Sustainability Pulse #111
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — April 22, 2025
Hi friends,
Happy Earth Day 🌍
This week’s edition is a big one. I’ve gathered the latest headlines shaping the future of fashion, laws being passed, platforms crumbling, startups rising, and circularity slowly but surely stepping into the spotlight.
There’s a lot to process, but it’s also a reminder: change is happening, even if messy, imperfect, and tangled in politics.
Whether you're here to stay informed, inspired, or grounded in your values, thank you for reading. Your curiosity fuels this work.
Now let’s dive into what’s moving the sustainability world this April.
With love,
Vera
Sustainable Fashion Law Update: Critical Legislation and Compliance Requirements for 2025
Highlights
In recent months, in response to increased consumer interest, federal and state government officials have taken action to propose and adopt laws and regulations directed at promoting consumer transparency and encouragingsustainable and environmentally conscious fashion purchasing decisions. The purpose of this Holland & Knight alert is to provide the fashion industry with an update regarding several critical legislation and compliance requirements for 2025.
Similar state legislation focused on promoting environmental accountability and sustainability in the fashion industry has also been introduced, passed or become effective in recent months, including laws aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of fashion, limiting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles and apparel products, encouraging the reduction of plastic packaging and financing recycling infrastructure.
Shein’s Bargain-App Formula Crumbles Under Trump
Chinese fashion giant faces a double whammy of steep U.S. tariffs and an end to its duty-free shipping.
This Startup Wanted to Revolutionize Fashion. Now It’sUnder Investigation for Fraud.
CaaStle helped brands rent unsold inventory. Investors say its co-founder overstated its success, leading to ‘a severe and immediate liquidity problem.’
Outside View: The Circular Economy Is in Fashion
The Trump administration's tariffs program actually could help boost circularity.
Mattel is quietly backing away from its DEI stance. Will Barbie face a backlash?
Mattel worked hard to transform Barbie into a progressive icon. Can the company keep it up through the Trump administration?
Will tariffs drive more people to shop secondhand? It's a mixed bag, experts say
Many people — especially members of Gen Z — are already doing so. A 2025 report by Capital One Shopping Research found that approximately one-third of all clothing and apparel purchased in the U.S. over the past year was secondhand.
inThread works the runway with sustainable fashion in collaborative show featuring Houston designers
The runway show featured designers from across Houston, including participants from Houston Community College, which possesses a highly reputable fashion design program.
How APR is Making Sustainable Fashion More Accessible
Now serving as Commercial Head at Asia Pacific Rayon (APR), Sachin is helping to drive that change at scale. For him, the appeal of the industry lies not only in the evolution of materials, but in the constant potential to explore new markets, products, and innovations.
EBay awards funding to recycling tech firm
Refiberd, which uses artificial intelligence to sort fabric, was named Circular Fashion Innovator of the Year and given $300,000 to scale its business.
Under Armour, Unless partner on plant-based sportswear collection
The regenerative sportswear collection is “designed to decompose rather than pollute,” according to Under Armour Brand President Eric Liedtke.
TENCEL™: Redefining Sustainable Fashion with Innovation
Key Takeaways
TENCEL™ fibres combine sustainability with high performance, using a closed-loop process to recycle water and solvents.
With REFIBRA™ technology, it supports circularity by blending recycled cotton waste with wood pulp.
Trusted by leading brands, TENCEL™ provides eco-friendly, high-quality textiles.
It is shaping the future of fashion with lower carbon footprints and biodegradability.
Shop sustainably at Chicago's largest clothing swap
The big picture: The Chicago Fair Trade Museum this weekend is hosting what it's calling the city's biggest community clothing swap to raise awareness about sustainable living and the environmental dangers of fast fashion.
Fairly Made snaps €15M: How this women-led startup leads the charge in sustainable fashion tech innovation
Today, this women-led French startup in sustainable fashion has secured €15 million in a funding round led by BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund, GET Fund, ETF Partners, and FrenchFounders. This investment will fuel the company’s transition into a pure technology player, reinforcing its role in driving sustainability and transparency across the fashion industry.
