Press Review

EU Parliament Backs Company Checks on Suppliers for Human Rights Abuses #745

The 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.

European cities sign declaration to counter fast fashion #744

Mayors 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.

Modern slavery is on the rise. Fashion’s role remains steady #743

Walk 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.

Regulators Want Fashion Brands to Pay for Their Textile Waste #742

Programs under consideration in parts of the US and EU would require fashion companies to pay fees based on the volume of garments they produce.

Circularity Is a Fashionable Fantasy #741

The buzzy concept is a chimaera that distracts from the root cause of fashion’s worsening environmental impact: overconsumption, argues Kenneth Pucker.

In Paris, the Berlier factory dreams of becoming a temple of circular fashion #740

Paris - 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.

Science-based targets for nature are here. What does it mean for fashion? #739

From 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.

Are Public B Corps Overvalued? #738

B Corps may be overvalued now, but not for long, according to impact finance.

Higg Co, the data platform behind the Higg Index, rebrands as Worldly #737

Worldly 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.

Forced labour of Uyghurs: a new complaint targets textile giants in France #736

Paris - 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.

EU states back ban on destruction of unsold clothing #735

Textile industry accounts for a fifth of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions

Wool: what is the status of the revival of the French wool industry, supported by Tricolor? #734

Launched 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.

How can circular fashion businesses quantify their impact? #733

Rental, 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.

Plastics are pervasive in clothing. Why don’t consumers know? #732

A 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.

Is India in ‘Denial’ Over Impending ‘Cotton Crisis’? #731

India is on the brink of a potential “cotton crisis”—and no one seems to be paying attention.

A petition to fight against the SHEIN brand and ultra fast fashion in France #730

Shop-eshop: Ademe looks at the carbon impact of sales channels #729

In 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.

Investors are putting pressure on brands to improve buying practices #728

Purchasing 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.

Uyghur labour: Shein in the sights of US lawmakers #727

New 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.

MEPs continue their fight against fast fashion #726

MEPs want to regulate so-called "ephemeral" fashion. The Parliament's Environment Committee has presented a series of laws to better regulate this economic model.

In the aftermath of earthquakes, Türkiye’s textile industry calls on brands for support #725

Three 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.

Traceability: brands struggle with Agec law #724

Legislation 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.

Green Store Challenge: the competition to create greener shops is open #723

The 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.

How to Avoid Another Rana Plaza | Case Study #722

In 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.

When Marketing Gets Political #721

Rothy’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.

Fashion can now report its plastic use. Will reduction follow? #720

With legislation and investor pressure growing, reporting is a first step for fashion to tackle its plastic use and production problem.

Anti-competitive practices: Brussels investigates fashion sector #719

The 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".

EXCLUSIVE: Microplastics Lobbyers Push for Filters in EU Washers in New Report #718

Microfiber filtering is on European policymakers' agenda. Caring for clothes matters.

PGF x LVMH Green Store & Building Challenge #716

Let's go for the PGF x LVMH Green Store & Building Challenge 2023.

Circular fashion: towards a €14 billion market in 2030 in France #717

An 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.

Can regenerative wool make fashion more sustainable? #715

Regenerative wool: it's the new green buzzword in the fashion industry – but can wool ever be fully sustainable?

Sustainable fashion calls for made-to-measure regulation #714

Without 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.

Activists Renew Push for Fashion Workers’ Rights Bill #713

The 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.

How chemical recycling could revive the textile industry in France #712

A 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

How the recycling of clothes hangers and polybags is tested in Ile-de-France #711

Announced 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.

Where does the fashion industry stand on environmental and social challenges? #710

On 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.

CSR strengths and progress margins of French fashion brands according to Paris Good Fashion and Climate Chance #709

How 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.

Status of French fashion actors in sustainability #708

Paris 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.

Textile recycling in Europe is still "limited" #707

Paris - 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.

Fashion and luxury: what does the new strategic sector contract provide for? #706

On 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.

New Report: Fashion Industry Needs to Make Climate Action a Top Trend #705

UN 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.

The EU is targeting greenwashing claims, and fashion is a top offender #704

Brands 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.

Emissions from waste textiles could be cut with chemical sorting process #703

A 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.

Time is running out to close fashion’s ambition-action gap, report says #702

A 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.

Regulation, data and harmonisation: How does fashion tackle greenwashing? #701

The growing consumer interest in more environmentally friendly fashion has accelerated in recent years, but unfortunately it has been accompanied by an increase in greenwashing.

What really happens with returns from Zalando #700

Investigative research shows that the fashion retailer does not handle returns as sustainably as it promises.

Emmaus infiltrates Vinted #699

Emmaus, a social integration company specialising in the resale and recovery of clothing and objects, has infiltrated the second-hand platform Vinted.

Can Social Media’s New Deinfluencing Trend Really Encourage Us To Buy Less Stuff? 698

These 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. 

Where is the fast fashion backlash? #697

In 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.

Shein spreads its tentacles in French cities and prepares its IPO #696

While 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.

Should Fashion Do More to Safeguard Animals? #695

While most brands have banned fur, animal welfare is rarely discussed when it comes to more mainstream and lucrative fabrics like leather.

How to accelerate progress on sustainability? Listen to suppliers #694

Initiatives 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.

Data Matters: Measuring Sustainability Outcomes to Improve Water Management and Dispel Misinformation #693

The 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.

Green Carpet Fashion awards 2023: Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett on frontline as eco-warriors plan plastic-free future #692

Unusual mix of stars, activists and sustainable fashion personalities attend ceremony in Hollywood

What is ‘green hushing’? The new negative sustainability trend, explained #691

Greenwashing 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.

Demna’s Right, Fashion Entertainment Is a Problem #690

Clothes have become more like memes than physical goods, moments to take part in online, with catastrophic consequences for the environment, writes Alec Leach.

Camaïeu, Kookaï, Gap... Why so many ready-to-wear brands are disappearing one after the other #689

Twenty 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

Fashion has a lobbying gap #688

Other 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.

Fashion Reimagined review – quest for ethical chic has lots of interest to reveal #687

Informative documentary follows luxury brand’s painstaking effort to produce clothes that do no harm

EU report challenges resale and recycling as sustainability solutions #686

The 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.

EU to crack down on greenwashing with ‘proportionate’ penalties #685

Draft plan addresses inflated claims about products’ environmental credentials

Primark arrives in Saint-Etienne: "No to disposable fashion, yes to sustainable fashion", chant its opponents #684

A 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".

Can clothes ever be fully recycled? #683

The world's first commercial-scale textile recycling mill is a milestone in tackling fashion's colossal waste problem.

Is Sustainable Fashion Elitist? #682

Calling 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.

Europe's used textiles are an increasing waste and export problem #681

Discarded 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.

RegioGreenTex: three years to remove obstacles to textile circularity in Europe #680

The 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.

Secondhand style strides forward in Oxfam’s London fashion week show #679

Pre-loved style pioneer Bay Garnett dresses stars in curated stock from Oxfam’s warehouse for LFW’s opening show

Relive the OECD forum on due diligence #678

The OECD organized two days dedicated to the duty of care in the fashion industry this week. Fascinating.

The struggle for the soul of the B Corp movement #677

The ESG initiative pledges to turn companies into forces for good, but some are wary of its growing focus on multinational corporations

CDP Hosts Sustainability Talks, Gala Awards at Louis Vuitton Foundation #676

It 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.

The ethical fashion market is expected to grow by 8% per year over the next few years #675

In 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.

Commission takes 17 states to the European Court of Justice, asks France to comply with EU law in several areas #674

Today'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.

Can fashion find a way to celebrate nature on the runway — and off? #673

Brands 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.

Unsold clothes: why the ban on their destruction will also have perverse effects #672

Since 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.

Overselling Sustainability Reporting #671

Summary. 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

Coating could reduce microplastic shedding #670

TORONTO - 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.

