Sustainability Pulse #103
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — December 14, 2024
As 2024 comes to a close, I’m so grateful for you, our community of readers who care deeply about the future of fashion and sustainability.
This year has been filled with exciting shifts, bold ideas, and inspiring stories that remind us why sustainability matters more than ever.
In this year's final newsletter, we'll explore why sustainable fashion matters, highlight exciting developments in the resale and luxury sectors and share bold innovations like AI-driven design tools and ethical recycling.
We'll also dive into thought-provoking topics like the impact of consuming less on the planet and our happiness.
Let's wrap up the year with inspiration, reflection, and a look toward the possibilities ahead.
Why Sustainable Fashion Matters for the Future
By supporting sustainable fashion, consumers are encouraging these innovations and helping to drive the industry toward a more sustainable future.
Truss secures investment from FIGR Ventures
Officially launched in 2022, Truss aims to tackle one of the resale sector's biggest challenges, product transparency, by creating millions of product profiles that contain detailed information about any product to streamline fashion resale.
The great luxury reset: challenges and opportunities for luxury brands
The Independents Group, a collective of communications agencies, together with brand building agency Karla Otto has published a white paper that looks at the shifting drivers behind the luxury market. While historically, luxury items have served as markers of status and shaping consumers' identity, today consumers are seeking out brands that shape their lifestyle.
'Fashion Future': What do younger generations demand from the fashion industry?
If anyone had any doubts about whether a group of teenagers could ask relevant questions and contribute in the presence of top industry professionals, these were dispelled by the start of the conference.
Hugo Boss launches independent recycling company
In a statement, Hugo Boss said that Eightyards has been developed to be "strategically aligned with Hugo Boss's comprehensive commitment to environmentally and resource-friendly production processes," and will officially begin operations in January 2025.
Spain: Fashion sales in fall for the first time in November since 2020
What has ended up happening in November? And will its effects have repercussions that go beyond that, and will last longer, affecting the fashion retail industry in Spain? These are the two main questions that arise from the results collected in the latest analysis of the sector's sales prepared by the National Association of Retail Fashion Acotex.
Is Matthieu Blazy going to Chanel?
Chanel has had an empty seat since CD Virginie Viard's departure back in June, and there's a list of designers ready to fill it. Hedi Slimane, John Galliano and Pierpaolo Piccioli have all been mentioned as strong contenders, but we've heard Blazy's name recently.
Cotopaxi Names Lindsay Shumlas CEO to Continue Its Purpose-driven Work
Wendy Yang, the former president of Hoka, has been named executive chairwoman and will work to expand the company's sales in DTC and wholesale.
Nike Shuts Down Virtual Sneaker Brand RTFKT
Marking a strategic shift for the Swoosh to recalibrate its digital footprint.
Can Exotic Leathers Ever Be Ethical? Gabriela Hearst Says Yes
Exotic leathers are increasingly being phased out by the fashion industry, amid concerns about the inhumane treatment of animals. In recent years, the likes of Chanel, Burberry and Marc Jacobs have all banned the use of crocodile, snakeskin and ostrich leather in their products.
Podcast: Powering Resale for Conscious Retailers with Continue
The Interline hosts the Co-Founder of resale technology platform Continue to discuss why resale is a major growth opportunity for brands, and how they are practically and positively working to influence consumer culture through technology.
Sustainability Demands Speed And Scale
With an ongoing influx of virgin fibres, fashion's footprint will continue to grow. To meaningfully change direction, bigger, bolder action is necessary.
New Generative AI Tool Supercharges the Design Process for Emerging Brands
Centric AI Fashion Inspiration for small and medium brands generates options and accelerates ideation for fashion retailers and brands.
Luxurynsight and Heuritech, two French AI & Data Leadersunite to unlock the next-level of data intelligence for Luxury, Fashion and Beauty Brands
This union reinforces tools to predict both demand and offer. Luxurynsight's expertise in market intelligence combined with Heuritech's cutting-edge demand prediction technologies create a powerful, all-encompassing solution for professionals to take better informed, data-driven decisions.
Sustainable Style: Indian Fabrics for a Conscious Wardrobe
Whether it's traditional Indian textiles or modern innovations, these fabrics are perfect for building a conscious wardrobe that reflects both elegance and responsibility.
Hania New York: A Growing Hand-Knit Business in the City
Currently, Hania New York employs 100 women across all five Manhattan boroughs to knit for the company. Although this article is older, I wholeheartedly recommend Hania for winter knits.
Environmental impacts
Different fabrics have different impacts, depending on what they're made of.
E.l.f. brings shopping to the speakeasy with Virtual Luxe Lounge
The beauty brand's 3D online experience allows members of its loyalty program to shop holiday product drops and access exclusive coupons.
Sustainable materials company to open new production center in Vietnam
Recover's latest facility, coming in 2025, will have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of its recycled cotton and polyester material.
John Galliano to leave Maison Margiela
The designer, who has been with the OTB-owned label for a decade, did not disclose his next move and a successor has not been named.
Women Under Watch: AI Facial Recognition, Privacy, and Resistance in Iran's Surveillance Society
Fashion can become a shield in the quest for freedom and privacy. Cap_able offers a way to reclaim personal freedom, especially for women under strict surveillance regimes, such as in Iran. The Manifiesto collection integrates adversarial patterns in knitwear, designed to disrupt facial recognition algorithms, providing women autonomy from the country's restrictive laws.
Shein, Temu suspended from selling in Vietnam
The fast fashion companies must register their businesses with the country's e-commerce and digital economy agencies.
Alibaba-Backed Trendyol Is Said to Consider $1 Billion Fundraise
Turkish e-commerce company Trendyol is considering raising about $1 billion to help its growth, people familiar with the situation said.
Find your new festive party clothes at holiday swap event
MIAMI - You can swap your pre-loved holiday clothes for new-to-you festive attire and make this holiday season both stylish and sustainable.
It's all part of an event hosted by Remake, ReCircle Society and sustainable fashion expert Taryn Hipwell.
Hipwell stopped by CBS Miami to break down the details of the environmentally conscious event.
Eight countries join hands to double down on environmental impact of fashion
Countries such as Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago have joined forces to drive change and eradicate the environmental impact of fashion and building.
BPCM Founders Describe How to Survive 25 Years in Fashion PR
Torrential rains, an unauthorized database download and an indisposed A-list celebrity — the fashion publicists have seen a lot in their careers.
Consuming less is better for the planet and your happiness
To shop or not to shop?
Despite what many companies and brands will tell us, we won't be able to shop ourselves out of the climate crisis. Eventhough we're buying things that are supposedly green, eco or sustainable. Using what we have and making it last will always be the most sustainable option. And now we can fall back on research that shows that this is also a better option for our happiness.
I've done quite a few 'no-shopping-months' over the years but I have yet to try a full year of no shopping. Some argue it's not for them as they enjoy the shopping and shopping only second hand for example is a good sustainable option. But I also hear of those who really enjoy a no-shopping year.
Not shopping for a year of course has financial benefits but maybe there is also a psychological benefit? Maybe I should give it a go for the happiness reason?
What are your thoughts?
Have buying less or nothing for a period of time made you happier?
Vera
I really hope you're enjoying The Sustainability Pulse, my weekly newsletter looking at sustainability in the fashion industry. If you find the tips and insights useful, please share these articles to help spread the word.