To support them, tools were created. With the support of the Defi, the women's ready-to-wear federation, for example, last year proposed its guide to responsible sourcing to enable each brand to embark on this path.
ReadIn its 2020 report, Textile Exchange shows stability in the production of polyester and cotton, which remain the star materials of the sector. But the report also shows, within each type of material, a strengthening of the share of production adopting social and/or environmental requirements.
ReadAs part of the France Relance plan, Bercy intends to modernize France's industrial base. To this end, Bercy has just opened a counter dedicated to industrial SMEs and TWAs wishing to benefit from aid for transformation investments "towards the industry of the future".
ReadLike the nutriscore in the food sector, environmental labeling in the textile sector must allow a comparison between two equivalent garments by visualizing at a glance which one is the least harmful to the planet. In February 2020, the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition launched a large-scale experiment with a view to generalising it, via a rating system ranging from A to E. This initiative is part of the anti-wastefulness law for a circular economy (AGEC), which also includes a ban on destroying unsold goods. On 22 October, a virtual round table at the Fashion Green Days forum offered a progress report on these environmental labeling tests, which require close scrutiny at all levels of the company, from raw materials to the transport of goods.
ReadWitness signatories to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh have publicly raised concerns that its successor organization was "woefully unprepared" to meet its responsibilities and may need to be replaced.
ReadEveryone’s talking about regenerative agriculture. Brands large and small—from Allbirds and Patagonia to Maggie Marilyn and Richard Malone—are partnering with regenerative cotton farms and peppering words like “soil health” and “carbon sequestration” into fashion week chats. Even Gucci’s CEO Marco Bizzarri mentioned regenerative agriculture in his Copenhagen Fashion Summit keynote, citing it as a priority in Gucci’s mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
ReadAround 80% of the used clothes collected are exported, mainly to Africa and Asia and when these outlets close due to Covid, French collection stops due to lack of storage capacity. The challenge is to develop recycling in France but it is expensive.
ReadA recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), entitled "Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain - Global Stocktaking", aims to map the textile value chain to identify the main environmental and socio-economic impacts ("hot spots") along the stages of the value chain and takes stock of existing initiatives to address them.
ReadSustainable development ranks as the second most important strategic objective for companies in this sector, according to a study by the US Cotton Trust Protocol and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
ReadSmall, agile luxury brands are sidestepping fashion weeks and choosing to do it their way, adopting a pre-order model wherever possible. The goal: to get closer to the customer and eliminate overproduction.
ReadWhen the coronavirus outbreak clutched the world in March 2020, Paris Fashion Week had just come to a close. Months later, fashion week federations around the globe decided to migrate. Now, six months on from the last women’s fashion week, the four fashion capitals displayed a hybridized, but mostly digital, fashion week — their attempt to still buoy press, buyers and consumers alike. Having grande fashion shows be replaced by a two-dimensional digital version of itself poses an opportunity for the fashion industry to reconsider its gluttonous approach to how we consume collections, across four cities in four weeks, for twelve hours a day, in similar anonymous, crammed spaces with a handful of exceptions. While it may prevent the exchange of ideas in person, it comes at a time when the way we see fashion was already undergoing a period of upheaval. The pandemic merely accelerated fashion’s digital makeover.
ReadOn sustainability, some fashion brands are becoming more comfortable with growing transparency and finding that acknowledging their shortcomings can make for more effective communications than crowing about their achievements.
ReadThe findings are intended to not only provide useful guidance to New York but to be shared and built upon globally.
ReadSynthetic clothes release harmful microplastics when washed. Brands could help by informing consumers and investing in research.
ReadThe Ademe (agency for ecological transition) is opening a call for projects until 30 April to support the development of demonstrators of industrial solutions for fashion eco-design and the recycling of textiles and shoes. A project which is notably in line with the Fashion Pact and the recent law against waste.
ReadTuesday 29th September, second day of Paris Fashion Week. Dior parades in its ephemeral cube installed in the Jardin des Tuileries, just like last season. Covid-19 or not, almost nothing has changed. The 350 guests, as opposed to the usual 2,000, take their place inside the "box" in a reconstituted cathedral decor revisited by Italian artist Lucia Marcucci, known for her collages and works around "visual poetry. »
ReadStep by step, luxury brands have adopted the fast fashion model, with Covid-19 set to complete the shift, argues Liroy Choufan.
