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18 March 2022
Despite the disruption in the supply chain and the chaos caused by Covid-19, sustainability remains a top fashion theme throughout 2021. In fact, as the purchasing power of Gen Z, the most environmentally conscious generation continues to grow, we see a surge in second-hand shopping and the use of the term "sustainability" on product pages. But, fast fashion was still very popular, and the turnover of this sector boomed.
2022 must be the year when fashion steps up to take action against the climate crisis. While sustainability has been a much-discussed topic in recent years, a 2020 report by Global Fashion Agenda and management consultants McKinsey shows that the industry's greenhouse gas emissions which already account for 10% of total global emissions are in fact tracking to increase by about a third, to a shocking 2.7 billion tonnes per year, by 2030.
New York Fashion Week is witnessing a shift toward sustainability!
The New York Fashion Week in 2022 was an extremely good attempt to set the tone for sustainable fashion, with hemp and recycled fabrics, along with nuts and natural floral materials. Designers have become more fixated on incorporating natural elements into their pieces over time, which will continue to appear in the future. Slow fashion and sustainability in clothing have become much more popular, and these phenomenal designers are striving diligently to make it a success. With the growing preference for sustainable and recycled materials, fashion week is the ideal time to highlight the efforts being made to incorporate these trends.
Instead of encouraging consumers to buy more, the focus here is on attempting to create clothing that can endorse keeping clothes long-lasting. New and upcoming designers have indicated that they prefer products and materials produced by local suppliers, as supporting small businesses has become a major focus in the way people shop. There are a few changes that need to be made now that it is becoming more important to save money on clothing purchases.
Cheng, a new designer, has cut costs on her products. She is able to keep prices low by using fruit and flower jewelry, which keeps prices under $50. As the market develops, we should see more hemp, organic cotton, natural materials obtained from nature, and recycled textiles that are less environmentally unfriendly.
Emma Gage debuted her own brand, Melke, at this year's Fashion Week, with a focus on sustainability. For the first time on the New York Fashion Week calendar featuring her label, Dauphinette (known for its jewelry and outfits made from real flowers). "I'm working on building items that last," Gage has stated.
As usual, New York Fashion Week showcased a diverse range of artistic abilities, fromupcoming designers to inspiring, controversial shows. The designers who took part did not hold back, and as a result, it has gifted us with yet another group of forward-thinking brands that support the art of Sustainability.
In recent years, we have found the fashion industry to account for 10% of the world's annual CO2 emissions, around 20% of the world's wastewater comes from dyeing and finishing fabrics. Consumers are demanding more from the industry, and brands are finally undergoing major changes.
There's still a long way to go, but let's see what changes will make the fashion industry more sustainable by 2022.
These are the biggest trends sustainable for the new year
One of the biggest problems in the fashion industry is the method of disposing of old clothes. Fast-fashion companies' rapidly changing collections and the inferior quality of their mouths have made disposable fashion in recent decades. In addition, our consumption pattern has almost doubled since 2000. The fashion industry is now responsible for approximately 40 million tons of textile waste each year.
It is therefore natural that recyclable textiles represent an important trend for sustainable fashion. After all, products made from biodegradable Materialdeveloped with recycling in mind can help limit the extraction of raw materials and reduce textile waste. In the long run, recyclable textiles can turn the fashion industry into a circular economy, making it much more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Another trend against new purchases of clothing and disposable clothing is clothing rental and sharing. In recent years, more and more startups, apps, and platforms have emerged to help consumers change and rent clothes. Just like in the library, you can rent clothes for a limited time instead of buying new ones.
This system definitely makes sense for special occasions. And based on demand and hype, it definitely is with us for the next few years. However, the clothing rental system is as cyclical as it looks, climate-friendly, and unsustainable.
Another way to prevent the overproduction of clothing is to produce the next fashion item on demand rather than mass-producing it in advance. Many sustainable labels are now collecting pre-orders over a period and producing the exact quantity on-demand to avoid unnecessary fiber waste. Logically, manufacturing a product in small batches increases manufacturing costs. Therefore, consumers should wait a little longer and pay for this take hold. After all, in such a fast-moving world, we no longer have to wait for our products. But is not that what slow fashion is all About?
This trend is at this point a niche, and harder to deliver at scale (i.e. for large fashion brands). Nevertheless, fashion on demand is a trend that will increase in prominence in 2022 and in the years to come.
Speaking of production, it's not just "how" but also "place". Ethical fashion should be both ecological and fair trade. Local manufacturing in fair-trade facilities not only ensures ethical working conditions but also minimizes transportation and associated CO2 emissions. Because of the pandemic, global production shutdowns, and the logistical problems that come with it, local manufacturing has taken on whole new importance. Therefore, we believe that sustainable fashion trends and local production will go hand in hand in the future.
There are many sustainable fashion trends, but virtual fashion is certainly one of the most interesting technologies to make the fashion industry more sustainable. Despite the energy required, the production and use of virtual clothing are still much more environmentally friendly than the production of clothing that requires raw materials, energy, water, dyes, and CO2. And there is no textile waste in virtual mode. It's an interesting trend that is sure to shape our lives beyond fashion.
While it will take time to undo the negative effects of unsustainable practices, there is a firm commitment to progress throughout the fashion industry and fresh approaches are being implemented quickly.
As consumers become more and more interested in green sourcing and second-hand shopping, retailers can make positive changes while pleasing their customers. The future of fashion is sustainable and profitable as retailers listen to consumer trends and strategically respond to market intelligence.
