sustainability news and archive

How to dress in 2021

As Covid-19 firmly yet uninvitingly stayed for 2020, it now looks to be hanging around for much of 2021, too. Dressing in the time of a global pandemic has altered the course of fashion and consumer behaviour irrevocably, and 2021 will not be the revolutionary year that pushes fashion forward, as much as it about adapting to the new normal,...

15 Jan 2021

Video

TFN Masterclass: Buying and Merchandising

TFN's masterclass ‘Buying and Merchandising’, chaired by Lisa Trencher of Manchester Metropolitan University MBA with a panel including Grace Hill of EDITED, Chloe Greaves, and Tessa Woodhead of N Brown Group and Fiona Brown of Public Desire. They will be discussing a range of topics including the future of the roles, sustainability, and what...

4 Jan 2021

Fashion

2021 to be the year of circular sneaker

Sneakers are not typically shoes that are designed to last or even be repaired. Fabric shoes tend to have a shorter lifespan than leather, with the majority of people discarding their old trainers once they are out worn out. While the idea of a circular sneaker is not new, it has yet to be adopted in a mainstream way like sustainable clothing....

31 Dec 2020

Fashion

Independent designers blueprint for a meaningful change

The fashion industry has never been more ready for a good shake-up and a meaningful change. The pandemic exposed many flaws within the system and made it clear that fashion brands have to change the way they operate to be able to stay afloat. They should do so through sustainable innovation. Sustainable innovation is no longer a trending topic...

24 Dec 2020

Fashion

Two groups aiming to change the fashion industry join forces to bring systemic change

Back in May, in response to the pandemic, Belgian designer Dries Van Noten and a group of brands and retailers including Thom Browne, Acne studios, Mytheresa and Selfridges signed an open letter in a forum to the fashion industry announcing a proposal of “adjusting the seasonality and flow of both womenswear and menswear goods.” Another...

3 Dec 2020

Business

Yoox Net-a-Porter introduces new sustainable goals

The Yoox Net-a-Porter Group (YNAP) has introduced its new sustainability strategy called Infinity. According to its slogan “Lasting Luxury Fashion. Lasting Positive Impact,” the online fashion retailer aims to change the way fashion is made, sold and used. The focus will be on quality craftsmanship, durable designs and the ability to be remade...

1 Dec 2020

Fashion INTERVIEW

Career Q&A: Sustainable British-Lebanese jewellery designer, Alexandra Hakim

Known for her innovative craftsmanship and dedication to sustainability, British-Lebanese jewellery designer Alexandra Hakim's creations have been featured in Vogue Italia and worn by Rihanna. Recently, FashionUnited interviewed Hakim via email on what inspired her to work with metal and her label’s zero-waste approach. This year, brands and...

26 Nov 2020

Fashion

Secondhand clothing sales are booming – and may help solve the sustainability crisis in the fashion industry

A massive force is reshaping the fashion industry: secondhand clothing. According to a new report, the U.S. secondhand clothing market is projected to more than triple in value in the next 10 years – from 28 billion dollars in 2019 to 80 billion dollars in 2029 – in a U.S. market currently worth 379 billion dollars. In 2019, secondhand clothing...

18 Nov 2020

Business

IBM enters the fashion space with a blockchain platform to track sustainability

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and KAYA&KATO, a German uniforms and work wear manufacturer, have joined forces to develop a blockchain network for the fashion industry. The initiative counts on the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ) and is designed to create transparency about the origin of garments. The network will provide...

17 Nov 2020

Fashion INTERVIEW

Career Q&A with sustainable and ethical label, Philip Huang

Based between NYC and Bangkok, designer Philip and creative director Chomwan recently told FashionUnited how they envision using their brand as a global platform to bring customers a quality product that embodies the ethos of going back to the land while empowering local communities. Philip Huang, the eponymous label was founded in 2016 by the...

6 Nov 2020

Fashion

Sustainable designers and Dutch exchange at Taipei Fashion Week

Taipei Fashion Week SS21 took place at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park from Oct 6 to 10 with the theme ‘Re:Connext’, which was inspired by the ambition to adopt creative energy as solutions and imagine what it means to connect and reconstruct in a post-pandemic world. Having successfully contained the coronavirus, Taiwan is generating a buzz...

30 Oct 2020

Fashion INTERVIEW

Career Q&A with the founder of upcycled, ethical brand: Tototè.Studio

Retailers and brands have had to face unprecedented challenges due to the impact of the pandemic on the global economy this year. According to consumer data tracker, PSFK Research, the fashion industry is placingnew value on sustainability, circularity and efficiency.Along with these current market trends, a surge of social protests worldwide...

23 Oct 2020