ReadHEARRING wins the Grand Prix for Inclusive Design Eyes On Talents - APF France Handicap at the initiative of Paris Good Fashion and awarded in Paris during Fashion Week. With interviews of the two laureates Flora Fixy and Julia Dessirier & of Pascal Morand, Executive President of the Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion.
ReadIt is clear that the world needs natural climate solutions enacted on a global scale, but as companies looking to invest in nature have found, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Leaders who understand this are tailoring approaches to natural climate solutions (NCS) that are bold and meaningful for their businesses. Even with the added pressures of the global health crisis, many companies are pursuing natural climate solutions with urgency.
ReadEvery garment has a story. A cost, and an impact - on people and planet. A fact, easily forgotten when faced with enticing green marketing. From here on, we’re leaving no stone unturned - and no number in the dark. It’s time we - as companies and individuals - acknowledge our environmental debt: the true cost of making the clothing we otherwise take for granted. Every ounce of CO2, every drop of water, every spark of energy is now accounted for.
ReadCovid-19 left thousands of garment workers without wages as brands and retailers refused to pay their suppliers. Nonprofit Remake says it’s time for fashion to put workers first.
ReadAs the autumn edition of the French Days sales operation kicks off on 25 September, a survey on the new fashion calendars underlines the expectation that promotional periods will be supervised.
ReadIn Bangladesh, the traditional production of muslin, once so renowned, is now hanging by a thread in the face of the tons of cheap clothes produced by factories in the country, which has become one of the world's leading exporters of ready-to-wear clothing.
ReadThe e-commerce giant will start labeling products that meet select sustainability certifications on its US website, joining a growing list of companies seeking to target conscious consumers.
ReadWith the growing ecological awareness of consumers, the major fast fashion brands have made lasting commitments to adapt to their customers. But, in practice, this is hardly noticeable in their collections. At Zara and HM, responsible collections represent about 10% of their total offer. Covid-19 could serve as a catalyst for change, but beware of greenwashing, warn the experts, following the study carried out by the start-up Retviews (Lectra).
ReadThe Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Higg Co have launched the Higg Module (Higg PM), a sustainability tool that assesses the environmental impact of manufactured products. The launch of Higg PM complements the core suite of tools on the Higg Index platform, called Higg.org. With the methodology developed by the SAC and the technology provided by Higg Co, the Higg PM reflects the work and expertise of more than 70 SAC member companies over nearly four years.
ReadConsumers’ mixed signals on sustainability pose tough but surmountable obstacles for fashion brands, argue Sarah Willersdorf and Robbin Mitchell.
ReadFor its most recent edition, entirely digital, Première Vision presents the season's cross-functional highlights in eco-responsible developments and innovations.
ReadIn this complex autumn season, Paris Good Fashion is launching its first webinars to help us better understand and anticipate how to make the right decisions to accelerate the environmental and social transition.
ReadAs part of the partnership with Paris Mode Insider, here is an interview with Isabelle Lefort, co-founder of Paris Good Fashion, at the initiative of the citizen consultation: moderesponsable.make.org
ReadFashion always has potential. In spite of the economic context, it remains in Europe a "pleasure purchase" and the fourth largest item of expenditure for French consumers. At the same time, the role of eco-responsibility is becoming essential. Here are the main findings of a study carried out by the IFM-Première Vision Chair on post-COVID fashion markets in Europe, presented as part of the "Digital Talks of Première Vision".
Readhe US and the EU are taking different approaches to target human rights abuses in the fashion supply chain.
ReadAfter weathering the initial shock of the coronavirus crisis, many fashion companies have started to publish their sustainability goals for the next five to 10 years. But these initiatives risk falling short of an industry-wide imperative to drastically reduce environmental impact within the next decade.
ReadAMSTERDAM – the Fashion for Good initiated “Full Circle Textiles Project: Scaling Innovations in Cellulosic Recycling” – a first-of-its-kind consortium project, launches today. As much as 73% of clothing produced is sent to landfill or is incinerated and of all new clothing made, less than 1% of material used comes from recycled sources. Focusing on cellulosic fibres, this Project aims to validate and eventually scale promising technologies in chemical recycling from a select group of innovators to tackle these issues. Leading global organisations Laudes Foundation, Birla Cellulose, Kering, PVH Corp. and Target join Fashion for Good, to explore the disruptive solutions, with the goal of creating new fibres and garments from used clothing and ultimately drive industry-wide adoption.
ReadFashion is doubling down on ambitious promises to clean up its environmental impact, but bad and misleading data are complicating efforts to build a more sustainable industry.
