 Can building sustainability into your brand help you attract and retain top talent? Fashion has been hit hard by the pandemic. A double whammy of supply and labor shortages, exacerbated by a phenomenon known as ‘The Great Resignation’ definitely took their toll on the industry. Brands that survived these turbulent times have been successful at attracting and retaining top talent. But how have they done this? And what lessons can you draw upon to build a strong and committed team? Let's find out how sustainability plays a role...
 They say the devil is in the details. And this is particularly true with fashion. Creating a sustainable garment is more than just sourcing the right fabric, it also requires careful consideration of all the little details that make a garment functional and unique - zippers, buttons, snaps, elastic, lace, ribbon and sequins. These seemingly small details add up, and as such they are worthy of careful scrutiny. Let’s take a look at where the industry is at with sustainable trims...
 Imagine a world where you could instantly access the sustainability credentials of a garment. Where, with the quick scan of a QR code, you could know its fiber content, carbon footprint, water & chemical usage, and labor conditions under which it was made. And when you no longer wear it, you could instantly connect with markets to repair, rent, re-sell or recycle it. Imagine the impact this could have on the fashion industry. How this information could empower individuals to make responsible purchasing decisions. The way it could open up a whole new industry from garments that would otherwise be disposed of. Imagine how this could incentivize the industry to design for durability and sustainability. Well, this is not some far flung reality, it is here now. Digital Product Passports are a powerful new tool that have the potential to reshape our linear fashion model into something more sustainable, more circular. Let’s find out more about them…
 Choosing an ethical factory to partner with involves a lot of thought and research. Knowing what to look for and which questions to ask are important in establishing the ethical credentials of the factory and whether it is a good ‘fit’ for you. We reached out to Ellen Saville, one of our sustainability experts and co-founder of the fantastic deadstock knitwear brand - The Endery - for her thoughts on the matter. Ellen has a wealth of experience in this field having worked with Latin American artisans in the handmade textiles industry and launched sustainable productions for well known brands such as Nike, and Banana Republic. Let's find out what she had to say.
 With mounting pressure to show your green credentials it can be tempting to seek out sustainability certifications purely to satisfy consumer demand. But this is a band-aid approach to sustainability and does little to address the deeper issues at play. Like all things in life, if you are truly committed to sustainability you will need to work hard at it. Here are a 5 steps you may like to take prior to seeking out certifications to ensure that your brand is genuinely committed to sustainability.
 The recent explosion in material innovation is starting to bear fruit (pardon the pun) with the development of viable leather alternatives made from pineapples, apples, mushrooms and even prickly pear! In todays post we will take a look at 3 promising plant based leathers made by companies that are striving to use more of what mother nature gave them.
 Change is in the air. Momentum in the fashion industry is building. And for the first time since 1938 the status quo of the US garment industry is being challenged. As we speak, federal legislation is being debated that has the potential to regulate and revive the US domestic garment industry with the aim of making it a ‘global leader in responsible garment production’. It is called the FABRIC Act. Let’s find out more about it…
 What is Sedex’s SMETA certification? And how can your suppliers implement it to ensure that production processes within their factories are upholding workers rights? We have explored SA8000 and WRAP certifications in previous posts, today let’s take a look at SMETA.
 Sustainability is the new buzzword in fashion, and sourcing professionals are in a key role to drive sustainability. But what does sustainable sourcing look like? And how can it be built into your sourcing practices? Let’s take a closer look…
 Vegan leather = sustainable leather. Right? Well, not exactly. The term ‘vegan’ can be misleading. Better for animals…absolutely. But better for people and the environment? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. To help shed some light on this we reached out to Salma Merchant Rahmathulla - founder of a vegan leather accessories brand, The Essentials Story and Creative Director of Pelicans Group, one of Europe's largest design and manufacturing companies of customized items in leather and man-made materials. Here's what she had to say.
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