12 per cent of French retailers surveyed by IFM do not make forced labour a matter of conscience #669

On 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.

Carbon Market Watch - New Climate Institute report: 25 multinationals' "neutrality" commitments under the microscope #668

It's official: carbon-neutral companies are (often) rubbish

We buy too many clothes. Can fashion’s secondhand boom change that? #667

Patagonia, ThredUp, and J.Crew are killing it at resale, but it’s still not curbing people’s voracious shopping habit.

Why fabric fraud is so easy to hide #666

How can we tell if the clothes in our wardrobes really are what they claim to be?

Why the fashion industry is struggling to break its addiction to synthetic fibres #665

In a context of climate emergency, synthetic fibres, which represent more than two thirds of textiles, have become a major cause of the crisis

EU calls on young to promote circular fashion #664

The 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.

Nobody left behind: Why fashion should strive for a ‘just transition’ #663

Fashion 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. 

Op-Ed | When Sustainable Fashion Does More Harm Than Good #662

From products made of recycled plastic to take-back programmes, some of fashion’s favourite sustainability solutions are problematic, argues Beth Esponnette.

Why is fashion still ignoring microfibres? #661

Microfibre 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.

Carbon credits are flawed. For now, they’re still necessary #660

Critics 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?

The Multi-Billion-Dollar Question for Sustainable Fashion #659

How 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.

Fashion Industry Trade Groups Issue ‘Threads’ for Regulators #658

The AAFA, CFDA and more look to vocalize sustainability demands for policymakers.

New bid to reduce textile waste by 80 per cent #657

A EU funded research project has been launched with the ambitious goal of developing new solutions to reduce #textile waste by as much as 80%

‘Vegan,’ ‘sustainable’: How to spot misleading fashion claims #656

“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.

How Climate Change Is Transforming the Way We Shop #655

Shifting weather patterns are making shopping behaviour harder to predict, adding to inventory management challenges for brands and retailers.

Independent designers show the way for sustainable menswear #654

Sustainability 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.

France has laid down the law on sustainability: What does it mean for fashion? #653

Brands 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.

Adidas, Activism and Fake News #652

This 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.

What do oranges, coffee grounds and seaweed have in common? They outshine cotton in sustainable fashion #651

Ever considered the carbon footprint of manufacturing your favourite shirt?

The Problem with Sustainability Data #650

A new report raises questions over the validity of existing efforts to quantify the fashion industry’s record on sustainability.

Eco-responsible influencers rebel against fast fashion #649

Paris - 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.

Investors Must Press Fashion on Lasting ESG Impact, According to New Report #648

Investors aren't doing nearly enough to get fashion to act on key ESG issues like synthetic fibers, biodiversity and more, according to Planet Tracker.

Inditex, Mango back Spain’s circularity push #647

MADRID – Leading fashion firms have united to launch the Association for Textile Waste Management in Spain.

The ravages of disposable fashion #646

The business of fast fashion, an increasingly profitable model that wreaks havoc on the environment and working conditions.

On Labour Rights, You Get What You Pay For #645

With 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.

‘Dates Remain Fluid’ for Timeline of Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Independent Review #644

The Higg Index is under review, though the process may take some time.

Fashion Isn’t Ready for the Regulation Coming for It #643

New transparency requirements in France are testing big brands from Louis Vuitton to Zara as they prepare for an oncoming wave of sustainability regulation.

Top fashion executives share their 2023 sustainability agendas #642

Leaders from LVMH, Kering, Burberry and more are making new hires and focusing on fashion’s relationship with nature in the year ahead.

Savoir Pour Faire publishes a guide to hiring in fashion and luxury #641

Faced 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.

The European Fashion Alliance presents the results of its first summit #640

The 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.

Stella McCartney Counts the Cost, and Benefit, of Making Eco-friendly Fashion #639

The 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.

Visions of decision-makers: 2022-23 update with Yann Rivoallan, President of the French Federation of Women's Ready-to-Wear #638

To 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.

Fashion brands paid Bangladesh factories less than cost - report #637

Major high street fashion brands have paid factories in Bangladesh less than the cost of producing their clothes, researchers claim.

The French aspire to change the model of society but are caught in contradictory injunctions #636

The 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.

Supply chain emissions, recycled textiles: Fashion’s 2023 sustainability predictions #635

It’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

What the Pakistan Accord means for fashion’s supply chain #634

The International Safety Accord, formerly known as the Bangladesh Accord, is set to roll out a new program in Pakistan.

Greenwashing: the public still very suspicious of fashion brands #633

There 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.

The french decrees to know to fight against waste and global warming #632

The "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.

Refashion plans to invest €1.2 billion in the transformation of the textile industry #631

Refashion, 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).

‘It could ruin us all’: Fashion suppliers plan for 2023’s cost increases #630

For 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.

WWD Yearbook: Sustainable Fashion’s Big Wins in 2022 #629

From fast fashion bans to "Fashion Act," these are the moments where sustainability saw major gains in 2022.

Consumer information: what changes in France on 1 January? #628

From 1 January 2023, certain textile and clothing companies will have to inform consumers about the environmental qualities and characteristics of their products.

The Bangladesh Textile Millers Association has urged government not to export apparel wastes #627

There 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

Was 2022 the most important year for sustainable fashion? #626

From widespread protests and legislative action, to screaming matches on Twitter about Shein – we travel back over the year in sustainability

Collaboration and crackdowns: Fashion’s year in environmental progress #625

2022 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.

How technology is enhancing the sustainability of fashion #624

The 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.

Première Vision Paris February 2023: what to expect #623

From 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.

The Year Ahead: Can New Production Models Help Fashion Overcome Supply Chain Woes? #622

As 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.

The rise of Web3: How the year in tech changed fashion forever #621

It’s too early for mainstream adoption, but Web3 mindsets have already shifted fashion’s definitions of reality and its balance of power.

LVMH and Kering lead fashion’s input at UN’s biodiversity conference #620

UN Biodiversity Conference, is seeing heightened involvement from fashion companies. Here’s how they’re showing up.

Sustainable fashion is stuck in ‘pilot phase’  #619

Fashion 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.

A quarter of clothes in UK wardrobes have not been worn for a year. Here are 5 ways clothes shopping can become more sustainable #618

When most people buy new clothes, the impact this has on the planet is something they may not think about. However the impact is significant.

SAC Issues ‘Decarbonization Plan’ #617

The "Decarbonization Plan" will require companies (or half the fashion industry) to commit to science-based targets.

Fashion’s New Age of Volatility Hits Suppliers #616

Whipsawing consumer demand is squeezing fashion suppliers and their workers in countries like Bangladesh, Sarah Kent reports from Dhaka.

As companies turn to alternative textiles, Greenwashing risks remain #615

Some 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.” 

Can Fashion Be Profitable Without Growth? #614

Industry leaders said the goal of sustainability wouldn’t happen without changes to the business model and more efforts to educate consumers.

Op-Ed | Fashion’s Business Model Isn’t Fit for Climate Change #613

The 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.

FM Fashion Reboot: recycling and second hand, the last resort for fashion? #612

Political 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.

How far should sustainable brands push consumerism? #611

Jamey 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.

Fast-fashion brands claim they’re cleaning up their act for the planet, but their premise might be inherently flawed #610

The fashion industry has a fossil fuel problem.

The Challenge of Sustainable Fashion #609

The 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.”

‘How Can We Live?’ #608

Rising 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.

What COP27’s loss and damage fund means for fashion #607

In 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. 

Atacama Desert's unique ecosystem threatened by tons of used clothes #606

The 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.

The environmental costs of fast fashion #605

New 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.

Richest Consumers Should Stop Buying So Many Clothes, Says Report #604

The 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.

The world's thrift store, Ghana is overflowing with our clothes #603

Many 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.

Should resale sites ban fast fashion? It’s complicated #602

Vestiaire 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.

Textile waste management: one billion euros over 6 years freed up by producers' eco-contributions #601

Paris - 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.