ReadAfter a decade of operation, the French textile industry eco-organization Eco-TLC has been transformed into ReFashion. A new entity with widened ambitions, which for the occasion is equipped with a new platform intended to accompany brands and designers in their eco-design approaches.
ReadBetween a meat industry operating at full capacity and manufacturers faced with anaemic demand due to the pandemic, the leather industry in France is facing a critical problem of hide storage.
ReadAccording to the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe), more than 100 billion garments are now sold each year worldwide and the fashion industry's production has doubled between 2000 and 2014. We also buy on average 60% more clothes than 15 years ago.
ReadReturn in images and video on the press conference of the launch of the citizens' consultation for a more responsible fashion.
ReadThe textile sector aims to relocate part of its production to France. To be competitive, write three specialists, the French sector must change its production model and invest in innovation. By Géraldine Poivert (President of (Re)set), Pascal Denizart (Director General of the European Centre for Innovative Textiles), Chloé Salmon-Legagneur (Head of the Bali Chair at the Estia Engineering School)
ReadThe risk of finding forced labour, trafficking and other forms of modern slavery in major fashion manufacturing hubs has reached extreme levels, a new report finds.
ReadAt a time when sales of second-hand clothes are multiplying, particularly on the Internet or via apps, is fashion undergoing a complete change?
ReadEco-responsibility and sustainability now seem to be unavoidable for consumers; and this concern was accelerated by the world health crisis.
ReadA more responsible fashion, yes, but how? The Paris Good Fashion collective, which brings together the major fashion players under the aegis of Galeries Lafayette, Vestiaire Collective, the Etam, Éram, Petit Bateau, La Redoute and Who's Next groups, launched a major national online citizen consultation on 3 September. Your voice counts!
ReadGaleries Lafayette and the “Paris Good Fashion” association, with support from local and national officials, are launching a public consultation from Sept. 3 to Oct. 25.
ReadBuying from eco-consicous brands isn't the best way to adopt sustainable style. Your online returns don't end up where you think they do. Investing in luxury fashion over fast fashion doesn't necessarily prevent worker exploitation. Widespread misconceptions about ethical fashion and sustainability can sometimes keep consumers from taking meaningful action when it comes to their lifestyles. Here are nine common myths and the real facts behind each one.
ReadFor a long time, "upcycling" was an aberration for luxury brands, which were constantly launching new collections. But the pandemic and the ecological conscience have gone through it: from Vuitton to Armani, via Maison Margiela, everyone is starting to create something new with something old. And claiming it.
ReadIt is high time to multiply eco-design approaches in the textile sector, given the current stakes and the scope of the sector.
ReadMost of the top 100 fashion brands have announced targets for a 100% sustainable fibre target by 2025, but less than 5% of these brands can trace their textile inputs to check the sustainability credentials of fibre producers. This helps explain why the first "key priority for immediate implementation" of the CEO Agenda (from Global Fashion Agenda) is supply chain traceability.
ReadWhile the Chinese authorities have interned more than 1 million Uighurs in forced labour camps, 180 NGOs are calling on clothing brands to break ties with Xinjiang, the province where this minority is persecuted. Today, one out of every five cotton garments is said to come from a Uighur labour camp. Almost the entire clothing sector is affected.
ReadA global coalition of 30 environmental organisations and consultancies will help companies improve on areas like soil degradation and wildlife habitat loss.
Readhe international fashion industry must urgently cut emissions by 50 per cent to reach a 1.5 °C target, says a new report from McKinsey and the Global Fashion Agenda.
ReadFashion Positive publishes Circular Materials Guidelines 1.0 , the first ever circular materials guidelines that help align the apparel, footwear and textile industry with what circular fibres are and how design can prepare them for a circular economy for the fashion industry.
ReadNew York fashion designer Mischa Nonoo, says in Fortune magazine that fashion companies are no longer a profitable investment. She explains why.
ReadSewing machine sales are experiencing an unexpected upturn for manufacturers and distributors. The production of textile masks, but also the do it yourself trend are largely responsible for this trend.
ReadSolidarity, a sense of community, sustainable development: the lexicon used in the new press release announcing the news of the return to Paris of Galeries Lafayette will surely set the tone for the coming year: fashion will either be militant or not. This militancy will be expressed above all by responsibility - a generic term referring to a desire for fashion that causes less environmental damage and support for labels that use local production or contribute to social development. This vast program - already highlighted in 2018 as part of the launch of the Go for Good label - will be highlighted once again in the autumn with the "Today and Tomorrow Let's Change Fashion" event, which will take place from 2 September to 11 October in the department store on Boulevard Haussmann and in all stores in France.
