Sustainable Fashion – it’s getting real

As every year, during September, the most important fashion weeks were hosted in New York, London, Milan and Paris. The fashion industry once again proves to be a driving force for the world economy, which is certainly a positive factor. However, we cannot forget that it is also the second most polluting industry in the world.

This is why it is increasingly fashionable – pardon the pun! – to pass off so-called sustainable initiatives when they absolutely are not, but respond to pure marketing needs (see under: greenwashing).

How can the fashion system give a tangible signal towards greater environmental awareness, instead?

Fortunately, there are international brands that have made environmental sustainability a concrete goal, in line with the UN Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

In this article, we have collected some of them.  

Provincia

From an idea of designer Serena Novello, the brand is inspired by the Veneto province where it was born and from which it takes its name. The concept of waste does not exist for the provincia: each garment is unique and handcrafted from recycled fabrics and yarns, thus giving new value to materials. Even the beautiful accessories are made from recycled glass from the Murano (VE) glassworks.

Zerobarracento

It is called “The Intimacy of Layering” – that’s the new autumn-winter collection by Zerobarracento, where every single element is created in a Zero – Waste philosophy. Indeed, the design technique used eliminates textile waste: all the models in the line are developed starting from a puzzle of linear geometric shapes that are subsequently draped, resulting in unique creations of great aesthetic impact in which nothing is wasted. Material research is at the basis of every manufacturing process: from Manteco’s recycled wool, obtained thanks to a low-impact mechanical recycling of pre- and post-consumer garments, to Re.VerSo‘s recycled baby Camel, all GRS – Global Recycle Standard certified.

Sea Beyond by Prada Group

SEA BEYOND, promoted by the Prada Group and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), is an educational programme aimed at a network of secondary schools around the world to educate about protecting the sea.    

The project was supported by proceeds from sales of the Prada Re-Nylon collection, the regenerated nylon product line launched in 2019. Thanks to Sea Beyond, the Prada Group underlines its commitment to environmentally conscious choices.

Let’s also recall that the United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the ‘Decade of Marine Sciences for Sustainable Development’: ten years dedicated to the ocean and protection of the sea and its health, with the aim of building a common programme of research and technological innovation around which to mobilise the scientific community, governments, the private sector, and civil society for a cleaner and healthier ocean – and the Prada Group is precisely among the signatories of the Manifesto of the Decade of the Sea in Italy.

Sustainable Fashion Awards 2022

The Sustainable Fashion Awards 2022, an event celebrating sustainable haute couture and rewarding the commitment and achievements of some of the world’s great fashion houses, have just taken place.

A prominent aspect for the awarding of the prizes was energy saving, which is a major topic today.

In addition to the aforementioned Prada Group, the Awards honoured among others: Giorgio Armani (The Visionary Award), Oasi Zegna (The Biodiversity Conservation Award), OTB Foundation (The Philanthropy & Society Award) and La Soledad x Gucci (The Climate Action Award).

Good on You App

A rating platform for fashion, where the production process of garments of many brands can be monitored in a simple, intuitive, and fast way.

The Good on You App is a real encyclopaedia of growing clothing brands, ranking them with a score from 1 to 5 according to their actual sustainability. The catalogue includes over 3000 brands, which were analysed on the basis of three important aspects:

  • environmental impact;
  • operators of the entire production chain;
  • impact on animals.

This is also a good way to help consumers make more conscious choices that are mindful of the possible consequences for the environment. Because we are all called upon to do our part, every day!

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, you can find our article on Sustainable Fashion with Plastic Recycling here.