"Saving our planet will require a dressing room revolution. #600

An 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.

Greenpeace Finds Hazardous Chemicals in Shein Products #599

Lab tests found concentrations of hazardous chemicals that breach EU regulatory limits in 15 percent of products, according to a report published Tuesday.

Why Consumers Are Going to Pay for the Online Return Mess #598

The 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.

On a mission to solve fashion’s environmental problem #597

Satatland offers ‘guilt-free’ recyclable clothing using tech to cut waste and encourage consumers to reuse

Fashion brands grapple with greenwashing: ‘It’s not a human right to say something is sustainable’ #596

While business imperatives for making sustainability claims are clear, being able to prove them has become a stumbling block for the industry

‘Stop Lying, Stop Greenwashing’ — Key Messages From COP27 595

‘Stop Lying, Stop Greenwashing’ — Key Messages From COP27

Will Fashion Follow Through After Cop27? #594

"This year is crucial," said Global Fashion Agenda's Federica Marchionni as brands commit to action, investment.

At COP27, fashion falls out of the spotlight #593

Fashion 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. 

With new CEO, Textile Exchange looks to accelerate impact #592

Founder 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.

Why diversity and inclusion are key to growth as economy slows #591

The 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.

H&M, Inditex, Stella McCartney, Kering Take Canopy Pledge for ‘Forest-friendly’ Sourcing #590

The latest initiative is led by environmental nonprofit Canopy.

What Are Fashion’s Climate Risks? #589

Efforts 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

Reducing emissions, a challenge for the fashion industry #588

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. 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.

Climate change is coming for fashion’s supply chains #587

Extreme 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.

Fashion’s Shaky Climate Commitments #586

At 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.

We are all impoverished by buying 'made in elsewhere'" #585

From 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.

Fashion's CO2 emissions are dangerously on the rise again, according to stand.earth #584

The 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.

The Factory of the Future: a preview of a new initiative #583

On 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".

GFA’s ‘Fashion Industry Target Consultation’ Among New Partnerships, Harsher Goals Announced at Cop27 #582

How Global Fashion Agenda and the SAC are making way for new partnerships at Cop27.

"The craze for eco-friendly fashion has already died down" #581

As 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.

Can Fashion Stop Greenwashing? #580

Big 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.

Is Fashion Making Progress on Climate Change? #579

Are brand’s making progress towards addressing their climate impacts? Newly released data from Good On You paints a distressing picture.

Fashion’s COP27 Cheat Sheet #578

The 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.

Why Fashion Still Uses Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ #577

Brands from Canada Goose to Patagonia still rely on PFAS for performance attributes like waterproofing.

King Charles’ Fashion Taskforce Takes COP27 #576

Though King Charles himself won’t be traveling to Egypt, fashion has him well represented at the climate summit.

The fashion industry failed to reduce its emissions in 2022 #575

Since 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.

Could Made in Italy become synonymous with sustainability? #574

Reshoring, 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.

Global Fashion Agenda and BBC Seeking Tales of Sustainability #573

The 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.

Sustainable fashion and luxury brands: best practices #572

During 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.

When capitalism invests in ecological and social values #571

French-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.

A greenwashing crackdown targeted fashion’s main sustainability tool. What now? #570

The 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.

Fashion’s Climate Challenge: From Marketing to Risk Mitigation #569

As 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.

The Truth About ‘Vegan Leather’ #568

Leather 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.

Where Fashion Stands in Sustainability: Data Crunching, Laws and a Long Way to Go #567

Industry executives gathered in Venice for the seminal two-day Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum.

Climate Chance publishes the 4th edition of the Global Climate Finance Report #566

Climate Chance Global Obervatory of climate action has just published the 4th edition of the Global Climate Finance Report, in partnership with Finance for Tomorrow.

Fast fashion enters the resale game, but don’t call it sustainability #565

Shein, 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.

Metavers: an official report recommends the creation of a Research Institute #564

At 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.

Businesses call for nature impact disclosures to be mandatory by 2030 #563

H&M, Sainsbury’s and Nestlé are among more than 300 companies urging governments to agree to the pledge at Cop15 in December.

Extending the life of clothes, a challenge for the fashion industry #562

The 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.

Major ESG Risks in Fashion and Why It Matters #561

ESG risk intelligence beats out company disclosures for a number of reasons, experts contend.

Sustainable fashion: Biarritz Good Fashion mobilizes the fashion industry in New Aquitaine #560

From 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.

Higg, Bluesign and ZDHC partner to improve textile-chemical management #559

Higg, 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.

How to Plan Your Retail Footprint #558

For up-and-coming brands, a few small, cleverly designed stores in the right locations can have a bigger impact than a giant flagship.

Zalando launches first adaptive fashion collections #557

European 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.

Paris Good Fashion publishes its glossary of sustainability and fashion #556

Paris Good Fashion publishes its glossary of sustainability and fashion!

Zara Launches Repair, Resale in U.K. #555

"Pre-Owned" will offer new services in its 60 stores and online as part of a sustainability pilot program.

In Italy, six big names launch Re.Crea to manage end-of-life textile products #554

Six 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.

The Tilli application raises €1.2 million to repair everyday textiles #552

The 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.

Chanel commits to the circular economy with Atelier des Matières #551

Circular 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.

New investigation shows workers manufacturing for Shein working 18 hours a day #550

The 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.

A factory focusing on the circular economy will open in the 13th arrondissement of Paris #549

The 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.

What the Coperni spray-on dress says about sustainability in fashion #548

The 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.

The future of textile recycling: french brands and industry players are asked to share their ideas #547

In 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.

A citizens' assembly to write the fictions of the transition #546

What 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. 

Gen Z wants digital fashion. How do different avatars stack up? #545

Vogue 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.

Shein Parent Fined $1.9 Million #544

Shein 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.

Why (and how) to stop trying to be fashionable all the time #543

According 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?

Retailers, facing an inventory crisis, are cancelling orders again #542

Retailers 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.

Energy austerity contributes to the sales boom of sweaters and down jackets #541

Putting 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.

Sandrea, ex-fast fashion addict: "I was in denial, disposable fashion fulfilled my desire to own" #540

The 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.

Could modular fashion make sustainability fun? #539

Clothing 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.

Higg How-To Hopes to Get Rid of Greenwashing #538

Dutch 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.

UK firms using legal muscle to facilitate human rights and climate abuses – report #537

Transform Trade charity says British-based companies are among main bringers of cases based on bilateral investment treaties.

RREUSE reacts to EU's textiles strategy #536

The 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.

Why Cotton Got New Sustainability Framework #535

Better 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.

Fashion’s Plastic Addiction Is Harder to Shake Than it Seems #534

Big 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.

Joint Study by BCG and Vestiaire Collective Finds the Secondhand Fashion and Luxury Market Has Tripled in Size Since 2020 #533

The 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.

With Louise Linderoth, people in wheelchairs are fashionable #532

Louise 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.

Fashion Is Using More Raw Materials Than Ever. Not Enough of Them Are Sustainable #531

The 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.

High energy turns to frenzy at Paris Fashion Week #530

Paris Fashion Week was star-studded and as action packed as its schedule. The city’s most promising young designers cut through the noise.

Grand Prix Inclusive Design 2022 Award winner #529

Convinced 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.

Fashion is sixth-most-polluting industry globally - report #528

A 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.

Governments are Debating Eco-labels and Garment IDs. Are We Finally at Farm-to-Closet Traceability? #527

Until 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.

Fast-fashion: facing the ecological disaster, the need to "demodify" fashion #526

The 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.

Energy sobriety: Razorfish France and Green IT unveil the findings of the 1st barometer of the environmental footprint of websites #525

While 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.

Fashion for Good figures the potential of European reusable textiles #523

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. 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.

Cisutac: a new circular fashion consortium brings together Inditex, PVH and Euratex #523

The 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.