Lorna Jane launches pre-loved resale platform: Sustainable activewear at incredible prices
This move further solidifies Lorna Jane’s commitment to sustainability, a core pillar of its brand. The company has long been focused on redefining the production and consumption of activewear.
Brands are ditching lifetime warranties—but not because they’re taking advantage of you
Once a mark of quality, lifetime warranties are starting to feel out of step with our values. Brands like Cotopaxi and Saatva are rethinking how to make things that actually last.
Vestiaire Collective Brings Clothing Waste Home in Latest Campaign
The luxury resale platform has been lobbying the French government to pass the anti-fast fashion bill due for a vote on June 3.
New report exposes disturbing statistic fueled by popular trend: 'Enough to fill a large suitcase per person'
"The carbon footprint of fast fashion consumption is 11 times higher than that of traditional fashion."
Textile waste poses serious threat to environment
Some fibres take up to 200 years to decompose and release greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change
Consumption of clothing, footwear, other textiles in the EU reaches new record high
The combination of increased online shopping, social media influencers and cheap production costs for synthetic textiles has been instrumental in the growth of fast fashion. This has allowed retailers to offer consumers new styles at low prices. The EEA briefing notes that digital technologies like 3D printing can reduce waste in production and can be used to reduce the environmental and climate pressures from textiles by improving efficiency. However, they also risk increasing consumption by enabling cheaper production costs and lower prices.
Lyst acquired by Japanese giant ZOZO in £119m deal
Following the acquisition, which is expected to complete before the end of April 2025, Lyst will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ZOZO, though Lyst will continue to operate as a standalone business based in London, with Emma McFerran continuing as CEO.
Fibers Fund invests in Range Revolution to produce leather sustainably
Cate Havstad-Casad launched Oregon-based Range Revolution four years ago after struggling to find local, sustainably-produced leather for her hat-making business. Range Revolution markets traceable leather from US-based ranches committed to regenerative practices.
Evoralis lands $2.8 million to develop enzymes to break down discarded textiles
UK-based Evoralis spun-out of the University of Cambridge to develop a process for breaking down synthetic materials like polyester, nylon and polyurethane into base components that can be reused. Evoralis claims over 80% of textiles could be recycled using its enzymatic technology.
Investors are essential to rooting out forced labor in global supply chains
BlackRock’s (Yeah, that Blackrock) former sustainability chief summed up the critique from the principled left by arguing that the effort was “a dangerous placebo that harms the public interest.” The rightwing attacks on “woke capitalism” have been far more heated—and muscular. Red states have passed anti-ESG legislation and sued asset managers.“ESG,” declared Elon Musk, “is a scam.”
Meet the 7 designers competing for sustainable fashion’s top prize
Louther, Nuba and Petra Fagerström have all been shortlisted for the 2025 Challenge The Fabric award
Clothing chain liquidates stores, seeks buyer without bankruptcy
The sustainable fashion company is making big changes.Canadian-based apparel brand Frank & Oak has announced it will shutter a total of nine stores in Canada, citing stresses from Covid-19 as one of the reasons.
Four in five Brits to cut fashion spend in 2025
With the cost-of-living crisis still impacting so many people across the UK, nearly four in five (77%) of Brits say they are likely to spend less on fashion items in 2025 in order to reduce costs.
How to Assess a Brand for Toxicity
So many brands claiming they're sustainable, so little time!
By Alden Wicker
Supply Chains In Chaos? These 5 Startups Turn Waste Into Opportunity
These innovative companies are turning challenges into opportunities, transforming waste into valuable resources, and reshaping industries. Here are five trailblazing ventures making sustainability more than a buzzword; it’s now also a viable business model.
ZERO: AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR'SUSTAINABLE' FASHION BRANDS
It rigorously vets every brand for "holistic sustainability — beyond just materials — to ensure ethical production, fair labor and long-term environmental impact."
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.