Sustainability Pulse #97
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — October 7, 2024
This week’s edition is packed with insights that push the sustainability conversation forward. We spotlight affordable, non-toxic fashion options because looking good shouldn't come at the cost of your health or the environment. Plus, we’re breaking down the green claims made by 17 major brands (some might not be as eco-friendly as they seem).
Regarding innovation, fashion-tech company Unspun raised $32 million to scale its zero-waste apparel solution. AI’s role in fashion continues to expand—from sustainable styling to trend predictions.
Stay tuned, stay stylish, and as always, stay sustainable!
Read More for all the juicy details, and let me know your thoughts!
Warmly,
Vera
The Most Affordable Places to Buy Non-Toxic & Sustainable Fashion
Non-toxic clothing should be accessible to everyone, but not everyone knows where to look for it. That's why we're always searching for safe, non-toxic and budget-friendly brands with strong chemical management to share with you.
UK Regulator Warns 17 Fashion Brands Over Green Claims
Alongside the launch of the new guide, the CMA announced that it has sent letters to 17 "well-known fashion brands," advising them to review their business practices. According to the CMA, the letters highlight several areas of concern regarding the companies' green claims, including the use of broad or general terms, and whether certain products are being wrongly included in 'eco' ranges.
Fashion-Tech unspun Raises $32 Million to Scale Zero-Waste, Emissions-Reducing Apparel Solution
The fashion industry is facing increasing pressure to address the climate impact of its climate and environmental impact as one of the top industrial sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water pollution, and landfill waste.
The Sustainability Report 2024 – Available Now
Available to download today, free and un-gated, The Interline's second Sustainability Report spans 100 pages and features exclusive editorial from a range of industry perspectives, detailed technology vendor profiles and executive interviews, and an updated analysis of the market for sustainability solutions in fashion.
Making fashion sustainable in all kinds of ways
The price of clothing is more than the pound sign written on the tag, with fashion blamed for a significant chunk of the world's carbon emissions and waste products.
Who's Gonna Be the Sustainable Leader at BRICS+ Fashion Summit?
Throughout the summit, light will be shed on this problem and many other environmental factors caused by the fashion industry. There will be a strong focus on cooperation, market expansion, and integration of cutting-edge technologies into the fashion industry. The BRICS+ Fashion Summit, set to run from November 28 through December 2, 2023, in Moscow, aims to support lasting conversation and real change around global sustainability in fashion.
How Overconsumption Affects the Environment and Health, Explained
You likely contribute to overconsumption in ways you might not realize.
Genderless style: Are we finally ready for a new age of fashion?
Despite its historical struggle to gain mainstream appeal, genderless fashion is having a moment. But what has changed and is it going to stick?
Clothes swap campaign leads to UK sales success for luxury brand
It has been revealed that a campaign by global luxury fashion brand Valentino to encourage shoppers to trade in their clothes in exchange for vouchers helped sales jump at its UK arm during 2023.
The carbon footprint of wool
Wool is a widely used, versatile fiber found in everything from sweaters to suits. As the most common animal fiber in the fashion industry, sheep wool made up 1% of the global fiber market in 2022. However, wool production comes with a significant environmental cost. The animal fiber industry produces around 35 million tonnes of CO2e annually, with sheep wool contributing to nearly 98% of this total.
The Future Of Packaging: 4 Ways Businesses Unwrap Opportunities
Enter Packaging Regulation
Governments are implementing plastic taxes and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to promote sustainable practices and hold businesses accountable for the environmental impacts of their products. This aims to shift responsibility from consumers and municipalities.
AI Is Juicing Fast Fashion's Biggest Polluter
Shein nearly doubled its carbon emissions in 2023
The Transformative Power of AI in Fashion Styling
AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry by enhancing design, production, marketing, and customer experiences. From personalised recommendations and virtual try-ons to trend prediction and sustainable practices, AI is driving efficiency, creativity, and customisation. This transformation is paving the way for a more innovative and responsible industry.
Shang Discovered & Splendid China: Global showcase at NY Fashion Week
"Shang Discovered" and "Splendid China" captivated New York Fashion Week with vibrant displays of Chinese and international fashion.
Grace Chen's collection stole the spotlight, blending East and West.
The event showcased emerging designers from China and countries like the UK, India, and Canada, redefining fashion on the global stage.
Global fashion industry sees mixed results for H1 & Q2 FY24
INSIGHTS
For the period ending June **, ****, fashion and e-commerce companies showed mixed performances.
Out of seven companies, four saw strong growth in both sales and profits, with Amazon, Delta Galil and Zalando standing out.
One company, Hanesbrands, had moderate growth in either sales or profits.
Two firms, Aeffe Spa and Qurate Retail, posted weaker results with no growth in sales or profits.
Read More (Under Paywall)
French company Lectra's 3rd white paper explores sustainable fashion
Lectra's third white paper, "Sustainable Fashion: what strategies and technologies?", explores the challenges facing the fashion industry, including overproduction, waste, and pollution, while highlighting the need for material traceability and optimised marketing.
Industry experts discuss how technology can drive sustainability and address evolving consumer demands.
Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit: Fast-Tracking Climate Crisis Solutions
The common theme among speakers including environmental writer Bill McKibben, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, actor Matt Damon, cofounder of Water.org and WaterEquity, former U.S. Secretary of State and climate envoy John Kerry and billionaire investor Tom Steyer was the need to move faster because the window of opportunity to limit the worst effects of climate change is closing.
