The fashion industry is at a pivotal juncture where it must significantly reduce its production and shift away from using virgin plastics like polyester to meet pressing climate goals. This is the key message from a new report by Textile Exchange, a trade group focusing on sustainable materials. In line with global climate commitments, fashion’s carbon footprint needs to be cut in half by 2030. Achieving this is contingent upon the industry’s willingness to decelerate and relinquish its reliance on new polyester production, which is deeply rooted in fossil fuels and has historically underpinned its growth. Implementing such a change would fundamentally disrupt the prevailing business strategy of the fashion…

Introduction: In the golden era of fashion from the 1920s to the 1950s, a saga unfolded between two designers who had completely opposed visions. Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli thrived in a fashion industry where they exhibited their ideologies, aesthetics, and personal vendettas through their work. Chanel focused on simplicity, adhering to the belief that “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” She aspired to liberate women from the constraints of corsets with simple, elegant dresses and to create fashion for the everyday woman. Schiaparelli, on the other hand, introduced the world to the surrealist movement that was gaining momentum in Paris. She introduced novel designs, such as…

The integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into the operations of luxury brands has seen a marked rise of late. Nevertheless, the authenticity of these initiatives is subject to scrutiny and has incited a lively discourse regarding their sufficiency. The question arises as to whom these sustainability efforts truly serve. Are luxury brands pursuing sustainability for the sake of consumers, to satisfy shareholder demands, to meet regulatory requirements, for the genuine benefit of the earth and its inhabitants, or for their own corporate agendas? This article highlights a few major factors driving the integration of sustainability in luxury conglomerate’s corporate strategy. I. Enhance brand image Research conducted by…

The largest lesson directed towards other brands and businesses is a new wave of pressure aimed towards businesses increasing the supervision of where their supply chain comes from. The issue at hand is that Zara and H&M believed they had done this through Better Cotton- the world’s largest sustainable cotton certifier. A 2-year Investigation, led by British NGO Earthsight, and titled “Fashion Crimes”, revealed that over 800,000 tons of cotton, used by the two fast-fashion brands in their merchandise, could be traced back to land in Brazil known for disregarding environmental regulations along with human rights violations. The specific area is called the Cerrado Region, and due to its less…

In the past years, it has been almost a requirement for luxury Houses to display good faith and interest in modern causes. Through an extensive involvement in non-lucrative activities, they have diversified their engagements to nurture projects that will help embellish our society. A new landscape of philanthropical foundations Towering the capital cities of fashion, foundations, show window of this evolution of the industry, have mushroomed in the last 20 years. Crafted by famous architects and curated by art connoisseurs, sometimes these connoisseurs being executive directors themselves, these centers of arts host regularly exhibitions and programs, giving place to new artists. From the famous ship of Frank Ghery in the…

After a year dominated by surrealism and mundane, now more and more brands are opting for campaigns that embrace reality and every-day life. Pics from Bottega Veneta “Readymade” campaign If you want to succeed you need to be different banal, as demonstrated by the most renowned fashion houses. Bottega Veneta’s Pre-Spring 2024 campaign, titled “Readymade,” celebrates the ordinary aspects of life. Released on December 5th, the campaign captures mundane moments featuring celebrities like top models and singers. These images depict them engaging in everyday activities such as grocery shopping, refueling their cars, sipping lattes, and going for a jog, all dressed in Bottega Veneta. Rather than resembling typical fashion photography,…

The surprising and somewhat unwelcome news always stirs emotion. Even as we acknowledge that every ending heralds a new beginning, it’s hard to detach from figures who subtly yet significantly influence the fashion narrative. Yet, not all stories start and end in the traditional sense; some exist in a perpetual now, radiating intense light that leaves no shadows, […] Always young, free, and full of dreams. It was this enduring present that Pierpaolo Piccioli reflected on in his Instagram announcement, gracefully bowing out from Maison Valentino. Truthfully, the news has sparked widespread reaction, from dedicated followers of the Italian house to those with a casual interest in fashion’s flux. This…

If you think about recent fashion trends, you will notice a general tendency of relying on past collections and styles: from y2k to coquette and e-girls, trends characterizing our recent sense of fashion are rooted in past codes and languages, readapted to the modern sensitivity of the 2020s. In the recent fashion landscape, it may be hard to find absolute novelty in the way we dress, but if you look closely you’ll find that one apparel category in particular has been defying conventions in recent years: bags and purses. While major luxury houses have been proposing re-editions of their most successful models (Prada’s Re-nylon bag, for instance, or Fendi’s revival…

Pangaia is an eco-friendly company characterized by the use of advanced technology to produce clothing. It was founded in 2018 and its name derives from the Ancient Greek, “Pan” meaning “all-inclusive”, and “Gaia” which stands for “mother earth”. The brand is a demonstration that sustainability and sales are not mutually exclusive, as Amanda Parkes, the chief innovation officer, said. In fact, in 2020, Pangaia reported $75 million in sales, and according to an analysis conducted by The Business of Fashion, the brand remained profitable. Pangaia is famous for producing innovative materials such as FLWRDWN which is made from wildflowers, substituting goose and duck feathers and synthetic down, and importantly, avoiding…

“I explored fashion and style as a way to stand out. In many ways, the tennis courts have become my catwalk”, said Serena Williams, honored as fashion icon by the Council Designers of America (CFDA) on the 6th of November 2023. This was the first time for an athlete. But why should one be surprised? For the multi-award-winning tennis player, fashion has always been a spontaneous manifestation of joy, starting as a child with ribbons and beads in her hair, all the way up to the launch of the S by Serena collection in 2018 The friendship with Virgil Abloh Started in 2018, following the criticism of the “catsuit” worn…