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For years now, brands have been launching one sustainability initiative after another, so this fashion month I wanted to look: Is any of it translating to the clothes we see on the runway or in stores? We asked 231 brands to send information on the materials they used in their shows — and got responses from 19 brands total, which made it hard (impossible) to do any hard analysis of what we saw in New York, London, Milan and Paris. So instead of a story about what brands are actually using to make their clothes, this became a story about a lack of information and transparency — and given fashion's fairly poor track record on the environment, we can only conclude that by failing to offer evidence, the industry is also failing to deliver on the change it has been promising. Thank you Rachel Arthur Samata Pattinson FRSA Geren Lockhart Sandra Gonza Patrick McDowell for explaining why material choices matter: “At a certain point, design is just choices. And one of those choices is, what are you making things out of." “All of the ambitious targets being set — this means nothing until we start to see it trickle down into commercial product. One of the clearest determiners of that is what gets sent down the runway.” And more importantly, for explaining what the real obstacles are to more fundamental change. Spoiler alert, those include problematic business models and fear of risk — and the inability of those business models to incentivize anyone to overcome that fear and to start taking the kinds of risks that matter for people and planet: “Designers get credit for positive reviews, great sales, attention from celebrities and influencers. That’s the rewards system that’s set up. They’re not getting extra credit for deeply building in environmental impact, circularity or regenerative agriculture — or education about any of those things.” “It’s rare to see anyone really going for it and making the strong commitment to doing things in a different way...Ultimately it’s not the easiest path, but we do it because A, it’s the right thing to do, and B, we are building a brand for the future.” Today on Vogue Business - and thank you Maliha Shoaib Lucy Maguire Ezreen Benissan Madeleine Schulz for the outreach help! 💚

It has become common for brands to make grandiose promises of sustainability. From reducing carbon footprints to using eco-friendly materials, companies are increasingly touting their commitment to a greener future. But the question that lingers in the minds of many consumers is, are these brands truly living up to their sustainability pledges? It's true that in recent years, there has been a surge in corporate sustainability commitments. From multinational giants to small, local businesses, the wish to appear eco-conscious has never been more prominent. However, as consumers, we often find ourselves searching for tangible evidence of these commitments in the products we buy and the practices companies adopt. While many brands have taken significant steps towards becoming more sustainable, skepticism remains. It's not uncommon to see brands accessories their products with labels like "eco-friendly" or "all-natural" without providing transparent proof of their claims. Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and accountability from companies. They want to see measurable results, not just PR-friendly slogans. When brands provide clear, verifiable data on their sustainability initiatives, it goes a long way in establishing trust. So, are brands lacking evidence when it comes to their sustainability claims? In some cases, yes. There is still a need for greater transparency and accountability across the board. As consumers, our role is to remain vigilant, ask questions, and seek out brands that are genuinely committed to sustainability, providing us with data and validation of their claims. We should also support initiatives that advocate for clearer standards and regulation. #sustainability #brands #change #consumer Reach out to us to learn more about circular economy, ESG and data validation! Sustainability as a vision, reporting with a mission AP PROJECTS

Brands are producing designs with both quality and sustainability in mind. Download the latest issue of Rivet to see how designers and executives from leading denim brands are addressing sustainability and what’s trending for the new season: bit.ly/3tyYmg8

Interested in a new scenario where fashion companies can curb their carbon footprint? 👉 A new paper of mine, now out in the British Journal of Management, addresses the call to turn research into actionable insights to frame and tackle some of the biggest challenges that we face in our global community. 🔔 We focus on the current detrimental impact of the fashion industry on climate change to investigate the implementation of upcycling and remanufacturing as major strategies to decouple waste growth from economic growth within the industry. ❗ Our process model provides granular insights into the implementation of end-of-life circular practices and sheds light on the paradoxes that they entail for Italian ‘born-circular’ fashion companies in their quest to tackle climate change. 💡 The findings offer some critical evidence on how the industry can be a force for good, showing how companies can deliver environmental value by also being pivotal in addressing the grand challenge of climate change. (With Alessandra Vecchi) British Academy of Management Read more here:

Part of the sustainability work we’ve been doing at Kering for years now is building consensus and working on collective goals with our peers. This is one of the reasons we initiated the creation of The Fashion Pact in 2019...so, we’ve been very invested in the Fashion Pact’s progress. Not least because member brands cover more than a third in production volume of the textile and fashion industry which equals a significant amount of influence.  Developing science-based nature strategies has been a big focus under the Pact’s biodiversity pillar and we were pleased to see that across 76% of the members, 52% now have a formal strategy in place (from only 10% two years ago) and 69% are currently implementing measures to reduce their company’s impacts on nature and climate through their sourcing strategies. Raw material production represents the bulk of fashion’s impacts so understanding their individual company’s impacts, creating strategies to mitigate them and investing in promising on-the-ground platforms can seriously improve the sourcing of fashion’s key materials overall, considering the number of brands engaged with the Fashion Pact. Its ‘Transforming the Fashion Sector with Nature’ project has already seen some good outcomes: the agricultural raw materials pilots directly impacted 345,000 hectares (45,000 more than the project goal) and avoided deforestation is estimated to mitigate 3,513,131 tons of CO2 equivalent, exceeding the initial target of 500,000 tons of CO2e.  These positive movements and momentum are hopeful! For more details and data: https://rb.gy/4btvyu Conservation International Global Environment Facility  #KeringForSustainability Eva von Alvensleben

Stitching My Way to Sustainability in 2024 As part of Emerson's #letschoosesustainability campaign, I’m kicking off this year with a mission that's very close to my heart: sustainable fashion.   The clothing and textile industry is a complex one to tackle, but also a hugely important one. It not only has a high carbon footprint but consumes a large amount of water and chemicals, generates a vast amount of waste, is land-use intensive, and has huge social implications upstream in its supply chain.   Although some of you may think it frivolous, I've always found fashion to be a personal expression of my identity and a source of creativity. So, this year I want to put in extra effort to find that sweet spot where my style meets sustainability. Here's my game plan on how to “Go Circular”: 1.   ✂  Learning to Sew: I've been designing clothes and getting them made locally, which has been great. But now, I'm going to learn how to sew myself. I’m lucky to live in a country with a lot of local history and traditional craftsmanship in textile manufacturing and dressmaking. My intention is to leverage this to learn to make my own clothes and fix the ones I have, instead of buying new. I’ll post some of my creations later in the year! 2.    👚 Smart Fabric Choices: This is one of the things I enjoy most about designing my own clothes. I often lose track of time exploring the fabric shops in Madrid (much to my husband's exasperation, who feels that the fabrics are getting more attention than he does). But I also want to get smarter about the materials I buy. This year, I'll be learning about different fabrics to make sure I pick ones that are better for the environment. I found the book "Textilepedia" to learn about textiles more broadly, but I’m looking for recommendations on sustainability-related books, so shout out if you have any! 3.   📗  Understanding My Carbon Footprint: Finally, I'm going to try and figure out the environmental impact of my clothing. It's not easy to do, as most online tools aren’t very good at calculating this, but I think it's important to know the impact of my fashion choices. If I succeed, I’ll be creating an open sheet that can be accessed by anyone. So, there's my roadmap for a more sustainable wardrobe in 2024.   To kickstart a ripple effect, this year we're nominating others for the challenge! I’d like to invite Kelli Clark and Peter Zornio to set your own sustainability goals. And it's too late for 'but I didn't get the memo' excuse! It's time to get my hands (and maybe a little thread) dirty! Let's make a collective effort towards a more sustainable future. 🌱💪 Together, we can make 2024 a year of positive change! 🌟 #SustainableChoices #EmersonTeam #Letsgo

