Hello, dear sustainability enthusiasts! 💚
I am excited to have you join me for my latest newsletter. In this edition, we will explore the ever-evolving world of sustainability, including the newest trends and breaking news. Get ready for a journey filled with enlightening insights and the latest updates on all things related to sustainability.
Are you ready?
'It's the industry's dirty secret': why fashion's oversupply problem is an environmental disaster.
It needs to be discovered how many articles of clothing, such as coats, jeans, T-shirts, and trainers, are produced and remain unsold each year. This lack of information makes reducing the fashion industry's carbon footprint difficult. Some estimates suggest that between 80 and 150 billion garments are produced annually, and 10% to 40% of these articles are not sold. This means there could be anywhere from 8 billion to 60 billion excess garments produced each year, which is a significant discrepancy.
As the world swims in plastic, some offer an answer: Ban the toxic two
Anti-plastic campaigners have had limited success in banning certain types of plastic due to their toxic health effects, such as polystyrene and PVC. However, the bans have only been for certain products and not a complete ban. Both PVC and polystyrene are used in consumer construction, which can lead to chemicals leaching into water or home air, or releasing particles into the environment. The US EPA is reviewing vinyl chloride, the main ingredient in PVC and a known carcinogen, but the outcome is not expected for several years. More than 60 nations are pushing for a global ban on "problematic plastics."
The Six Most Toxic Types of Fashion and What To Wear Instead
The New Way Brands Are Battling, and Sometimes Even Beating, Bots
Rather than limit who can put in orders for limited-edition sneakers, watches and collectibles, retailers are throwing open their drops — and then using data analytics to kick bad actors to the back of the line quietly.
PVH Corp: The Power of Trust in Transforming Supply Chains
From zeroing in on traceability to sharpening inventory management, PVH's chief supply chain officer, David Savman, unpacks in this interview for The State of Fashion 2024 what it takes for retailers, brands and their suppliers to thrive together.
Fashioning a Sustainable Future: Alden Wicker's Eco-Crusade
From scrolling through social media to flipping through glossy pages of fashion magazines, our fascination with fashion is inescapable. But have you ever stopped to ponder the ramifications of your trendy purchases? If not, let's tune into a compelling podcast episode featuring Alden Wicker – an eminent fashion journalist, author, and sustainability advocate who will transform how you perceive the fashion industry.
Can sustainable fashion come back from the brink of burnout?
Sustainability professionals are sounding alarm bells about the toll of delivering against increasingly lofty goals with tiny teams and budgets.
Romanian Sweater Maker Bucks Fashion Trends to Go It Alone
Ami Amalia opened its own factories after outsourcing didn't quite fit.
How to shop more sustainably in 2024
Sustainable fashion doesn't have to be expensive – here are the companies doing high-end looks for low prices.
How Traceability Can Help Fashion Brands Become More Sustainable
As consumers and government regulations call on companies to adopt increasingly sustainable practices, fashion brands must rethink their approach to reducing their environmental impact. One of their key challenges is to achieve complete visibility into all stages in the life cycle, from fiber origin to retail. With perfect traceability of the materials used, verifying easier and establishing the sustainability of the garments produced and marketed is tough.
How Kevin Macdonald exposes high fashion and cancel culture in 'High & Low: John Galliano'
Kevin Macdonald knew he wanted to make a film about cancel culture. During the 2020 lockdown, the director of Touching The Void and The Last King Of Scotland read everything he could find on the subject, about why some celebrities are exiled from mainstream approval and why some are allowed to return. "Specifically," he says, "the idea of how society orchestrates the forgiveness of people now that we don't have religion to give us that mechanism."
iOS 17 Photos App Can Tell You What Those Confusing Laundry Symbols Mean
It's not a 2024 news, but it's still relevant. The Photos app in iOS 17 can identify a wide range of symbols, including the laundry symbols you see on clothing tags. MacStories' Federico Vittici noted that if you take a photo of a tag with laundry symbols, it is highlighted through the Visual Look Up feature and can be tapped for a symbol translation.
Exclusive: Shein seeks China's permission for US IPO -sources.
Shein is seeking Beijing's nod to go public in the U.S., two sources with knowledge of the matter said, highlighting the limits of the fashion company's efforts to present itself as a global rather than a Chinese company.
Pact Was a Sustainable Leader. Not Anymore.
Kristen hadn't experienced an allergic reaction for over a year before she opened her Pact order. As soon as she opened the package, she noticed a pungent smell. Kristen developed a chemical sensitivity in 2021 due to mold exposure. "My stomach got rashy from the leggings. I could feel the heat already from the hives," Kristen said.
Pact, the all-organic cotton underwear company, debuted 15 years ago and was a revolutionary brand. It offered ethical and 100% organic underwear and basics, a unique offering at that time. The brand quickly gained a reputation for being a trustworthy source of eco-friendly and non-toxic apparel. This made Pact a go-to brand for health-conscious consumers.
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Will the Fashion Industry Come Clean on the Data Point That Matters Most for Circularity?
"Speak Volumes" targets raising awareness about fashion overproduction and advocates for fair cleanup responsibilities, aiming to foster a justice-led, circular fashion economy. The campaign's origin traces back to the initiator's move to Ghana in 2011, where they observed a stark increase in clothing waste on Accra's beaches, transforming the local environment and endangering the community. This waste, primarily from Global North countries like the US, UK, EU, and Canada, includes items from major brands such as H&M, Zara, and Nike.
After years of turbulence, small clothing designers struggle for a sustainable model
N.S. designers have had to adjust to changes in consumer behaviour, supply chain disruptions, inflation
The world’s first 3D-printed, made-to-measure, compostable shoe
By creating prototypes of the shoes, the creators hope to curb the flow of millions of shoes into landfills each year and bring about a huge breakthrough in sustainable footwear.
Innovation, Investment: What's Next for New Materials at Biofabricate
The conference came to Paris as EU regulations are poised to change the industry, money is set to return, while luxury houses are backing new brands and being called on to drive consumer sentiment.
Are New Materials Ready to Go Mainstream?
A wave of high-profile failures has dampened the hype around biofabricated materials and ingredients, making this year a critical one for start-ups in the space to execute on scale-up plans.
Predicting sustainable fashion consumption intentions and practices
This study explores the factors that influence people's sustainable fashion choices, finding that values, beliefs, and awareness of consequences all play a role. Individuals who hold biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic values are more likely to adopt an environmentalist perspective (New Ecological Paradigm) and be aware of the negative impacts of their clothing choices. This awareness then leads to a stronger sense of personal responsibility and motivates people to engage in sustainable behaviors, such as buying second-hand clothes or donating unwanted items. The study also finds that trust in the sustainability practices of second-hand clothing companies can directly influence consumers' buying decisions.
The study suggests promoting environmental values and awareness can encourage people to make more sustainable fashion choices. Businesses can play a role by highlighting their commitment to sustainable practices and building consumer trust.
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.