ReadGoldstein, who has Down’s syndrome, was a smash hit. But campaigners say they are still facing an uphill battle for disability visibility in fashion
ReadOnline shopping has kept the industry afloat through lockdown, but higher online sales also means more transport emissions and packaging waste. Here’s how brands are working to make e-commerce more sustainable.
ReadThey must now prove that they are more committed. "We don't have the luxury of waiting". This was the slogan of an LVMH campaign launched before the Covid-19 wave in France. An almost premonitory message, given the scale of the earthquake that hit the luxury sector, like the rest of the economy and the world.
ReadFashion has a huge impact on people and the planet, and fast fashion owns a large and growing share of the problem. Fast fashion is growing, well… fast. The most successful fast fashion brands use influencers and other ploys to push trend driven items at ridiculously low prices, all while producing new clothing collections as often as every two weeks. Yikes. That all comes at a huge cost to the lives of the workers who make the clothes, as well as the environment. Read on to discover some hard facts about fast fashion—we guarantee you’ll put down that $10 t-shirt and back away slowly in case it bites.
ReadThe European Centre for Innovative Textiles has developed a demonstrator for the mechanical recycling of short cotton fibres, and hopes to secure a deposit of used fabric fibres to create a recycling industry.
ReadThe organisation pushes brands to change their practices, and during the pandemic, more are signing up for its services. But only brands willing to embrace it voluntarily stand to gain.
ReadThe fashion industry currently contributes up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, and big brands can’t pay the problem to go away.
ReadFrance has the highest female representation at 46.4 percent for companies on the CAC 40.
Read"Very hectic, yet attractive and interesting," Helsinki Fashion Week's experimental approach to fashion dare designers to think and act outside the box.
ReadSites like Poshmark and Thredup have thrived during the pandemic, but your neighborhood thrift store is not doing so well.
ReadFor decades, leaders were expected to focus on one thing: financial results. But we are now in the midst of an ethical revolution. Leaders are increasingly held accountable for poor behavior, and companies are pushed by employees, governments, and customers to step up and adopt a multi-stakeholder approach that serves social purposes as well as investor demands. Canned codes of ethics that ask employees to check a box to certify that they’ve read the material and third-party online ethics training courses might be all that is required to comply with the law, but they don’t move the needle. Employees see them mostly as a nuisance they have to suffer through. Business leaders need to do more.
ReadEven after e-commerce became commonplace, many luxury companies remained cautious about jumping into digital sales. Items that justify their thousand-dollar price tags with claims of exceptional craftsmanship and materials aren’t always able to communicate their desirability through tiny two-dimensional images. They may also lose their shine if shoppers can compare prices across sites, while the lavish experience of purchasing an item in an opulent store can feel merely transactional when checking out on a screen. Still, as more shoppers have moved online, luxury companies have followed, and with Covid-19 now keeping consumers home and many stores shut, it’s pushing them even harder to give new priority to their digital businesses.
ReadIn the hills of this region bordering the Bay of Bengal, thousands of farmers hit by the Covid-19 crisis are hoping to bounce back thanks to the fair trade system that helps them fight against GMOs and switch to organic farming.
ReadIt’s time for the apparel industry to radically reduce the industry’s contribution to biodiversity loss. Here are four interventions that can make the biggest impact.
Read(AFP) - Nine multinationals have joined forces at the initiative of US computer giant Microsoft to share their research and strategies to enable all companies to become carbon neutral by 2050.
ReadFast fashion is leading to a mountain of clothing being thrown away each year and has a huge impact on the environment, so can we turn our unwanted garments into something useful?
Read(AFP) - Once the preserve of seasoned ecologists, the circular economy is gaining ground in the textile industry, becoming a selling point for a struggling sector whose traditional sales campaigns are no longer enough to convince consumers. An analysis developed in the framework of the report recently published by the firm Kea&Partners and the French Fashion Institute (IFM), and which FashionNetwork has already relayed its observations on designer brands and entry-level retailers.
Read(AFP) - A dozen hands are busy sorting screens, books and other toys: in Eskilstuna, a Swedish industrial town undergoing ecological reconversion, the recycling of second-hand products is taking on a new dimension with an entire shopping centre dedicated to second-hand objects, consisting of thirteen shops.
