Sustainability Pulse #121
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring - October 1, 2025
Every week, fashion provides us with evidence that the old adage of “make more, sell more” is losing its momentum.
From Peru’s rising wave of sustainable designers to Taiwan’s banana-fibre textiles and London streets turned into runways for greener futures, the movement is louder and more inventive than ever.
Of course, not all experiments land - sometimes “sustainable” solutions backfire, and resale platforms risk becoming just another shopping fix. But that’s the messy reality of transformation: progress is never a straight line. What matters is that creativity, science, and culture are converging in ways we couldn’t have imagined even a decade ago, such as growing clothes in gardens, turning CO₂ into bras, and integrating repair into fashion’s DNA.
This is a pivotal moment: the cracks in the old system are undeniable, but so are the sparks of possibility.
If fashion can lean into innovation without losing its soul, it may finally prove that beauty and responsibility can share the same runway.
Meet some of the names behind the new wave of sustainable Peruvian fashion
Machu Picchu as a symbol of ancestral heritage, a cuisine recognised among the best in the world, and the natural richness of the Amazon and the Andes have projected Peru onto the world stage. Now, the country seeks to position itself in a new arena: sustainable fashion.
How mending clothes became cool (again)
Using colourful stitches and contrasting threads, ‘visible mending’ is a creative and liberating approach to repairing that’s easy to DIY
Electrolux x Whitehouse Institute Team Up to Power Sustainable Fashion’s Next Wave
Electrolux has partnered with Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia, to integrate fabric care education into fashion curriculum, addressing the industry’s waste crisis by teaching designers to create garments built for longevity.
Kering Deputy CEO tipped to replace Gucci boss of less than a year
The move, reported first by WWD, would see Kering Deputy Chief Executive Bellettini replace Stefano Cantino, who is expected to leave the role after less than a year, a sign of just how urgent Gucci’s turnaround has become.
Call to put town and city centres ‘at the heart of economic decision making’
A trade association has called for the next Scottish government to put town and city centres and retail destinations at the “heart of economic decision making”.
When ‘sustainable’ fashion backfires on the environment
In fashion, this means going well beyond traditional repair habits and embracing secondhand shopping. It entails innovations such as clothing rental platforms, fibre-to-fibre recycling, and AI tools that cut waste in supply chains and sort textiles for recycling.
This sounds like a win-win: less waste, fewer raw materials used, and a smaller environmental footprint. However, in fact, these innovations could ultimately make things worse.
U.N. Fashion and Lifestyle Network Talks Global Circularity
The fashion industry produces 92 million tons of textile waste annually.
British Council Hosts Sustainable Fashion and Textile Symposium to Address Climate Challenges through Creativity and Collaboration
The British Council brought together designers, makers, policymakers, and sustainability experts for the Sustainable Fashion and Textile Symposium held from 19–21 September at Alhamra Arts Centre, Lahore.
Turning Waste CO₂ into High-Performance Foam for Sustainable Fashion
Fullstride Ventures introduces the carboncup™, a sustainable foam bra cup that delivers the same comfort, breathability, and durability as those made from conventional materials
The high-performance foam is produced using Borealis’ polymer, which is derived from Infinium’s eNaphtha—a low-carbon feedstock made using captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere
The innovation represents a significant step forward for circularity in intimate apparel
The Sustainable Fashion Revolution: Materials Science and Ethical Consumerism Drive a $22.8 Billion Investment Opportunity by 2034
At the heart of this transformation lies a reimagining of fabric itself. Organic cotton and hemp, long staples of eco-conscious brands, now account for a significant share of the market.. However, the next frontier lies in bio-based and biodegradable materials.
Hong Kong PolyU project to advance sustainable fashion
Project aims to create an AI-based model for sustainable fashion that can be replicated across the industry
Taiwan turns banana plant waste into sustainable textiles
Entrepreneurs in Taiwan believe they’ve found the secret to sustainable fashion - an all-natural textile produced from bananas.
Depop made sustainable shopping consumerist
The resale app reveals the tensions between trends and conscious consumption.
