The Major Milestones of Sustainability in Fashion

By Megan Dawson-Elli, Business Development Manager, THR3EFOLD

If you’re new on the sustainability scene you may find this idea of conscious fashion to be completely new, when in fact, momentum has been building for years. From the groovy hippies of the past to the Green Carpet Challenge at the Met Gala,  take a look at our cheat sheet for critical events that have shaped sustainable and ethical fashion.

1970’s- Sustainable fashion began with hippies focusing on locally grown and handmade clothing

1980’s- The rise of mass production and the beginning of ethical issues in supply chains

1989- The World Fair Trade Organization was created by over 70 countries

1991- Nike is criticized for poor working conditions in an Indonesian factory

1995- The World Trade Organization was formed

2007- Kate Fletcher coined the term “slow fashion”

2009- Livia Firth formed Eco Age, a sustainability solutions consultancy

October 1, 2009 - Beginning of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition

December 1, 2011 - Fair Trade USA launches first ethical fashion certification label

July 2011 - The Detox Campaign by Greenpeace begins

2011 - Ethical Fashion Forum launches SOURCE

January 1, 2012 - The California Transparency in Supply Chain Act is passed

April 12, 2012 - H&M launches Conscious Collection

July 2012 - The Materials Sustainability Index

July 2012 - The Higg Index is released by the SAC

April 24, 2013 - Rana Plaza factory collapses killing 1,129 garment workers

May 23, 2013 - GRI 4.0 is released

January 15, 2014 - San Francisco Zero Waste Textile Initiative

February 19, 2014 - Levi’s develops manufacturing for jeans with 100% recycled water

April 24, 2014 - Fashion Revolution Day begins

September 21, 2014 - Retailers agree to raise minimum wages in Cambodia

May 29, 2015 - The True Cost documentary is released

July 2016 - After seeing a great need in finding good factories, THR3EFOLD switches focus entirely to connecting brands with ethical factories around the world.

2016- The Green Carpet Challenge was a part of the Met Gala with Emma Watson, Margot Robbie and Lupita Nyong’o wearing sustainable looks

2017- Stella McCartney’s collection is photographed in a landfill to bring attention to waste and consumption

2018 - THR3EFOLD launches Deadstock District

Part of being able to move forward is knowing where we have came from. Be a part of sustainable fashion’s future. Sign up here to submit your fabric liability and join Deadstock District!