The fashion industry is invested in boosting its circular and ESG measures and knows it needs to step away from just using sustainability as a marketing buzzword.
A recent panel session at Future Fabric Expo suggests the sector is finally realising that competition does not work when it comes to sustainability and collaboration will be the only way to create real change for the sector, especially when it comes to next-gen materials.
Interestingly, wood-based fibre company Lenzing revealed it's not just industry-wide collaboration and getting beyond the marketing buzzwords that is needed for fashion's sustainability success.
Fashion brands and retailers need to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, and invest in taking eco-friendly innovations, such as next-gen materials, to scale.
However, the responsibility does not just lie with fashion retailers and manufacturers. Consumers also need to play their part by showing brands and retailers they want to see a united fashion industry when it comes to sustainability.
Thankfully, the debate has moved on from pointing fingers to taking ownership and responsibility and consumers themselves are now more conscious about the purchases they make and are asking the right questions such as 'where do my clothes come from and were they made ethically?'
This is evident by GlobalData's recent webinar titled Key Trends in the Global Apparel Market, which identified fashion resale as a huge opportunity for the fashion industry.
It has the potential to grow by 16.3% between 2022 and 2026 and is a great demonstration of how consumers are finally taking action when it comes to sustainability.
Of course, there is a cost to everything, including buying right. But it's good to see both the industry and consumers moving in the right direction.
Top trending stories on Just Style last week:
Reebok-owner Authentic rescues Rockport out of bankruptcy
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), the global brand development, marketing, and entertainment platform, has secured approval for the acquisition of Rockport, a US footwear brand.
Big fashion brands named and shamed for misleading take-back schemes
A new report from Dutch NGO Changing Markets Foundation reveals around a quarter of the original clothing items donated were reused in Europe or ended up in a resale shop.
Temu, Shein leveraging online shipment loophole to evade forced labour checks – US report
Chinese ultra-fast fashion brand Shein has rejected claims made in a US Committee report - which also alleged its competitor Temu - leverage an online shipment loophole that does not require forced labour screening.
Beyond AGOA: Unlocking Ethiopia’s fashion sourcing potential in Europe
Ethiopia’s non-profit Hawassa Industrial Park Investors Association CEO, Hibret Lemma, says Ethiopia is a good sourcing option for Europe’s fashion buyers.
Nike, Ramatax Group urged to compensate Cambodia garment workers
Non-profits Human Rights Watch and Clean Clothes Campaign are calling on US sportswear giant Nike and its supplier Ramatex Group to pay $1.4m in severance to Cambodian garment workers following a factory closure in 2020.
Adidas, Inditex, Target, Zalando partner on footwear recycling project
Sustainable fashion initiative, Fashion for Good’s partnership with major retailers Adidas, Target, Zalando, Inditex, and footwear recycling innovator Fast Feet Grinded aims to drive the adoption of recycled materials in the footwear industry.
EU extended responsibility scheme to charge fashion brands for textile waste
The EU Commission's proposed rules will make fashion brands and retailers responsible for the full lifecycle of textile products and will require them to financially support the sustainable management of textile waste across the EU.
Mango ramps up US expansion with 15 new stores in 2023
After launching its flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue a year ago, Mango is now speeding up its expansion across the US and will make its debut this year in Georgia, Texas, and California.
