Sustainability sells: Why consumers and clothing brands alike are turning to sustainability as a guiding light

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

One of the ironies of Gen Z’s passion for climate advocacy is Gen Z’s simultaneous love for fast fashion. Namely, the rise of SHEIN sits in stark contrast to professed values. But consumers will always value convenience and affordability above all. An offshoot of fast fashion’s popularity is that overstock and secondhand are major categories for su... See more

Changes in retail are often a result of larger societal changes. Fashion insiders also have a responsibility to mitigate a growing problem. But until those larger changes occur, circular fashion (and sustainability as a whole) is just window dressing. As organic fabrics begin to adopt many of the technical capabilities of their new-aged counterpart... See more

Thanks to increased consumer consciousness around sustainability, the circular economy, and fair labor, resale has become fashion’s hottest sector—and brands want in. But scaling and making resale profitable isn’t easy, and with increasing competition in the space, it’s only going to get harder. 

Sustainability can’t just be a luxury play. Ideally, it should cost less.

In the 2020s, consumers will embrace Sustainability as a Service: that means tools and services that prioritise sustainable consumption, but also make it easier and more convenient than ever.