The French Trade Alliance launches an innovative support on the life cycle of textiles #522

The 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".

The French employment agency is working hard to train for textile jobs #521

The 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.

French government wants to introduce a bonus for the most sustainable textile products #520

For 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.

Why is sustainability still absent from fashion month? #519

Calls 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.

BRC launches retailer guideline for circular economy #518

The 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.

The "Semaine des autres modes" will take place in Paris from October 3 to 8 #516

The 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.

Revibe, the e-commerce platform dedicated to upcycling fashion #515

In 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.

SourceMap: where do the materials used in fashion come from? #514

At 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.

CDP expands global environmental disclosure system to help tackle plastic pollution crisis #513

Last 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.

Drought decimates Texas' key cotton crop #512

On 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.

Feminism in Farming is Overdue: Gender Equality Gets on Cotton’s Agenda #511

It 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.

Circular fashion : how Cetia intends to revolutionize sorting and recycling #510

In 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.

Traceability Can Enable Circularity In The Fashion Industry #509

In 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.

Why do we recycle so little of our textile waste? #508

Before 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.

Decoding China’s Gen Z sustainable fashion consumer #507

We unpack the sustainable shopping habits of today’s Gen Z Chinese consumers, and what brands can do to capture their spend.

European Commission: draft law to combat forced labour #506

27.6 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.

H&M and Decathlon to adjust sustainability communications #505

H&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".

Climate Change Is Making Fashion’s Supply Chain Problems Worse #504

From floods in Pakistan to drought in Texas, extreme weather is mixing with political upheaval, economic challenges and trade tensions to threaten cotton supply.

Brands and farmers partner to make regenerative cotton more accessible #503

The 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.

What is the carbon footprint of the fashion industry? #502

How much CO2 does the fashion industry emit each year? How much does fashion contribute to global warming? We take stock of this controversial subject.

Patagonia: Billionaire boss gives fashion firm away to fight climate change #501

The billionaire founder of the outdoor fashion brand Patagonia has given away his company to a charitable trust.

The Paradox of Kourtney Kardashian Selling Sustainability #500

Boohoo’s latest marketing move — tapping a mega-influencer as ‘sustainability ambassador’ — embodies the conflicts inherent in sustainability marketing.

Linfini: a new linen spinning mill to open in France #499

Flax 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).

Fast fashion is ruining the planet – here’s how to make it sustainable #498

The 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?

New Documentary Urges Sustainable Fashion Movement Not To Leave Animals Out Of The Picture #497

A 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.

Social commitment of luxury brands: a necessary but conditional activism. #496

On 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.

‘Vegan Leather’ or Plastic? A Materials Marketing Battle Heats Up #495

Fuzzy 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.

SheIn, Fashion Nova, Boohoo: why is Gen-Z a fast-fashion addict? #494

While 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.

"Keep or return", the new challenge that encourages hyper-consumption and fast-fashion #493

Buy, 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.

Dressing for Hot: How a Warming Planet Is Changing What We Wear #492

A 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.

Uyghurs: China may have committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang #491

The UN has accused China of "serious human rights violations" in a long-awaited report into allegations of abuse in Xinjiang province.

Phygital shows, NFT access passes and AR: The tech trends to watch out for this fashion month #490

Fashion 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.

With Inflation Painfully High, Fashion’s Garment Workers Pay the Price #489

Labour groups are warning of a new crisis on the horizon, as brands cancel orders ahead of the holiday season and living costs rise.

Paris Good Fashion Webinar "Gen Z : Shein vs Extinction Rebellion" #488

Join us on Thursday September 15th at 9am for the next Paris Good Fashion webinar (in French).

"Keep or return"? These videos that encourage over-consumption #487

While 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.

Is Resale Fuelling overconsumption? #486

Ultra-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.

The trouble with secondhand: It’s becoming like fast fashion #485

Reports from The RealReal and Thredup suggest even when buying used, customers crave constant newness and still overconsume.

Fashion & Luxury: How to comply with the new requirements of the AGEC law? #484

Brands must anticipate future regulations at French and European level and comply with the new requirements of the AGEC law.

Climate change and department stores #483

Now 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

Lawsuits and Legislation Are Trying to Clean Up Fashion’s Greenwashing Problem #482

Brands face new legal challenges around the world that advocates hope lead to structural change.

Brands are tapping influencers to make sustainability fashionable #481

Calls 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.

UN Report Accuses China of ‘Serious’ Rights Abuses in Xinjiang #480

China 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.

Floods in Pakistan: what repercussions for the textile industry? #479

The 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.

OEKO-TEX® : Values from the past 30 years are more relevant than ever and are reflected in recent growth #478

During its 30th anniversary, the international OEKO-TEX® Association is still seeing positive business development despite numerous global challenges.

Gen Z loves shopping hauls. Can they ever be sustainable? #477

Younger 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.

Why Repair Services Are a Growing Business #475

Brands 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.

ThredUp sets up a hotline to 'help young people overcome their addiction to fast fashion' #474

A 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.

Is Renting My Clothes Really the Most Sustainable Shopping Option? #473

Every 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?

The World’s Cotton Supply Keeps Shrinking, Hit by Drought, Heat #472

The harvest in Brazil is already falling below expectations. Lower global supplies seen sending cotton prices higher

As sustainability standards fall short, what will it take for the fashion industry to truly transform? #471

Fashion 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.

Influencers increasingly challenged for lifestyles incompatible with the climate emergency #470

Sweepstakes, 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.

How H&M passed off pollution as sustainability... and got caught #469

An 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.

Empowering the Fashion Community With Growth Solutions #468

BoF 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.

Why Thrift, Upcycling Are the ‘Only Relevant Conversation’ in Fashion Right Now #467

Fashion designers, activists and thrifters weigh in on the history and relevance of thrift and fashion upcycling for National Thrift Shop Day.

A Radical Solution to Denim’s Climate Cost: Go Direct to the Farm #466

How denim group Citizens of Humanity is partnering with cotton farmers in a long-term bid to secure all of its cotton from regenerative agriculture.

Recurate Says 48 Percent of ‘Circular’ Shoppers Buy to Flip Resale #465

Flipping is big business, with many high-income resale shoppers engaging in the clothing hack.

China Factory Orders Drop in Ominous Sign for Global Outlook #464

Investors wanting to gauge the health of global consumer sentiment should look no further than China’s factories right now.

"Pinkflation", when fashion is more expensive for women #463

A 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.

Navigating Retail’s New Era of Risk #462

In the post-Covid era, retailers who rethink their supply chains will lower their exposure to risk and unlock profound competitive advantage, argues Doug Stephens.

Under pressure from students, university (finally) goes green #461

Is 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.

Clothing Donations, Second-Hand Trade and Circularity Claims: The Confusing Truth #460

Conversations 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?

Tracer technologies central to textile sustainability, new guide claims #459

Yesterday (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.

French retail federations adopt an "energy sobriety" plan #458

On 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.

Logomania Is Coming for Sustainability #457

Louis 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.

Europe's About You, Zalando & YNAP launch climate action initiative #456

European 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.

Plant-based nylon: Now it’s fact, not fantasy #455

Progress 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.

How TikTok drives fast fashion #454

TikTok'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.

ECI calls for new legislation on living wages in fashion #453

Living, breathing, wearable plants? Inside the rise of biocouture #452

Garments made from living microbes have broken into the luxury sphere. Advocates say the science is a breakthrough for sustainable materials.

Europe can achieve fibre-to-fibre recycling at scale by 2030: McKinsey #451

Fiber-to-fiber recycling at scale could be achieved by 2030, creating a new and sustainable circular industry in Europe.

Fashion Continues Unbridled ‘Lip Service’ to Sustainability, Per Fashion Revolution’s Latest Index #450

Fashion Revolution's seventh annual Transparency Index ranks brands on public disclosure across sustainability criteria. Find out who made the list.

