Sustainability Pulse #101
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — November 18, 2024
Ready to dive into this week's sustainability roundup?
From cutting-edge Chinese designs redefining circular fashion to former H&M CEO Helena Helmersson’s surprising move to Circulose, we’ve got an exciting mix of global stories.
We’ll celebrate South Africa’s sustainable trendsetters, explore Emma Corrin’s upcycled Miu Miu collection, and uncover how cities like Prague are tackling textile waste head-on.
Plus, we’re taking a closer look at the challenges (and triumphs!) shaping the fashion world, from COP 29 to bold initiatives by Chanel and Burberry.
Pour yourself a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s get inspired together!
Celebrating Chinese Sustainable Fashion Designers: A Spotlight on Innovation From China’s Powerhouse Fashion Industry
From Shanghai Fashion Week to Shenzhen Fashion Week, environmental NGO Redress showcases sustainable design innovations that drive circularity in key global market
Why former H&M CEO Helena Helmersson joined Circulose
Six months on from its shock bankruptcy, the Swedish scaleup Circulose (formerly Renewcell) has a new top team.
Miu Miu Unveils Upcycled Holiday 2024 Collection With Campaign Fronted by Emma Corrin
Corrin returns to face Miu Miu's 2024 holiday campaign, which features new upcycled items.
SA’s Finest Sustainable Fashionistas Enjoy a Busy Year of Impact
Every year, South Africa’s finest in sustainable fashion are commended for their creative and eco-centric work at the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards! Because their hard work does not end with a glittering awards show, it’s always exciting to catch up on what the sustainable fashionistas have achieved after their wins.
Prague piles up clothes outside shopping mall to highlight fast-fashion crisis
The eye-catching display served as a stark reminder of the challenges cities face in managing discarded clothing.
Boohoo excludes Frasers from shareholder meeting
However, the meeting is not scheduled to include anyone from Frasers Group, which owns a 27% stake in the fashion firm.
Royal Mail to use digital tags to track containers and improve efficiency
Royal Mail said the digital system will remove the need for the manual scanning of containers, and will provide real-time feedback on location, environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, and also help it improve efficiency by using the data it gathers to optimise its vehicle and fuel use as it looks to reach a target of being net zero by 2040.
Chanel relies on Sophie Brocart to lead its circular transition
Currently CEO of Patou, Brocart has extensive experience in relaunching luxury brands and a strong commitment to sustainable practices. Her appointment, exclusively reported on by WWD, is a testament to Chanel’s commitment to transforming the fashion industry and reducing its environmental impact.
Global Fashion Summit 2025 to tackle duality of change in shaping fashion
Global Fashion Summit, the global event for fashion sustainability, has announced that “Barriers and Bridges” will be the focus of its 2025 theme as it seeks to explore how current challenges can be turned into opportunities for innovation and growth.
The State of Fashion 2025: Challenges at every turn
The global fashion industry faces economic uncertainty, a dynamic market, and consumer behavior shifts. Finding pockets of growth means navigating a complex maze.
Suppliers are still being excluded from fashion’ssustainability decisions
In a new report, Transformers Foundation claims that suppliers are being sidelined within collective initiatives. A fairer process is needed.
Amazon confirms fashion hauls aren’t going anywhere
With a new mobile-only shopping platform, Amazon is leaning into haul culture in what’s widely seen as a bid to compete with Shein and Temu. Sustainability advocates say it’s a step in the wrong direction.
Read More (Under Paywall)
Fashion Is in My Blood. But So Is Sustainability. What Do I Do?
I come from a family obsessed with a fashion-forward lifestyle. But part of my job is to preach sustainability. The contradiction took a lot of soul-searching.
Mad Scientist: Remedying Fashion, Sustainability and Community
Senior Mike Freitag launched his fashion brand, Mad Scientist, last spring, with the support of many friends who could be seen wearing his custom-designed shirts around campus. With his recent second drop of t-shirts, I sat down with Freitag to discuss what building a fashion brand is like in 2024, both as a student and as a designer.
Fashion Faces Big Climate Questions Ahead of COP 29
The UN’s annual COP climate change conference kicking off in Baku, Azerbaijan next week comes at a precarious moment for the industry’s environmental efforts.
Read More (Under Paywall)
Sustainable fashion retailer sews up further Development Bank loan
A Cardiff-based online sustainable fashion retailer is expanding with new ranges of ethically sourced clothing and eco-friendly accessories following an investment by the Development Bank of Wales.
Sales have doubled for Black and Beech in the last year following an initial loan from the Development Bank in 2022 to help grow the product range and invest in marketing.
The Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show Has Been Cancelled This Year
We hate to be the Grinch and be the one to inform you that the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show is cancelled this year.
Asia’sgrand event Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) returns from 26-28 November
3 Classic Hong Kong-themed Fashion Shows to revisit old Housing Estates, Kai Tak Airport and Kowloon Walled City
The First "Fashion Summit Lifestyle Pop-up Shop" staged in 5 exhibition areas to showcase transnational fashion creativity, the unveiling The Amazing Cut creations + 13 Italian and Hong Kong sustainable fashion collections
20 industry heavyweights gather at International Summit to discuss development strategies for sustainable fashion
Phillip Lim announces departure from eponymous label
The creative director and co-founder of 3.1 Phillip Lim is stepping down after almost 20 years, calling his tenure “an adventure of a lifetime.”
Shein will continue to face RICO charges in copyright infringement lawsuit
A federal judge denied the fast fashion giant’s request to dismiss racketeering claims.
Tapestry and Capri terminate merger agreement
After losing a lawsuit against the FTC, both companies agreed to cancel the deal, calling the legal process “uncertain and unlikely to be resolved.”
Burberry plans a strategic shift as profits nosedive
The company’s H1 revenue fell 22%, but CEO Joshua Schulman said the brand was working to course correct and return to its original purpose.
What the BFC Foundation is doing to support independent brands
Today, the BFC announced the five designers nominated for its Foundation Award, and published a report outlining the business models and habits needed to succeed in today’s challenging landscape.
Kering’s new jewellery award promotes waste as a valuable resource
Kering’s new Generation Award will challenge students to transform waste into jewellery.
Grown in Italy: The push for local raw materials
Italian suppliers are trying to nearshore their raw materials in a bid to curb climate impacts and improve traceability. How much is this a pipe dream?
NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDS
These Named and Special Scholarships for 2024 make a difference in the lives of our talented young visionaries while contributing to the vitality of fashion and related industries. Scroll down to read more about the partnerships that are directly impacting students’ success and nurturing the future leaders of our industry and to learn about this year recipients.
Textiles Ministry Maps Decarbonisation Pathway for Industry, Eyes Global Leadership in Sustainable Fashion
Set up by the government, the ESG task force aims to help the textile industry transition to sustainable and resource-efficient practices at scale
Is Fast Fashion Evolving Or Just Getting Faster?
What has actually changed in 2024?
Cities cannot afford to wait for governments to tackle fast fashion
A new report shows that European cities are setting a precedent by acting on fast fashion at the local level—even without strong government guidance. The report showcases practical examples of cities that have demonstrated solutions to our textile waste crisis and provides guidance for concerned local policymakers.
Exploring the clothing overconsumption of young adults: An experimental study with communication interventions
Highlights
Clothing consumption and production are increasing at an ultra-fast pace.
Clothing overconsumption is a phenomenon that has not been researched widely.
COM-B model and the Behaviour Change Wheel are used to design an intervention.
Communication interventions positively influence the intention to buy less.
Survey experiments are valuable in advancing sustainability transitions.
Vera
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