The global fashion sector is facing heightened scrutiny regarding its sustainability. There is a growing concern over the sector’s utilisation of water, chemicals, and human labour, as well as its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and the escalating accumulation of disposable ‘fast fashion’ in landfills.

This has resulted in mounting pressure from politicians, sustainability activists, and consumers, urging the industry to undergo significant transformation.

While a few luxury fashion brands, like Chloé, a B-corp French luxury fashion house, have taken proactive measures to assume responsibility for their manufacturing and distribution processes, ensuring sustainability and ethical practices across their supply chains, this level of sustainability collaboration remains limited within the sector.

According to Carlo Capasa, the chairman of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana), headquartered in Italy, the absence of cooperation among industry stakeholders serves as a significant obstacle in enhancing the sustainability profile of the fashion sector.

Organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation promote a circular economy in fashion, emphasising durability, reduced harmful inputs, and increased recycling.

In 2023, significant progress may be witnessed through the introduction of global sustainability reporting standards by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), along with potential mandatory standards for the European Union and the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ethically-minded shoppers now rely on labels to make purchasing decisions, considering where and how a garment was manufactured, particularly if there are concerns regarding elements of the supply chain, such as industrial accidents or human rights abuses.