How companies calculate their greenhouse gas emissions #449

More 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.

Eileen Fisher wants to tackle fashion waste with open-access report on circular supply chains #448

The 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.

Fashion Green Days: second hand, a major alternative for brands #447

The 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.

Sustainable Fashion’s Credibility Crisis #446

Two 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.

WhiteCycle: A European consortium to recycle plastic waste #445 

An unprecedented consortium rallying 17 public and private European organizations to establish a circular economy.

Gen Z generates demand for sustainable supply chain practice #444

Gen Z population wants brands to prove their sustainability claims, while global regulators now require transparency across all supply chain practice.

McKinsey & Company Releases Report on Value Creation in the Metaverse #443

McKinsey released a report this month titled "Value creation in the metavers".

Sustainable fashion: the lack of information, the first obstacle to development before the price #442

90% 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.

Second-hand fashion : a trend towards over-consumption #441

Buying 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.

British Fashion Council calls for “braver approach to hiring” amid lack of diversity #440

The BFC’s first diversity and inclusion report includes data from European fashion companies that has historically been challenging to gather, analyse and publicise.

Luxury: The sector accelerates its transformation to strengthen its role as a responsible pioneer #439

Luxury 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.

The french industry publishes a guide for public buyers #438

To 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.

Climate: despite progress, France can and must do better #437

Despite progress, France can and must do better: that is the message of the High Council for the Climate in its 4th annual report.

Europe Will Need €7 billion to Reach Fibre-to-Fibre Recycling Rate of 26% by 2030 #436

Europe 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.

From China to India, Asia braces for EU plan to kill fast fashion #435

Supply chains may have to shift to recyclable, durable clothes — with uncertain consequences.

Clothes for the “apocalypse”: How to design for a climate crisis #434

From 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.

EU bans forced labor products #433

The European Union is banning forced labor products! And the consequences could be major for many companies.

Fashion’s Sustainable Materials Strategy Needs a Glow-Up #432

Big 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.

How Shein Gatecrashed Fashion’s Sustainability Show #431

The 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.

European Fashion Councils Form Fashion Alliance to Lobby on Sustainability Policy #430

France’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.

Yes, fiction can come to the rescue of the planet, and we know better how #429

Have 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.

"Influencers feed a completely outdated imaginary of overconsumption" #428

The 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.

Recycled plastic swimsuits aren’t as green as you think #427

Sneakers 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.

French apparel federations unveil a guide to responsible communication #426

The 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.

Only 21 Percent of Fashion Firms Name Suppliers, Per New Report — Can That Change? #425

Too few fashion brands and retailers are naming their suppliers, and the financial — and reputational — consequences are a burden to bear.

Fast Fashion: how to move towards a more responsible fashion? #424

Ecological 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.

Key takeaways from the Global Fashion Summit: More diversity, more collaboration #423

Last week, fashion leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the annual Global Fashion Summit. There were collaborations and commitments, but voices on-stage lacked diversity.

EU urged to follow US 'model' in combating forced labour #422

The EU has been warned that new draft legislation designed to halt forced labour is still insufficient to tackle the problem.

Is Shein’s $50 Million Fund To Tackle Clothing Waste A Good Thing, Or Just Greenwashing? #421

Given 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.

New Traceability Playbook Aims to Accelerate Sustainable Transformation of Fashion Supply Chains #420

The 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.

Fast fashion is ruining the planet – here’s how to make it sustainable #419

The 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?

Want a net positive fashion industry? Fair wages and circularity needed, says Global Fashion Agenda #418

Ahead 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.

Could Peer-to-Peer Returns Be the Answer to Fashion’s Returns Problem? #417

Zara 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.

Valérie Fayard (Emmaüs France): "Second-hand platforms encourage over-consumption" #416

Second-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.

These companies that embrace pre-ordering, a pillar of responsible fashion #415

Order 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.

Fashion industry needs to pick up pace on climate goals, says report #414

The 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.

Ellen Macarthur Foundation partners with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana #413

After 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.

Metaverse Fashion Raises Ethical Questions: What You Need to Know #412

Sustainability 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.

The wage problem in fashion: minimum wage vs. living wage #411

To 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. 

Love Island is finally ditching fast fashion thanks to a new partnership with Ebay UK #410

U.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.

Redefining ‘Sustainable Fashion’ #409

In 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.

Garments Capturing Carbon Dioxide From The Air And Releasing It As Nutrition For Plants #408

The 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.

How to wear happiness: Impact of wearing clothing labelled sustainable or fast fashion on subjective well-being #407

In 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.

Introducing The First-Ever Federal Fashion Bill, The Fabric Act #406

Seven 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.

France, spearheading circular fashion #405

Vestiaire 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.

Throughout the week, the IPCC invites itself to 108 metro stations in Paris #404

Last 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.

Linen Day Paris: linen invites the fashion industry on June 9 in the heart of the capital #403

The 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.

Première Vision published its second Fashion and Eco-Responsibility White Paper #402

Is the second hand market making us overconsumers? #401

Praiseworthy 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.

The Circular Fashion Awards are back for a European edition! #400

Building 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.

How companies blame you for climate change #399

Businesses shape how we talk about climate change, and sometimes this can stop us from paying attention to their actions.

France : clothes will have to mention a new information #398

The 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.

Physical retail is back. And this time it’s sustainable #397

Established and emerging players are redesigning physical retail with sustainability in mind. We spotlight some of the game-changers.

WFA issues guidance for brands on making credible environmental claims #396

WFA 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.

Paris Good Fashion x IFM's webserie #395

Discover the pilot of the Paris Good Fashion x IFM's webserie on sustainable fashion !

Ever Dye wins the ANDAM innovation award #394

ANDAM awarded the 2022 innovation prize to the start-up Ever Dye on April 20 at La Caserne.

Costly, time-consuming and a sales barrier: Why fashion hates repairs #393

Brands 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?

France : a new decree relating to consumer information on the qualities and environmental characteristics of waste generating products #392

The 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. 

SAC, Fair Wear, Ethical Trading Initiative partner to reduce emissions #391

The 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.

Bending Our Linear Models: The Rise of Unicorn Companies in Circular Fashion #390

The 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.

Climate sustainability in retail: Who will pay? #389

Although the path to decarbonization remains unclear, retailers can prepare by better understanding how costs could be distributed along the value chain.

The State of Fashion: Technology #388

The 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.

Green or Greenwashing: Who Gets to Decide? #387

European efforts to introduce standardised rules governing how brands back up environmental claims are fuelling a heated debate that stands to create winners and losers.

Patagonia, The North Face, Levi's top Kearney's Circular Fashion Index #386

Patagonia, 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.

Where fashion resale is headed in the next two years #385

Brands, retailers and third-party marketplaces are collaborating to scale circular fashion, working towards in-store resale, mass digitalisation and low-carbon local buying.

Paris Good Fashion updates its map of sustainable fashion addresses #384

The 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.

IFTH launches the DURHABI study to evaluate the durability of textile products #383

Call for expression of interest - DURHABI project: evaluation, integrating use, of the life span of textile/clothing articles.

Resale sustainability: What’s real and what’s false #382

Brands 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.

What the future of fashion tech looks like in the fashion capital of the world #381

Is the traditional Parisian fashion landscape ready to make space for disruptive fashion tech startups?

Why Recycling Won’t Solve Fashion’s Sustainability Problem #380

Why Climate Risk Is Moving Up the Agenda for Fashion Investors #379

New regulations would make it easier for investors to consider companies’ environmental footprint when deciding which businesses to back.

Ebay launches Imperfects initiative to sell flawed fashion #378

The 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.

France clamps down on 'zero carbon' advertising to avoid greenwashing #377

From 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.

China announces textile recycling targets #376

China 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.

French executives launch Fédération de la Mode Circulaire #375

A 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.

Can Fashion Resale Ever Be a Profitable Business? #374

Companies like The RealReal and ThredUp promised Wall Street that with scale comes profit. But operational costs and competition have kept them in the red.