Vivo Barefoot collaborates with compostable shoe company Balena
Vivo is now collaborating with an Israeli-Italian company Balena which is making a method and material so that shoes at the end of their lives will compost. It should be said that even the plastic parts of Vivo's shows start to disintegrate anyway after a year.
I Tried AI to Help Build My Best Wardrobe Ever, and It Worked
If you'd like your style to look more Zendaya-esque, I'd like you to know how I got ChatGPT to roleplay as a celebrity stylist.
Meet the fashion-tech startups powering a better fashion industry
At the Vogue Business Fashion Futures event in New York on 26 September, a group of startups, many selected by Vogue Business editors, presented a host of solutions that applied new technologies to power a better industry.
Samsung Galaxy Takes Wearable Tech From Reality to the Runway During NYFW
Collaborations with LaQuan Smith, Colin LoCascio and MSCHF explored artistic applications of the brand's smart devices.
Burberry builds on its heritage of exploration with textile innovation
Burberry have launched a brand new scarf that is partly made from lab-grown fibres. The B Shield Scarf, which is named for the Equestrian Knight emblem with a B on his shield, contains 62 percent wool, 8 percent cashmere and 30 percent Brewed Protein™: a lab-grown fibre that is produced through the fermentation of plant-based, renewable ingredients.
Poshmark's New Marketplace Fee Structure: What You Need to Know
They are reducing the 20% fee in the US, replacing it with a 5.99% Seller Fee, a 5.99% Buyer Protection Fee, and a "1-2-3" structure, where both sellers and buyers will pay $1, $2, or $3, depending on the item or bundle sale price.
For sellers, this allows you to keep a larger share of your earnings with every sale and gives you the flexibility to sell a wider variety of items, no matter the price. For buyers, this demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting you every time you purchase on Poshmark.
Gucci-Owner Kering Cut to Sell as Goldman Doubts Luxury Rally
Goldman analysts downgrade Kering on downside risks to luxury
They expect coming months to be difficult for the sector
Coach and Poshmark leverage NFC for sustainable product resales
Thanks to an NFC tag or digital ID embedded in each product, owners of handbags, wallets, clothes, and shoes from Coach's sustainable Coachtopia brand can now resell these items on the Poshmark secondhand platform and have the details uploaded automatically.
Vestiaire Collective is the Newest Character in 'Emily in Paris'
Mindy Chen, portrayed by actress Ashley Park, discovers the joys of reselling with the second-hand luxury platform.
Business Fashion Environment Summit 2024
Quantis is heading to the Business Fashion Environment Summit hosted by "Vogue Polska" and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) next Tuesday! Sandra Gonza Fashion + Sporting Goods Strategist at Quantis, will join a panel on decarbonizing fashion and financing the green transition. She'll speak alongside Ulrika Leverenz, Head of Green Investment, H&M Group, and Agnieszka Wolska, Vice President of the Management Board, BNP Paribas.
A Collaborative Journey with GANNI: Celium™ at Paris Fashion Week
After 1.5 years of collaboration, Polybion and GANNI have taken a significant leap together, debuting Celium™ in five key looks at Ganni's Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025. This marks a major milestone in our shared journey toward pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion.
Italian Manufacturing Contracts For Sixth Straight Month In September
Italy's manufacturing sector shrank for the sixth month straight in September, with the PMI falling to 48.3 – missing forecasts and highlighting ongoing challenges.
The latest data from HCOB reveal that Italy's manufacturing PMI dropped to 48.3 from August's 49.4, firmly below the growth threshold of 50.
Fashion's Plastic Addiction in Four Charts
Cheap and versatile polyester has underpinned the fashion industry's growth and worsening environmental footprint. New data show that efforts to switch to recycled fibre are stalled.
Read More (Under Paywall)
A Feel For Fashion: Kati Chitrakorn
Step into the world of fashion through the insights of Kati Chitrakorn, fashion editor at the Financial Times. From her work with Suzy Menkes to her role at Vogue Business, Kati brings a sharp, business-focused perspective on the ever-evolving industry.
In this interview, she shares her thoughts on Paris Fashion Week®, the future of fashion, and the new wave of designers shaking things up.
A supply chain crisis hit profits. Now in the clear, Nanushka has big plans
The accessible luxury brand's CEO on how they rode out a plunge into the red — and the biggest problem facing emerging fashion labels
High-End Fashion No More Durable Than Fast Fashion, Report Discovers
When a major fast fashion brand sponsors a study, you end up with articles like this.
How did the research findings influence Primark's new durability framework, published this week? And what does the mistaken belief that "low price equals low quality" mean for Primark as a budget retailer?
Fashion designer Hedi Slimane leaves LVMH's Celine
Fashion designer Hedi Slimane has left LVMH's (LVMH.PA), opens new tab Celine brand, the company said on Wednesday, marking the latest high-profile departure from a fashion label as the industry grapples with a sales downturn.
Richemont offloads online retailer Yoox Net-A-Porter to Mytheresa
Sale ends Richemont's search for buyer
Mytheresa CEO confident company can improve the business
Richemont shares gain after deal announced
H&M to phase out virgin down by the end of 2025
Swedish clothing retailer H&M (HMb.ST), opens new tab said on Friday it plans to phase out its use of virgin down and feathers - materials that are harvested from ducks and geese and used in puffer jackets, pillows and other items.
Vera
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