Currently, the fashion industry is facing the pressing challenge of aligning with ESG sustainability goals set forth by the UNFCCC Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. With a clear timeline of 2030, these goals outline ambitious targets that require a cosmic shift in consumption and production practices. Let’s understand ESG goals in detail- (E) Environment: From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to curbing plastic usage and mitigating water and air pollution, the fashion industry is tasked with reimagining its approach to sourcing and utilizing raw materials sustainably. (S) Social: Ensuring fair labor practices, equitable wages, and promoting diversity in employment are paramount for fostering a socially responsible fashion ecosystem with humane working conditions. (G) Governance: Transparency in reporting ESG sustainability goals and adherence to environmental and social regulations are essential for promoting accountability. I believe that Governance is the most important factor. Why? Because it gives companies a framework to stay bound. And if we can regulate, then we can measure. And if we can measure, we can make meaningful change. But despite the magnitude of the challenge, the sustainable fashion movement presents an opportunity to infuse creativity and passion into the industry while driving toward healthy profitability. Moreover, collaboration in the fashion ecosystem is crucial for achieving circularity. We've seen industry leaders pioneer innovative solutions, but it's essential for big brands to team up with smaller ones to spread these practices further. Take, for example, Levi's partnership with Usedem for upcycling denim or Santoni Material Experience Center collaborating with Remake Hub to turn yarn waste into chic home decor items. These collaborations are paving the way for a more circular fashion industry. As we get closer to the 2030 deadline for ESG goals, the fashion industry needs to understand that being sustainable isn't just about doing the right thing morally. It's also crucial for long-term success. By embracing ESG goals, the fashion industry has the opportunity to lead the charge toward a more sustainable future. P.S. Keeping track of our sustainability efforts is now so much easier through latest AI tools. It helps us set goals, collect data, and report on our progress. With digital solutions, we can make sure everything is transparent and traceable, which is crucial for making real change. As we focus more on sustainability, having the right data and digital tools is key for moving forward. P.P.S. How do you think digital tools can further enhance sustainability efforts in the fashion industry? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! #esg #esggoals #sdgs2030 #fashion #fashionindustry

Is fashion finally ready to cut overproduction? 📉🏭👗 A new initiative from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation hopes to help brands make money without making new clothes by scaling up circular business models and reducing the need for new materials. Many industry leaders have already backed the plan, indicating that there is appetite for new business models that aren't focused on traditional growth. However, whether the initiative will be successful is still up for debate. Some experts are concerned that the scheme is just another voluntary initiative and will not lead to accountability or meaningful action. Others say the perspectives of workers and those affected by the fashion industry's existing waste must not be left out if the initiative is going to be successful. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gX_r3T6k

"Sustainability refers to creating and consuming clothes in a “sustained” way that protects the environment and those producing the clothes. Additionally, true sustainability should ensure that the creation process is environmentally and socially sound, from materials to manufacturing all the way to workers’ conditions and fair pay." Haven't found a more holistic definition of sustainability in the fashion industry. The dire desperate need to be a more conscious individual is well articulated. Baby steps till we can start running. Give it a read.. Article link: https://lnkd.in/dQxY9jKH

💨 Fashion is responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions - 8%, to be precise. To give you a better perspective, it emits as much carbon as France, Germany, and the UK combined annually. Plus, it falls short of Paris Agreement goals by 50%. To top it off, the industry contributes to water pollution and clothing waste. In one of their latest articles, "Sustainability" shares the "Top 10 Sustainability Strategies of Luxury Fashion Brands" - https://buff.ly/4abt7s3 . Here's what you need to know: Despite all of this, the future doesn't look so dark as over 160 brands are committing to The Fashion Pact's goals for carbon neutrality and renewable energy. Brands like LVMH and Kering have already implemented science-based sustainability plans, earning top environmental ratings. ❓ How do luxury brands address these issues? ✅ What all these companies have in common is their commitment to environmental goals. They rely on strategies such as renewable energy, responsible material sourcing (including the use of sustainable and traceable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and ethically sourced leather), and transparency and traceability throughout their supply chains to ensure ethical practices. And of course - circular economy. After all, we talk about the fashion industry. It is a social and environmental responsibility to reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose materials to minimize waste and extend product lifecycles. With an effective plan in place, you'll find it easy to adapt to the evolving terrain of corporate sustainability. Are you unsure where to start? Reach out today for a copy of our latest brochure.