Hey there, eco-warriors! 🌍💚
It's that time of the week again! Time to dive into your one-stop shop for the freshest and most thought-provoking news about sustainable fashion.
This week's content is a feast of knowledge, from a much-needed analysis of June's inflation and its impacts on your wardrobe to a deep dive into the fashion industry's slow but sure progress on transparency. We've got updates on brand initiatives, like Loewe ReCraft's continued celebration of leather, and Gucci's leap up the transparency index.
We're not only about the big brands though. Peek into what an architectural shift in social media could mean for fashion, the lessons that Barbie offers us on fashion forecasting, and the effects of a move to the countryside on personal style.
But that's not all! We'll talk about European retailer C&A's adoption of Coats Digital's GSDCost solution, the unique story of a digitally-designed hoodie, the voice of suppliers in sustainability legislation, and some slow fashion brands you may not have heard of yet.
As always, we want to leave you questioning. Are we seeing responsible fashion marketing or misleading greenwashing? Can fast fashion really slow down? What does working in sustainability at a fashion brand entail?
In this edition, we're also making sure to celebrate the initiatives that make a difference, like Carhartt's expansion of its resale program and the impressive fundraising success of Unspun for its on-demand 3D weaving tech.
We know you love these insights, and we can't wait to hear your thoughts! If you enjoy what you read, share the wealth!
So, grab a cup of your favorite sustainable brew, and let's get into it!
Until next time, stay stylish and sustainable!
Vera ✌️💚
News analysis: June inflation lower than expected, but clothing prices still rise
There was some good news around inflation on Wednesday, well, sort of, as official figures showed that consumer price inflation fell to 7.9% in June, which was a bigger drop than expected in the growth rate.
Loewe ReCraft store in Osaka finds ways to let leather live on
The opening of Loewe ReCraft continues the "obsessive focus" that the brand has had on leather since 1846, when it initially launched as a leather-making collective.
Slow Fashion Brand Recommendation, not an ad.
Global fashion brands' transparency score rises only 2%
The global fashion industry's progress on transparency remains limited, with a 2 per cent rise from last year, reaching an average of 26 per cent, as per the Fashion Transparency Index.
About 52 per cent of 250 major brands disclosed their first-tier supplier lists.
Gucci emerged as the second highest-scoring brand, marking a major leap for luxury fashion.
Tweets To Threads: What Might An Architectural Shift In Social Media Mean For Fashion?
As Twitter's popularity wanes, what could the move to decentralized social media mean for fashion? And why might this platform shift be different from the ones that have happened before?
This Barbie Is Another Teachable Moment For Fashion Forecasting
Barbie mania is a case study in evolving empowerment, peak marketing, and the inflexibility of forecasting and merchandising.
European retailer C&A adopts Coats Digital's GSDCost
C&A has adopted Coats Digital's GSDCost solution to improve costing & capacity forecasting.
It establishes international standard time benchmarks for accurate cost predictions and sustainability goals.
By using a common language and standards, C&A aims to enhance transparency, streamline negotiations, and foster a more efficient manufacturing process.
Vogue Editor And A-List Stylists Select Digitally-Designed Hoodie By Neurologically-Diverse 11-Year Pupil; Gets Displayed On Fashion Catwalk
The "Sustainable Fashion Project" aims to educate children on reducing waste within the fashion industry.
Lack of Supplier Voice Could Thwart Sustainability Legislation’s Intent
Apparel suppliers feel left out of decision-making processes that affect them without their input, as environmental and human rights legislation reshape the supply chain landscape.
25 Incredible Slow Fashion Brands You’ve Never Heard Of
Tired of clicking on those “best sustainable fashion” brand lists only to see Reformation and Everlane over and over again and not learn anything new? You’ve come to the right place!
Responsible fashion marketing or misleading greenwashing?
Despite increasing regulatory scrutiny, brands need not fear sustainability marketing so long as it is unambiguous and rooted in fact.
How Moving to the Country Changed My Style for the Better
Writer Sarah Selecky ditched big city life—and her big city wardrobe.
Luxury in Young People, what is Gen Z Looking for?
Younger people are aiming to be more eco-friendly when it comes to shopping for luxury goods, which is all for the good.
Carhartt and its Recommerce Partner Are Scaling Up
Trove, the re-commerce technology provider for Canada Goose, Patagonia, Levi’s and Carhartt, is scaling up its North American operations with five new facilities in the United States and Canada.
Read More (Under Paywall)
Can fast fashion slow down? It's not that simple
As Zara lays out sustainability targets, advocates say Canada has a long way to go.
UNSPUN RAISES $14M FOR ON-DEMAND 3D WEAVING TECH
The fashion tech firm Unspun is expanding from body-scanning technology into 3D weaving manufacturing.
Bolt Threads Pauses Operations of Leather-Alternative Mylo
Material innovation start-up Bolt Threads has paused operations for its leather alternative Mylo after struggling to fundraise, the company said in a statement.
HOW TO WORK IN SUSTAINABILITY AT A FASHION BRAND
Chief sustainability officers are the newest addition to the C-suite. Here's what the job actually entails.
Sustainability Matters: Carhartt Expands Resale Program to More Stores + More News
The initiative is expected to generate $3 million in on-the-ground conservation impact through $1.5 million in funding from Capri Holdings and matching contributions through NFWF.
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.
Anyone can subscribe for free.
Please feel free to follow me on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn if you want to discuss anything tech-related!