Shein Nabs $100 Billion Valuation in Nod to Enduring Appeal of Fast Fashion #373

Reports 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.

IFM-Kering Sustainability Certificate: 10 contribution projects presented to a professional jury #372

On 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.

'No to fast fashion and big fashion houses': Design students aspire to change the system #371

Young 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.

Study reveals microfibre risk from tumble dryers #370

NEWCASTLE - 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.

Retailers not on track to meet sustainability targets #369

H&M Foundation names Global Change Award winners #368

Refashion publishes 10 proposals for a circular economy #367

In 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.

IPCC report: ‘now or never’ if world is to stave off climate disaster #365

Greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025, say climate scientists in what is in effect their final warning

Circular economy: brands and retailers vs consumer-seller #364

The 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).

Brussels targets greenwashing, planned obsolescence in new EU consumer rules #363

New 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.

Anti-harassment certification launches in UK to promote safer environments in retail #362

Retail 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”.

10 commitments to enhance the role of 50+ employees #361

Initiated 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.

French fashion manufacturers launch their own CSR label #360

The 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".

Eco-friendly fashion certifications can lead to greenwashing, says report #359

Certification 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.

In China, sustainability is bubbling up #358

Customer behaviour and government policy mean greater incentive for both Chinese manufacturers and brands to adopt new sustainable practices.

Fashion for Good Selects Eight Innovators for 2022 Global Innovation Programme #357

Fashion 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.

E-commerce: 18 new signatories for the environmental charter #356

Initiated 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.

French people and Made in France: the latest trends #355

How 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.

LVMH kicks off “You and ME” tour in 5 French cities to engage with youth and reskilling candidates #354

LVMH’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.

How Can Apparel Brands Solve a Problem Like Deadstock? #353

A 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.

Eastman will open a recycling plant in France #352

The 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.

Big retailers are getting into the secondhand market. Will that change how we shop? #351

Whether resale benefits the planet will depend on if it actually offsets consumption, or promotes it.

Fashion Isn’t Becoming More Sustainable, But Next-Gen Materials Might Fix That #350

You’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?

France: New obligations for labelling with Triman and Infotri #349

The 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.

A new program aims to address sustainability education gaps in fashion #348

"We're a community-centered organization. We're working for and with our community to create change."

It’s not just gamers and crypto dudes buying digital fashion#347

Digital 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.

Decentraland to host first Metaverse Fashion Week in March #346

Virtual 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.

The world is already hitting its limits of adapting to climate change #345

There are still effective ways to adapt that can also lower emissions, the latest report from UN scientists finds.

Peta's Vegan Fashion Award #344

A 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.

EU publishes proposal for sustainable and responsible due diligence law #343

The 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.

Portugal Bans ‘Vegan Leather’, Industry Insiders Speak Out #342

A 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.

Chloé Preps Launch of Social Performance Tool #341

The 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.

Life Cycle Assessment of European Flax  #340

The 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.

Is vegan fashion sustainable? #339

From Veja to Stella McCartney, how brands are creating animal-free leather, fur and silk products more environment-friendly than common alternatives

That Organic Cotton T-Shirt May Not Be as Organic as You Think #338

The 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.

Milk, dandelion, spider silk: the dressing room of the future shows its true nature #337

Gone 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.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams Announces Plans for Hundreds of Sustainable Fashion Jobs #336

The partnership will encourage job training, educational programs, workshops and community activities.

Transport and relocation: two rising issues for fashion brands #335

As 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.

Li Edelkoort’s Antidote to Fashion’s ‘Speed and Greed’ #334

Design education needs a radical overhaul, argues Li Edelkoort.

Fibral Material Alliance Formed to Bring Forward Next Paradigm of Plant-Based Textiles #333

The 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.

Circularity in Fashion #332

Andrée-Anne Lemieux, Professor and Director of the IFM-Kering Chair on Fashion Sustainability, explores circular fashion initiatives, including sourcing, design, manufacturing, retail and events.

Why the Fashion Resale Market Is Here to Stay #331

The clothing industry is embracing the demand for second-hand. Those off-trend will soon be out of vogue.

Degrowth: The future that fashion has been looking for? #330

We 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.

Inclusive Design Grand Prix 2022 #329

Dans 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.

Leather can become fertilizer for organic farming and other industry eco-initiatives #328

In 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.

Sustainable fashion notebook n°2 : traceability #327

The 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.).

Banned from destruction, the unsold luxury products are looking for a new life #326

Sales 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.

Fashion’s Race for New Materials #325

Brands 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.

Regenerative Agriculture ‘Fundamental’ for Fashion, Says Textile Exchange Report #324

Revealed Monday, Textile Exchange establishes its latest baseline: the “Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis."

Luxury Ethical Consumers: Who Are They? #323

Building 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.

Copenhagen Fashion Week publishes sustainability progress #322

Copenhagen Fashion Week has published its annual sustainability report, showcasing its progress on the second year of its 2020-2022 Sustainability Action Plan

Fast Fashion’s Tapping of the Secondhand Market Is Its Latest Greenwashing Tactic #321

The 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?

Brands commit to recycled down #320

Downlite 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.

Can Bioplastics Really Make Fashion More Sustainable, Biodegradable, or Recyclable? #319

In 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.

Why France is becoming the new Eldorado of the circular economy #318

The 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.

5 ways the circular economy will transform your fashion habits #317

The 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.

Fashion for Good initiates project with brands and innovators to shift textile processing from wet to dry #316

The global sustainable initiative Fashion for Good has launched a new consortium project called the D(r)ye Factory of the Future.

Eight initiatives to design future of fashion #315

Production 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.

French fashion committee boost employment #314

Since 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.

The Question No One Is Asking About the Metaverse #313

Is the metaverse good for the world? Retailers must bake environmental and social awareness into their strategies from the start, argues Doug Stephens.

Pre-ordering, the new trick to sustainable textile production #312

A growing number of companies are jumping on this more sustainable sales system, with immediate economic success.

What If You Could Read a Fashion Label Like a Food Label? #311

Transparency and traceability is all the rage when it comes to clothing, and it is finally reaching the tags on the rack.

Fashion Looks to Forge Closer Ties With Activists #310

Brands 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.

Bangladesh plans textile chemical guidelines #309

Bangladesh 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.

New York Could Make History With a Fashion Sustainability Act #308

The state would be the first to pass legislation setting broad sustainability regulations for the industry.

Companies race to stem flood of microplastic fibres into the oceans #307

New 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.

How the Metaverse Advances Circular Fashion and Considerations Therein #306

There's a $5 trillion circular fashion play (including the metaverse). Experts weigh in on their list of considerations to unlocking it.

Was 2021 the year we moved away from fast fashion? #305

As the year comes to a close, Olivia Petter reflects on progressions – and shortcomings – within the sustainable fashion sector

The challenge of know-how transmission for fashion brands #304

Aware 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.

What fashion got right in 2021 #303

From huge wins for garment workers to forays into wild new sustainable materials, here's how the industry made progress in another extraordinary year

France banning destruction of clothes #302

Incinerated 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.

Pre-owned luxury: from the internet to department stores #301

The 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.

Next place dedicated to sustainable fashion in Paris #300

Founded 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.

Microfiber Innovation Challenge's finalists #299

The 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.

Luxury Brands Are Already Making Millions in the Metaverse #298

The likes of Gucci, Balenciaga, and Burberry are spinning up fashion and accessories that you'll never even wear.

How Fashion Can Deliver on COP26 Ambitions #297

Amid 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.

Paris, new temple of ethical fashion #296

Known worldwide as the cradle of luxury and haute couture, the French capital now intends to become a model for ecological transition.

Dior, Gucci... with Zepeto, luxury brands now have their metavers #295

The 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.

French consumers ask for more education on sustainable fashion #294

Sustainable 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.

