Sustainability Pulse #105
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — January 14, 2025
As we dive into 2025, the sustainable fashion world shows no signs of slowing down, with groundbreaking innovations, intriguing debates, and plenty of exciting updates to inspire us all.
This week, we’re exploring everything from the future of secondhand shopping (hello, push notifications from Gem!) to the latest sustainability commitments in fashion.
You’ll find insights into why your $12 dress might have hidden costs, glimpse the trends reshaping 2025, and much more.
Whether you're here to stay informed, find new ways to shop sustainably or fuel your passion for eco-conscious living, this newsletter covers you.
Let’s jump into the stories shaping the future of fashion and beyond!
Sustainable Fashion Market to Witness Substantial to Reach USD 12.94 Bn. by 2030
This market encompasses a range of eco-friendly products and initiatives, such as upcycling, repair services, and innovative materials like recycled plastics and organic textiles.
The 2024 Gem Recap
Never miss a secondhand listing again with Gem push notifications!
Gem has launched a new revolutionary feature on their app – you can now get push notifications for new listings across all resale sites.
Gem push notifications will help you locate the secondhand items you are looking for faster than ever. Gem finds listings from big platforms like eBay, Etsy, Poshmark and The RealReal, and from hundreds of independent online stores. You have no extra cost if you find the item with Gem. Gem is the only app that provides a feature like this. Just set your Saved Searches on Gem utilizing the app's plentiful filters, sit back, and wait for the notifications.
You can also get a daily email with all the matching new listings instead of push notifications. You can also easily view and edit all your Saved Searches on a separate tab on the Gem app.
Gem is available worldwide as a website and app for iPhone and Android. Gem is a female-founded business based in NYC.
To try out the new features, get the Gem app from the App Store or Google Play.
The truth behind your $12 dress: Inside the Chinese factories fuelling Shein'ssuccess
The BBC spent several days here: they visited 10 factories, spoke to four owners and more than 20 workers. They also spent time at labor markets and textile suppliers.
Source Fashion to launch Source Debates at upcoming show
Europe's responsible sourcing show, Source Fashion, has shared a sneak preview of the seminars and speakers at its February show, including All Saints founder Stuart Trevor, Nobody's Child founder Andrew Xeni, Safia Minney MBE, and the debut of Source Debates.
Traceability in Textile Supply Chains: How Verve Leads the Way in Sustainability
Without proper traceability, supply chains risk falling short on sustainability and ethics standards, leaving gaps in an already fragmented value chain that undermine consumer trust.
British Fashion Council adopts Copenhagen Fashion Week's sustainability criteria
Under the new partnership, the BFC will implement Copenhagen Fashion Week's 'Sustainability Requirements' framework.
Shein unveils denim printing process designed to reduce water, energy use
If the government is set to ban a Chinese app, this should be the one! The fast fashion giant said the number of products it created using the tech increased by 90% last year.
5 fashion industry trends to watch in 2025
Sourcing and sustainability challenges will hit home as luxury and corporate shifts reshape the global fashion landscape.
Fashion Workers Act signed into law in New York
The legislation requires model management firms to register with the state and offers protections against AI and exploitation.
Hugo Boss launches independent recycling, reuse company
Eightyards will begin operations in January and manage the group's waste but is eyeing expansion beyond fashion.
Massive cleanup under way in Ghana after fire destroys one of world's biggest secondhand markets.
Thousands of traders face ruin after blaze razes two-thirds of Accra's Kantamanto, which receives an estimated 15m used clothes from global north each week
Facial recognition in educational spaces
As Ellucian notes, "Carrying a photo ID on campus may soon become a thing of the past as advances in artificial intelligence have paved the way for making facial recognition technology available and worth implementing on campus." Yet, critics argue that it is "An unnecessary and invasive monitoring tool" when not implemented thoughtfully.
Y/Project shutters after failing to find buyer
Y/Project, the Parisian fashion brand known for its playful proportions and sartorial wit, is shuttering after 14 years due to failing to find a buyer.
Private equity firm buys controlling stake in True Religion
The deal with Acon Investments comes as the denim brand looks to diversify its product offering and expand its reach.
An Irish designer making waves in sustainable fashion in Portugal
Fashion designer Molly Walters: 'Focus on crafting timeless, versatile garments, high-quality pieces that can be worn and reworn for years.'
Read More (Under Paywall)
Fashion's Plastic Addiction in Four Charts
Cheap and versatile polyester has underpinned both the fashion industry's growth and its worsening environmental footprint. Efforts to switch to recycled fibre are stalled, new data show.
Read More (Under Paywall)
Influencers to Beauty Brands: Stop Sending Us So Much Stuff!
As influencers and editors become increasingly vocal about their distaste for excessive or opulent mailers, brands need tocreate more tailored strategies to maximise their reach — and their budget.
Generative-AI Design Platform Raspberry AI Raises $24 Million
Silicon Valley venture firm Andreessen Horowitz led the round as Raspberry AI looks to expand its customer base and accelerate product development.
Eileen Fisher's Mindful Growth Model
After a pandemic contraction — and with a new chief executive on board — the godmother of mindful consumption is gearing up to grow (mindfully).
JLR: Progressing Sustainable Luxury in Leather Supply Chains
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has aligned itself with the Leather Working Group (LWG) to bolster its commitment to luxury materials with a traceable and sustainable supply chain.
According to Style Experts: These 3 Vintage Trends Will Dominate 2025
According to leading trend forecasters, these three vintage styles are not just making a comeback – they’re completely redefining modern fashion.
5 Innovations That Can Change the Sustainable Fashion Game in 2025
In 2024, several developments in sustainable fashion emerged, providing promising solutions to the industry'senvironmental challenges. These innovations focus on reducing waste, conserving resources, and introducing alternative materials. Here are five innovations that are set to redefine sustainable fashion in 2025.
The Secondhand Clothing Trend: A Promising Solution to Reduce Waste?
The secondhand clothing trend reshapes fashion by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting sustainability. It extends garment lifecycles through thrift stores, online resale platforms, and circular economy models and combats fast fashion's environmental impact. This shift reflects a growing commitment to eco-conscious consumption.
Lyocell Fiber Market to Reach USD 3.43 Billion by 2032, Driven by Rising Demand for Sustainable Textiles | Credence Research Inc.
This substantial growth is driven by the rising adoption of lyocell fiber in applications such as clothing, home textiles, and industrial products. Owing to its sustainability, biodegradability, and exceptional characteristics, lyocell fiber is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the global demand for eco-friendly, high-performance cha, high-quality textile materials.
Nairobi Fashion Week To Showcase The Future Of Fashion With Regenerative Theme
Taking place from from January 29th to 1st February 2025 at the Sarit Center, the fashion week promises to be a groundbreaking celebration of creativity, sustainability, and innovation, drawing attention to the pressing need for a more responsible and circular fashion industry.
Buy nothing groups got me back on Facebook, but Zuckerberg is about to make me quit again
There’s a stark dissonance between the values of Facebook and the Buy Nothing groups on the platform.
Francis Libiran on tech’s role in the future of style
In the tenth episode of ABS-CBN News Channel's Beyond the Exchange, award-winning journalist and veteran anchor Rico Hizon sits down with Financial literacy advocate Salve Duplito, acclaimed Filipino fashion designer Francis Libiran, and founder & CEO of Unbox Group Carlo Ople.
ATU Donegal student to appear on new sustainable fashion series Síorstí
The Milford native 'applied and had a number of interviews to be selected for the final six competitors, when he was still in the second year of the degree programme,' ATU explain
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.