The Future of Fashion: How Sustainability is Shaping the Industry
Summary:
Fast fashion is a threat to our environment. Meet the designers and game-changers who are redefining the future of fashion.
Key Points:
- Fast fashion has grown over 400 percent over the last 20 years.
- It contributes to more than 10 percent of global CO2 emissions.
- Brands like Stella McCartney, Trashie, and Mud Jeans are making a difference.
In fashion, as in many industries, achieving sustainability has become critical, in part because investor expectations are demanding it, and shoppers expect fashion companies to deliver. In addition, environmental regulations are becoming stricter, industry talent is moving to sustainable companies, and significant value from attaining sustainability is at stake.
In this article, we’ll look at the impacts of fast fashion, meet fashion leaders who are delivering on the promise of sustainability, and discuss what motivated high school students can do to learn more about this exploding business.
What is fast fashion, and how is it harming the environment?
Simply put, fast fashion is quickly produced trends sold at low price points (such as Shein or Zara) — and it is doing more harm than good. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, in addition to degrading landfills through incineration, fast fashion apparel has become a key source of microplastics in our oceans, as the cheap, plastic-based materials shed fibers that are infiltrating marine life. What else do we know about this industry?
- Fast fashion is growing, doubling the number of new garments produced each year with global consumption rising 400 percent over the past 20 years.
- Waste happens at every stage of the manufacturing process. The result is harmful to wildlife, soil, and water.
- Fast fashion contributes as much as ten percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
- Wool is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, habitat loss from deforestation, and is harmful to wildlife.
- According to McKinsey, the fashion industry emits about the same quantity of greenhouse gasses per year as the entire economies of France, Germany, and the UK. The report also noted that average consumers buy 60 percent more than they did in 2000, and keep it half as long.
And it doesn’t stop there. The fast fashion industry demands the exploitation of human labor to deliver apparel that follows the latest trends. Workers typically come from low-income countries where factories are located. Plus, the bulk of the workforce are young women who labor in hazardous work environments.
How do the industry and their consumers respond?
Most say sustainability in fashion is a priority, and they acknowledge that fast fashion is unsustainable in its current model. Nevertheless, one company alone can create up to 50,000 new garments every day. Changing behaviors will require drawing attention to the harm fast fashion is doing and shifting the discussion from glamor to the need for justice and sustainability.
Here’s what Forbes has to say about what’s next for sustainable fashion:
“Companies that focus on sustainability perform better financially. And the difference can be significant. One multiyear study found, for example, that leading sustainable companies enjoyed annual profits about 50 percent higher than other businesses.”
Let’s look at the brands that are making sustainability a core pillar of their brands..
Meet today’s sustainable fashion game changers
According to the Columbia Climate School, “the goal of sustainable fashion is a circular industry where waste and pollution are eliminated, and materials are used for as long as possible, then reused for new products to avoid the need to exploit virgin resources.”
So who is leading the charge?
Stella McCartney
One famous example is Stella McCartney. Starting in the early 2000’s, McCartney became known for her “cruelty-free” approach. She uses no feathers, leathers, or skin in her designs. McCartney integrates eco-friendly materials and design strategies throughout her supply chain. From regenerated cashmere to sustainable viscose, her collections show a commitment to environmental consciousness. Plus, by transitioning to organic cotton and eliminating PVC entirely in 2010, her brand epitomizes a dedication to reducing its carbon footprint. Through a blend of circularity, transparency, and activism, Stella McCartney has cemented her brand as a powerhouse for planet-forward fashion.
Trashie
Another popular change agent is Trashie, inventor of the Take Back Bag™. Shoppers simply order different sized Take Back Bags, fill them with unwanted apparel and textiles, and they get recycled or reused. Here’s how they do it:
- They have one of the world’s most sophisticated sorting capabilities, making sure everything finds a new use or a new home.
- The shipping labels are free, so there are no heavy shipping costs.
- They sort more than 250 categories.
- Around 70 percent of items are reused globally; more than 20 percent are recycled into new fibers for things like pet beds and even building materials.
- More than 90 percent of the items that arrive at Trashie find new uses and never see a landfill or an ocean.
It should be noted that Trashie is gaining traction with notable retailers, with the Steve Madden company recently announcing a partnership with the organization.
Mud Jeans
Mud Jeans collects old or out-of-fashion jeans and recycles / reuses the materials, ensuring that each pair they receive finds a new life and purpose. They refer to themselves as “the world’s first circular denim brand.” Their statistics are impressive. In 2022:
- Mud Jeans saved 48.7 millions liters of water.
- They avoided more than 250,000 kilos of CO2 emissions (that’s more than 550,000 lbs).
- They saved more than 18,000 pairs of jeans from landfills and incineration.
These are just a few of many designers who are moving their businesses away from fast fashion to a more sustainable model. Corporate players include brands such as:
Adidas
Adidas has made huge strides in making sustainability a priority. Their competitive goal for 2024 is to eliminate the use of virgin polyester, replacing it with a recycled version. Since 2015, they have collaborated with Parley Ocean Plastics to produce 27 million pairs of shoes using this sustainable material.
Patagonia
Lauded as the “gold standard” in sustainable fashion, Patagonia focuses on creating enduring items. In fact, every piece of clothing, from T-shirts to hiking gear balances superior performance with the least possible environmental consequences.
Levi’s
This brand is long beloved for its iconic denim line. It has strategically integrated climate, consumption, and community into its main business pillars. In addition, they are fostering sustainability and reducing their corporate footprint on the environment.
New techniques are emerging all the time. It is the responsibility of all those in the fashion industry to keep up with the latest advances in sustainable and environmentally ethical practices.
Interested in a future in sustainable fashion? Discover Parsons Paris.
One of the Prelum partner schools, Parsons Paris, is among the world’s most respected fashion institutes. One of their most popular areas of fashion education is sustainable fashion classes for high schoolers. Sustainability: The Future of Fashion addresses the innovative ways the fashion industry is responding to our environmental crisis.
You’ll learn how we got to this environmental tipping point, the ecological and emotional impact of fast fashion, alternatives to our disposable culture, media greenwashing where false or misleading claims about sustainability are made, and the many career opportunities available in this vital field.
Parson Paris is also home to other high school fashion design programs. Courses include key areas of fashion such as:
If sustainable fashion or any of the other programs is calling to you. Parsons Paris fashion courses for teens is your best option. Explore courses today.
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