Inside a Garden Where Clothes Are Grown, Not Made
MetroTV, Fast fashion meets sustainable innovation at Kew Gardens! Step inside the breathtaking Temperate House and explore the Material World festival , a powerful and hopeful exhibition that rethinks how we create, wear, and discardclothing. From textiles dyed with natural plants to outfits made from pineapple, seaweed, and even mushrooms, designers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable fashion. Discover how art, nature, and style come together in stunning installations like Global Threads by Lottie Delemain and a monumental textile sculpture by artist-environmentalist Nnenna Okore.
I’m All For Second Hand September and Pre-Loved - But Is Fast Fashion Hijacking the Moment and Movement?
The Green Gap, our sustainability column from Lucy Siegle, is back - this month, reflecting on the magic of genuine pre-loved clothing.
Continuiti x CHRIS NICK: A Collaboration In Sustainable Fashion And Luxury
Now, a year since opening its doors to the public, Continuiti shows that clothing rentals aren’t just practical and eco-friendly—they’re effortlessly stylish.
Camden High Street turns sustainable fashion runway
With the street free of traffic, the event showcased how pedestrianisation can support local culture, bring communities together, and contribute to a cleaner, greener Camden.
Founder of iconic buy-sell-trade store, Buffalo Exchange, dies at age 83
Buffalo Exchange, the iconic, original buy-sell-trade store that got its start in 1974 in Tucson, Arizona, announced yesterday on its social media accounts that the company’s visionary founder, Kerstin Block, has died. They wrote that Block “leaves behind an incredible legacy of sustainable style, individuality, and empowerment that continues to guide Buffalo Exchange today.”
Does this new label mark the rise of slow, conscious fashion?
For decades, Safia Minney’s brand People Tree was at the forefront of sustainable fashion. Now, after stepping down as CEO in 2015, she’s founded a new brand, Indilisi, to try and fight an industry that is causing 92 million tonnes of waste.She tells Caroline Garland more
How an engineering student turned red Solo cups into stylish sweaters: ‘A lot of trial and error’
Lauren Choi wanted to give plastic a second life. Her experiment turned into The New Norm, a sustainable textile startup
Why I’ve given up on fashion and why we need to build a new earth-centric culture
and why we need to build a new earth-centric culture, by Zoe Gilbertson
Why throw away clothes? You could go to a repair cafe to get them fixed instead
New research from The National Lottery Community Fund reveals a third of people in the UK have binned brand newclothes in the last year, adding 1.4 billion items to a growing mountain of clothes waste. Environment Lead John Rose says community action can play a part in tackling our throwaway culture
The Frayed Edge: Nike’s Sustainability Reset
The sportswear giant has toned down communications around its sustainability efforts, replacing its glossy annual impact report with hard-to-find data sheets. Meanwhile, Rolex is cosying up to Trump and the EU’s push to clean up fashion waste is getting real.
What we learnt at Vogue Business Fashion Futures 2025
The event, held at the Bowery Hotel in New York City, brought together industry leaders to discuss the intersection of technology and sustainability, and how it’s reshaping business.
Fashion’s Progress on Disclosing Emissions Is Stalling
Advocacy group Fashion Revolution’s second “What Fuels Fashion?” report highlighted the industry’s continued failure to disclose climate efforts, especially its blindspot in monitoring the risks of fossil-fuel based heat stress.
Debunking fashion’s sustainability myths
by Adrian Wilson
Inflated statistics capture attention but also distort the conversation and risk undermining serious solutions, says analyst Lutz Walter.
Key new leaders at The Lycra Company
The Lycra Company has announced two strategic leadership moves to accelerate innovation and growth.
First automated sorting line in China
Developed and manufactured by Databeyond Technology, the line integrates AI and hyperspectral imaging technologies to deliver the automated, high-precision sorting of discarded garments. The installation marks the entry of China’s textile recycling sector into the era of AI-driven sorting.
Brands must address a dependence on toxic fuels, says new report
Fashion Revolution has released the second edition of What Fuels Fashion? – an energy and decarbonisation report assessing 200 of the world’s largest fashion brands. With an estimated combined annual turnover of more than $2.7 trillion, these billion-dollar brands are among the most powerful players shaping the future of fashion’s climate.
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.