How to be a sustainable fashion lover – and why it matters

How do you solve a problem like fashion? The industry is only getting bigger and its sustainability performance is not catching up with the pace of growth. Set to a backdrop this stark, it’s no surprise that an emerging number of super-engaged, eco-critical academics, activists, designers, and advocates are turning towards the ultimate alternative:... See more

Elsewhere, fashion is betting on the impact of circular business models as a way to decouple revenue streams from production and resource use. According to the Ellen McArthur Foundation, clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2015 while during the same period, utilisation of those clothes decreased by 36%.

As shoppers divest from retail and shift to secondhand, they must commit to building something better. Rather than disengaging from secondhand shopping, they should instead engage with the industry more: use their position in this space—their access and ability—to help create opportunities that benefit all people in the secondhand supply chain. Bec... See more

Customers say they want to be ethical consumers, buying vintage and upcycling on Depop. Reformation calls itself the most sustainable option other than being naked, while Eileen Fisher has pledged to use “sustainable materials” in 100 percent of its products. Yet what sustainability actually means in this context has become increasingly nebulous.&n... See more

Shifting fashion from a perpetual growth model to a sustainable approach will not be easy. Moving to a post-growth fashion industry would require policymakers and the industry to bring in a wide range of reforms, and reimagine roles and responsibilities in society.