New report suggests the beauty industry is ignoring net zero
Titled ‘greenhouse gloss,’ Carbon Trust’s inquiry into the sector’s commitment to tackling climate change has uncovered that some major brands’ sustainability efforts are falling short. Although the beauty industry’s impact on the environment pales in comparison to fashion’s (which itself accounts for ten per cent of humanity’s total emissions), the...
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Australia to set a world-first standard for composting textiles
To combat the country’s 260,000-tonne-a-year fashion waste problem, lingerie company Very Good Bra has launched a campaign to improve natural garment recycling practices. According to a report by the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) published last May, Australians buy 14.8kg of clothing, or 56 new items, annually, making the country one...
Our obsession with collagen is hurting the planet
An investigation into the supply chains of this ‘wonder product’ for skin, ageing, and health that’s at the centre of a global wellness craze has uncovered a dark side to its cultivation. Collagen, which makes up 60 per cent of our cartilage, accounts for 70 to 80 per cent of...
SHEIN named the year’s most popular fashion brand
Overtaking ZARA and Nike as the world’s most Googled clothing brand is SHEIN. Founded in 2008 and gaining serious popularity during the pandemic, it looks like the fast-fashion giant is here to stay – regardless of its poor reputation. Yikes. According to a report compiled by Money.co.uk, SHEIN has become the...
Balenciaga’s quest for redemption has had the opposite effect
The luxury brand’s brush with accusations of paedophilia has united haters and fans in shared concern. But the controversy also points to systemic issues of exploitation and power within the fashion industry. Publicity stunt? Mindless oversight? Elite satanic conspiracy? Whichever best explains Balenciaga’s latest controversy – triggered by two campaigns that...
The Fashion Pact establishes new renewable energy agreement
After a quiet two years, the CEO-led coalition has announced the launch of a promising sustainability initiative that seeks to accelerate the industry’s green transition. By now, I’m sure you’re well aware that fashion has an acute sustainability problem. If you’ve somehow missed out on the details, however, allow me to...
New documentary goes undercover inside SHEIN’s factories
Available on Channel 4, the documentary reveals that workers making clothing for the fast-fashion giant SHEIN are paid as little as 3p per garment while working 18-hour shifts. Most of us aren’t blind to the fact that the availability of ultra-cheap clothing is impossible without the exploitation of workers who sew them. But this doesn’t make the findings in Channel 4’s new documentary any less shocking. Titled Untold: Inside the Shein Machine,...
Fashion ‘unlikely’ to meet Paris Climate Accord goals
According to Textile Exchange’s latest report, the industry is producing more than ever before and shifts from conventional materials to lower-impact, sustainable alternatives have declined. During the last few years, news of fashion’s pivot to more eco-friendly practices has repeatedly made headlines. Whether genuinely impactful or an obvious bid to keep consumers interested, these updates on how brands are ‘doing better’ for the planet have seemingly trumped our consciousness of...
Brands moving away from ‘free returns’ to curb fast fashion
Boohoo, Zara, and soon-to-be H&M are among the major retailers now charging customers to send back clothes in the post. Though shoppers are divided over the new policy, there’s no denying the environmental benefits of a move that targets throwaway culture. When attending a fancy event we don’t have the cash for, it can be tempting to order a specific outfit and return it straight after for free, allowing us...
Opinion – Kourtney’s collaboration with Boohoo deserves criticism
The reality star has been mocked on social media for her new role as fast fashion brand Boohoo’s Sustainability Ambassador. But while it may be hard to believe, Kardashian’s latest collaboration is no laughing matter. Reality stars and fast fashion are no strangers to one another. Despite strides to unpick this deep-seated relationship, and a growing disdain for fast fashion amongst young consumers, Gen Z are still addicted...
