March also saw some highlights in the industry’s sustainability efforts: a study showed that social media is one of the most influential sources of sustainability information for consumers, and Amsterdam-based lingerie label Love Stories and Dutch designer Tess van Zalinge presented how to transform upcycled wedding dresses and vintage veils into lingerie.
The most innovative approach was offered in March by Dutch clothing brand New Optimist, which introduced deposits on its clothing. In the middle of the month, Tomo opened at Westfield Mall in the Netherlands, which is nothing unusual so far. However, it sees itself as a “department store with a mission” that wants to motivate consumers to participate in the circular economy. This month, FashionUnited also contributed with a new sustainable fashion section, designed to promote knowledge sharing within the industry.
events
How to fight greenwashing was discussed at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector, held in Paris on 16-17 February. Central topics were above all the regulation, standardization and communication of complex sustainability knowledge.
Sustainability was also a theme at most of the stands at the Texhibition, which took place in Istanbul in early March. While some exhibitors advertised their certifications, others referred to the use of renewable energy – particularly solar panels – on the roofs of their factories. The sustained efforts are mostly due to the increasing demands from Europe – in particular to the fast fashion companies that are so important for Turkey, such as Mango or the Inditex Group.
transparency
Italian fashion house Loro Piana is making its sustainability processes more transparent to customers, allowing selected products to be traced from fiber to store. Fiber manufacturer Lenzing presented its progress in the 2022 Sustainability Report and the French luxury group Kering wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2035.
Brands
On the brand side, the three luxury brands Sonia Carrasco, MaisonCléo and Rabôt showed how fashionable sustainability can be. In an interview with FashionUnited, designer Robert Rodriguez explained how his new brand Koltson is one of the few that is fully committed to sustainability in the evening dress segment.
Adidas introduced the ‘Adidas Football x Parley Boot Pack’ football boot silo, which is partially made from plastic waste found in the oceans and beaches, and Allbirds is working on a zero-carbon boot. Stella McCartney, meanwhile, launched the world’s first garment made with Radiant Matter’s plastic-free, plant-based sequins, and Danish fashion brand Ganni plans to recycle waste from its own T-shirt production into new clothes.
longevity
This month again saw initiatives designed to extend the life of garments: for example, sustainable clothing retailer Hessnatur launched a platform for second-hand clothing, while streetwear brand Carhartt launched a resale program. Here, FashionUnited presents the eight newest fashion players on the second-hand market.