Should Brands Be Responsible For Repairing Our Clothes? #293

Resale 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.

Press box for "a sustainable, responsible and trusted digital world" #292

In 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.

Balenciaga planning launch of department dedicated to metaverse #291

Hot 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. 

The Simpsons against fast fashion #290

Balenciaga 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.

What’s in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Design Book #289

Design 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.

The climate threats facing fashion’s favourite natural fibres #288

Among 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.

State of Fashion 2022: An uneven recovery and new frontiers #287

In 2022, the fashion industry can return to growth as changing category landscapes, new digital frontiers, and advances in sustainability continue to present opportunities.

Resale: Inside the $130 Billion Secondhand Fashion Market #286

Pre-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?

Climate Chance : Global Synthesis Report on Climate Action by Sector #285

Launch 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”.

Global Fashion Agenda releases Scaling Circularity report #284

Nonprofit organisation, Global Fashion Agenda, has released its Scaling Circularity report in the wake of the COP26 conference.

Google teams up with Textile Exchange #283

Technology 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. 

The new challenges of vintage stores #282

In 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.

How the New Wave of Fast Fashion Brands Really Work #281

Edikted 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.

The Resilience Project organizes an event dedicated to the social and solidarity economy in Paris #280

The 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.

Unlocking the trillion-dollar fashion decarbonisation opportunity #279

A 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.

Making packaging less polluting, a challenge for e-commerce #278

They 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.

An A-Z Guide to the Next-Gen Materials Taking a Step Forward for Sustainability #277

WWD's A-Z catalogue of some of the latest next-gen materials on the market that are prioritizing sustainability.

Dutch consumer watchdog probes clothing industry green washing #276

Six popular clothing brands may be making spurious sustainability claims, an investigation by Dutch consumer and markets authority ACM has found.

Fashion Industry Steps Up Climate Ambition with Renewed Charter #275

The fashion industry is raising its collective ambition with updated science-based emission reduction targets under the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.

Atacama Desert's landfill : the issue of fashion waste #274

Rain 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.

Fast fashion: Zero Waste France published its handbook #273

On 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.

Fashion organisations unite with a COP26 call to arms #272

Think tanks and sustainability advocates petition world leaders to recognise the industry’s role in resolving the climate crisis

Fashion’s new biodiversity benchmark #271

A new report applauds fashion’s belated but accelerating progress on recognising the need for dedicated biodiversity efforts. But there’s more work ahead.

France : Proposed legislation to reduce digital carbon footprint #270

It 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.

Fashion’s Sustainability Leaders Demand Government Support, Legislation at COP26 #269

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference kickstarts today in Glasgow, there’s worldwide momentum building around the sustainability conversation.

Comment rendre le marketing de la mode plus responsable ? #268

Les 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.

You thought the pandemic killed fast fashion? Not even close #267

Chinese fast fashion companies have sprung up, copying the models of brands like H&M and Zara—and growing even faster.

26 fashion companies receive aid for digital and sustainable development #266

The 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.

In the North of France, the Made in France textile industry is booming but lacking workers #265

From 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.

Throwback Biarritz Good Fashion #264

Replay of BIARRITZ GOOD FASHION 2021 event held on October 14th (in French).

The IFM organizes the new edition of its seminar "Fashion Reboot" #263

Rethinking 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.

Why Fast Fashion Still Has Gen-Z’s Heart? #262

The 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.

World leaders gear up to tackle biodiversity loss. Fashion should pay attention #261

Fashion’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.

"1% For Animals", a new label to protect species #260

To 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.

The Fabrique Nomade wants to create integration workshop to train 20 dressmakers per year #259

New 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.

Leather Working Group and WWF to collaborate #258

The 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.

Biarritz Good Fashion's event #257

Initiated 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.

ILO adopts code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries #256

More 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.

Purchased and worn, virtual fashion is booming #255

One 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.

Fashion Is Overselling Circularity And Recycling—But There Is Hope #254

Since 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!”

What’s Next for the Fashion System? #253

The 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.

Fashion Matters : Initiatives Reshaping the Industry #252

As 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.

Textile waste: the French are mobilized but not sufficiently informed #251

The 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.

CNMI launches sustainable partnership with Ethical Fashion Initiative #250

The 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.

FHCM launches Paris Fashion Week and an ecodesign tool that will assess its impact #249

Paris 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.

How e-commerce brands can scale logistics sustainably #248

Brands are increasingly looking to reduce the environmental impact of trading online — investing in tech now could mean lower costs in the future.

New Report Maps Out Blueprint for Circular Fashion Economy in U.K. #247

The 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.

Sustainable fashion seduces but does not (yet) make its way into the French dressing #246

The 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.

Sustainability must start with universities if the fashion industry is to change #245

With 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.

Got Rental? Rent the Runway’s LCA Study Touts 1.3M Clothes Saved From Landfill #244

Renting 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).

French wool : From sweaters to mattresses #243

In 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.

France releases funds to find new recycling solutions #242

The 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.

Galeries Lafayette Unveils Circular Fashion Space #241

The (Re)Store space is part of an ambitious revamp that includes a 43,000-square-foot shoe department and a wealth of new services.

Sustainable fashion meets for a festival in Pantin in October #240

If the first edition was almost cancelled in September 2020 because of the pandemic, the second will make the news.

European Union Lays Out New Textile Strategy #239

To 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.

A french manufacturing group is preparing its responsible label #238

To 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.

What It Takes to Become a B Corp #237

Vestiaire 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?

Textile and apparel industry alliance moves closer to release of an international microfibre shedding standard #236

A 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).

Made in France: Façon de Faire launches its platform for connecting brands and manufacturers #235

The 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.

Is digital fashion really the industry’s eco-friendly saviour? #234

It’s been celebrated as a pathway to sustainability, but digital fashion doesn’t come without its own set of challenges

France approves new climate law #233

The 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.

Retail Weather Realities #232

Merchants are contending with more extreme weather than ever, but can also benefit by keeping an eye on the daily forecast.

The Conscious Festival unveils its program #231

It's a first. In September, The Conscious Festival is coming to France, at La Caserne, the ecological transition gas pedal in Paris.

International brands sign a new accord to protect garment workers in Bangladesh #230

A 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.

Corporate Activism: towards a crisis of confidence? #229

Communicating about brand commitments is good. Keeping your promises is better. What should we learn from the latest RepTrak report on Corporate Activism?

If Consumers Still Don’t Understand What Fast Fashion Is, Can They Help Minimize Its Impact? #228

If 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?

How Sustainability Is Changing Fashion PR #227

Growing demand for ethical products is creating new business opportunities — and new responsibilities — for PR professionals.

Greta Thunberg interview on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia #226

Over 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

The Bangladesh Accord is set to expire. Here’s what’s at risk #225

The 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.

A wave of designers is changing the conversation around cultural appropriation #225

Young and emerging brands are seeking more sustainable ways to work with indigenous artisans to support and promote their craft.

Soon clothes made of CO2? #224

Made 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.

Materials: viscose will escape to EU single-use plastics ban #223

Produced 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.

New ‘Rulebook’ Helps Companies Avoid Greenwashing Claims #222

A 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.

Circular fashion: volumes collected fell by 20% in France in 2020 #221

Some 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.

Ellen MacArthur latest report : The Jeans Redesign journey #220

In 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.

Glitter is terrible for the environment. Is a greener version finally here? #219

Glitter 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.

Environmental score for fashion products #218

Following 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.

RECYCLE: a digital platform to connect recycling actors #217

As 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. 

TMC publicly releases microfibre test #216

The 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.

Is there space in sustainable fashion for synthetic fabrics? #215

A new report criticises fashion’s heavy use of plastic in its clothing, in the form of synthetic fibres. Some brands say they’re unavoidable.

Faced with the environmental emergency, French textile brands ask to be more regulated #214

TRIBUNE - Faced with the environmental emergency, several heads of French textile companies such as Asphalte and Good Fabric are asking to be "more regulated".

