How will the fashion industry work to save the planet this year?

The fast fashion industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and as we begin the New Year, fashion brands are finally taking sustainability as more than just a “trend”.

With Y2K style on the rise, there are online shops selling second-hand clothes ever than before. Repairing clothes by adding custom designs is fashionable, and a lot of universities, including Glasgow, have an ECO-HUB where clothes are swapped for even better, fun and sustainable fashion wear.

It's not just local communities though; big brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, UNIQLO and Veja have all shifted to more focus on regenerative agriculture and renewable fashion fibres for fashion.

Expansion of digital product creation has made it easier for fashion brands to virtually create, test, and perfect garments in real time, while significantly reducing waste and energy used by physical sample-making. With tools like 3D fashion design and virtual sampling, designers can bring key concepts to reality without the need for physical prototypes, conserving resources. This prevents overproduction, leading to more tangible and agile processes in production of garments.

Brands like H&M recycling innovator Renewcell, and Patagonia, with Recycled Down, are leading efforts in the recycling solutions and fiber regeneration area. Certain clothing fabrics can now be broken down at a molecular level, and repurposed into new fibres such as Samatoa, Piñatex, Parblex and Singtex.

Some fashion brands are adopting the use of biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable packaging materials. This shift to eco-friendly packaging minimises plastic use, reduces waste, and aligns with the goals of a circular economy. Sustainability is still not perfected in the fashion industry, but remember you can help change fast fashion by being eco-friendly too!

Published 14 January 2025