Fashion Technology Foundations: Sustainability

Sustainability is now a focal point in fashion, but true progress will only come from large-scale, foundational changes achieved through collaboration and supported by the right technology. This report examines why, and how, everyone within the fashion ecosystem must converge to take collective environmental and ethical action, as well as how brands, retailers, suppliers and manufacturers can all benefit from the results.

Part One: An Evolving Sustainability Landscape, The Modern Consumer, and Supply Chain Imperatives

The textile industry is, by most metrics, one of the least sustainable sectors - characterized by high resource consumption, dramatic quantities of pre- and post-consumer waste, and significant impact on both planet and people through land use, raw material harvesting, and offshore labor; all of which are compounded by scale. Coinciding with the rise of fast fashion, the years between 2000 and 2015 saw global textile production double, and projections indicate that clothing and footwear consumption will double again by 2030.

To counter this, the EU, US, and other territories are now advancing regulations mandating oversight of supply chains, combating greenwashing (claims to sustainability credentials that are not backed up by data), improving compensation and working conditions for garment workers, and promoting design-to-impact and circularity. With these legislative bricks falling into place, the message is clear: sustainability is paramount, to be treated as an integral part of fashion’s business model, and not something siloed or optional...

READ THE FULL REPORT

Click To Read Now

You expressly assume all risks associated with, resulting from or arising in connection with your participation in and/or attendance at the Event. Informa does not make any warranty as to the Event in general, including, without limitation, in relation to: (a) the benefit or outcome of any sale, interaction or transaction you may have with any exhibitor, sponsor or attendee or (b) the beneﬁt or outcome (commercial or otherwise) that you may achieve as a result of attending the Event. Informa and all entities within the Informa Group (as well as any employees or other representatives of the same) exclude all liability for any loss, injury or damage whatsoever that you may suffer in connection with or arising from the Event whether direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental or punitive loss, injury or damage (including, without limitation, injury or disease to persons, property damage, theft, loss of profits, loss of business, loss of opportunity, loss of goodwill, loss or corruption of data or any other type of economic loss, injury or damage) or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, Informa shall not incur any liability whatsoever for any products displayed or sold by any exhibitor or sponsor at the Event.