ReadExtinction Rebellion activists deployed a 170-metre clothing chain in Lille on the "first Saturday of the sales" to denounce the "ravages and waste" produced by the textile industry, according to an AFP journalist.
ReadLivry (France) - Shaken by the Covid-19 crisis, the flax industry is dreaming of relocating to France, the world's leading producer of this fibre, an agricultural nugget that is 80 percent processed in China. "It would be great. It's a shame though: we produce flax here, it goes to China and comes back here", says Bertrand Lefèvre, a 27-year-old flax farmer in Parfouru-l'Eclin (Calvados).
ReadThe Fashion industry has been taken apart at the seams. Is this the end of lavish shows and packed front rows?
ReadGoogle has announced that it will work with conservation nonprofit WWF Sweden to create a digital platform with environmental sustainability information to inform responsible sourcing decisions in the fashion industry. Google’s Senior Industry Head of Luxury, Maria McClay explains to Medium their objectives.
ReadAs part of the European Union’s (EU) Green Deal, the European Commission (Commission) announced the adoption of its updated Circular Economy Action Plan (Action Plan) on March 11, 2020.
ReadFrom raw materials to manufacturing and production, right through to the advertising campaign.
ReadWhen you create your own clothing brand, do you have to source in France or abroad? In Asia or around the Mediterranean? The only imperative is to respect the customers' expectations for an ethical or eco-designed production.
ReadBloomberg news reported in May that garment factories in Bangladesh, a clothes-making hub, have seen $1.5 billion worth of orders cancelled. Meanwhile, sales worldwide in the fashion and luxury industry plunged up to 70 percent from March to April. “So the question is now, how do we build back better?” asked Michael Stanley-Jones, of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), who serves as the co-secretary of the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion. “We need to map the value chain and identify opportunities to limit the negative environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry, while building in accountability and transparency.”
ReadIn its current growth-at-all-cost model, fashion is wreaking havoc on the environment and operating unsustainably. The future could be accepting reduced growth.
ReadDoctor of Agronomic Sciences, Sylvie Bénard is one of the leading experts on the environment and ecological transition. Including responsible fashion. She began her career in the mid-1980s conducting research in microbiology for Hennessy, before becoming environmental director of the LVMH group, a position she will hold until March 2020. ADN is interviewing her on the occasion of the creation of her structure "La Dame à la licorne" and her new commitments, in particular with Paris Good Fashion.
ReadFashion for Good points to solutions in key focus areas to strengthen the fashion industry
ReadFashion for Good points to solutions in key focus areas to strengthen the fashion industry. Part 1.
Read“If you’ve got issues in your supply chain, if you can’t ensure your workers are treated well, then which lives matter?” Barber asked, referencing the Black Lives Matter campaign.
ReadSociologist and philosopher, science anthropologist, Bruno Latour is one of our greatest scouts in the fight to protect biodiversity and fight against global warming. For him, the VIDOC 19 crisis is accelerating everyone's awareness. We are possibly at the time of a rebirth.
ReadIn an exclusive interview, Toledano articulated the value of the physical format, of fashion weeks, and the central place of Paris. And the efforts that are being made to make Paris fashion week more sustainable.
ReadThe Vogue Business Index shows that brand loyalty often trumps brand values in determining whether or not consumers believe a brand to be sustainable.
ReadAs lockdowns ease, the fashion industry says it’s time for a rethink on every level.
ReadUnderstated Luxury, sustainability, and proximity emerge as key pillars of luxury shoppers' behavior after the emergency.
ReadWhile consumers have become more aware of the environmental impact of their clothing choices. Sometimes it's important to outwit the true from the false. Sometimes the reality of "natural" is not as beautiful as it might seem.
ReadThe transition towards sustainable and responsible fashion creates opportunities for research into new innovative fibers and textiles.
ReadAccording to Vogue Business Data, released May 26, the brands that are most popular with consumers are also those that would perform best in terms of responsibility and sustainability.
ReadBusiness Of Fashion has just released an excellent think piece on the future of sustainable fashion. To be consulted on :
ReadFor the past month, the press has widely reported on the operation "Masque Solidaire". Here are some of the articles and reports made since the launch on April 23rd.
ReadOne month after its launch, the Masque Solidaire operation, launched by the writer Alexandre Jardin and Paris Good Fashion, with a group of supermarket chains, fashion brands and service companies, presents its first results.
Read