Legal answers for retailers converting to second-hand trend #213

Since 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.

Wool: Tricolor collective develops structuring projects for the French wool industry #212

Created 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...).

Record organic cotton production in 2019/20 according to Textile Exchange #211

Textile 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.

Brands, research bodies join hands in new EU circular fashion project #210

The 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.

Made in France: the non-profit organization Savoir Faire Ensemble becomes "Façon de Faire" #209

Born 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.

Values, design, price... Young sustainable fashion brands' challenges #208

Sustainability 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.

Will second-hand platforms kill fashion brands? #207

The 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.

European Linen has a bright global future #206

The 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.

Grand Prix Photography & Sustainability 2021 #205

Paris 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.

ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero second Impact Report is live #204

The 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.

Consortium plans PHA fibres for fashion #203

Amsterdam-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.

Rubber shoes are trending. Sustainability experts have doubts #202

The 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.

Pandemic Has Increased Risk of Forced Labour in Garment Industry, Study Finds #201

Instances 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.

Fashion for Good launches the Renewable Carbon Textiles Project #200

Sustainable 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.

Textile Valley: French northern textile actors under a common banner #199

Monday 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.

French knitters mutualize their needs and resources #198

The 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.

Spinnova wins 2021 ANDAM Innovation Award #197

Finnish 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.

When ‘new’ can also mean preloved #196

Etsy’s deal with Depop points to the rise of the second-hand economy

FHCM launches eco-design tools for its members #195

The 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.

Sugar cane : an alternative material for sneakers and clothes #194

Could 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.

The Challenges of Labelling Sustainability #193

The 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.

Gen Z consumer inspired by sustainability and self-expression #192

Gen 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.

The big global greenwashing crackdown #191

As sustainability claims become increasingly prominent, regulators are scrambling to tighten guidance and clamp down on breaches. What does this mean for fashion?

Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Higg: new program for sharing environmental and social impact data #190

SAC 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.

From "Recycled" to "Green" consumers are being influenced by marketers' sustainability buzzwords #189

Sustainability, 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.

Hemp : textile fiber with great potential for fashion #188

Local, 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. 

Blockchain-Driven Sustainability Platform Unveiled by U.N. Agency #187

The U.N. Economic Commission of Europe has launched a platform that provides traceability and transparency solutions for tracking any garment or item of footwear.

The global eco-wakening: how consumers are driving sustainability #186

Momentum 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.

Plastics: AI for sorting and recycling #185

The 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.

How Brands Can Be Effective Advocates #184

Championing 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.

Price of single-use plastic bags in England to double to 10p #183

In 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.

Augmented realty, future of e-commerce ? #182

The 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.

Should Brands Be Driving Resale? #181

Scalefast’s Dan Wallace-Brewster discusses the growing appetite for resale and how brands can take ownership of the consumer journey.

Facing fashion’s overproduction issue: Solutions, new models and alternatives #180

Rachel Cernansky uncovers the businesses, brands and technology offering real solutions for the fashion industry as it faces the climate emergency.

Camera della Moda’s Guidelines on Chemical Use Come Full Circle #179

The Italian fashion chamber has issued its most comprehensive guidelines on the use of chemicals yet.

University academics to unveil circular toolkit #178

Academics at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have developed a new circularity toolkit in a bid to support the fashion and textile industries’ sustainability push.

The Fabricant designs gender-fluid digital clothes informed by the Renaissance #177

Digital-fashion house The Fabricant has collaborated with RTFKT to create the gender-fluid RenaiXance collection of digital garments, which were minted as NFTs.

"Acting together for a more responsible fashion", the webinar to attend this week #176

Among 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.

Fashion is chasing carbon neutrality. Carbon positive is better #175

Brands 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.

Revenge Shopping vs Sustainability: Fashion Can’t Have Both #174

This 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.

The path to scaling reusable packaging in e-commerce #173

The 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.

Can China Handle Its 20 Million Tonnes of Textile Waste? #172

China 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.

Can vegetable dyeing green fashion? #171

With 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.

French Trade Alliance releases a guide to help brands to "decarbonize" #170

After 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...).

Post-carbon fashion: what if we wore living clothes? #169

Clothes able to photosynthesize, natural pigments from micro-organisms... Halfway between fashion and microbiology, fast fashion can go to hell.

What the Viral Spread of Mushrooms Means for Fashion’s Sustainable Future #168

By 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.

New European campaign targets fast fashion #167

The 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.

Investor group to push ESG data providers on labour rights while unions warn over changes to safeguards in fashion industry #166

Modern slavery disclosure is weak, says Find It, Fix It, Prevent It

Textile companies : how to face up raw materials and freight prices soaring #165

The 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.

Brands Rally Behind New Initiative That Gives Students Deadstock Fabric #164

The 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).

Plastic pollution: for the French Academy of Sciences, the need for a breakthrough approach #163

In 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.

Is the future of fashion in the grandparents' closet? #162

Let'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.

Environment: small fashion business fear inflation of labels #161

Europe 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.

French fashion federations launch a financial aid for brand's ecological transition #160

Four 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.

Environmental labelling: french deputies approve the "carbon score" #159

French deputies have validated Tuesday, March 9 in committee the implementation of an environmental labeling on products, a "carbon score".

Why ‘Durable Goods’ Are Crucial for Fashion Resale #158

The 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.

Vintage: "For the working classes, the second hand does not make dream." #157

Associated 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.

Shopping online? Beware of the digital carbon footprint #156

Fashion’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.

Textile care: growing of sustainable practices #155

In 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.

Plus sizes: clothing rental convinces high-end fashion to get on board #154

Today, 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.

Reliably measuring microplastics released during laundry #153

The first test method that can reliably measure the amount of small plastic particles released from textiles during domestic laundering has been developed by scientists.

Duty of care: European Parliament calls for tighter supervision of companies #152

On 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.

The Colbert Committee praises the French luxury industry and its jobs #151

The 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.

Uyghurs : One year after, what about textile brands' commitments? #150

One 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.

Survey confirms widening skills gap in textile dyeing #149

77% 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.

How material innovation can change the fashion industry #148

The 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.

"The French textile industry is one of the cleanest in the world" #147

Interview 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.

Dover Street Market to Mix Culture, Community and Commerce in Paris #146

The retail and brand development company has leased a 17th-century mansion for a slew of projects.

On demand manufacturing a solution for more responsible fashion #145

A new generation of brands provides on-demand manufacturing with a focus on sustainability and digital tools.

GOTS certifications up by a third in 2020 #144

The 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.

Future fashion cities: Paris to overtake New York? #143

Paris 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.

Linen, the spearhead of an ecological French textile industry #142

France 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.

BFM Paris Business: Paris Good Fashion for a sustainable fashion #141

Find out Paris Good Fashion's interview on BFM Paris Business

Tomra and Stadler deliver the world's first fully automated textile sorting plant in Malmö, Sweden #140

TOMRA 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.

The National Leather Council publishes its CSR white paper for 2021 #139

A 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.

How to create positive impact with natural materials #138

Sustainability experts are calling on the fashion industry to go beyond harm mitigation and create positive impact. This is what brands need to know.

Sourcing: the coronavirus crisis will durably change distributors' strategies #137

Limiting 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".

Playbook calls for collaboration on circularity #136

Entitled '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.

Tackling the Unsustainable Rate of Returns #135

As our online shopping habits continue to grow, how can we as consumers trust that return items aren’t adding to fashion’s waste problem?

A new publication aims to share ‘recipes’ for leading the best sustainable fashion life #134

A new publication called the Open Source Fashion Cookbook aims to share ‘recipes’ and tips for leading the best sustainable fashion life.

TikTok is shaping how Gen Z sees ‘sustainable’ fashion #133

The app’s super-short clips are driving a trend for ‘thrift flipping’ — upcycling secondhand clothes into something new