What every CEO in Fashion needs to prioritise now.

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” with that words ends Marieke Eyskoot her book “This is a good guide”, and she’s right. If we all change our consumption behaviour a little bit, then we can change the fashion industry together as a team. 

To do this, we should buy fewer clothes, take care of our existing garments and if we need to buy something new, always choose sustainable alternatives. So it's pretty clear what our tasks are as a society, but what are the tasks for the people who actually have something to say in the fashion industry? What needs to be changed by the CEOs of the fashion industry for a real Fashion Revolution? 

The Fashion CEO Agenda 2021, recently published by Global Fashion Agenda, gives us an answer to these questions. It’s a guide for Fashion CEOs that seeks to frame the conversation about sustainability and encourages fashion industry leaders to take action. The decisions made by fashion CEOs over the next few years will determine which path the fashion industry will take in terms of sustainability. The whole agenda is discussed in the light of COVID-19. The pandemic has made it more important than ever for companies to address health risks and fair wages along the entire value chain. 

“When picturing a post-pandemic fashion industry, it is not built from scratch but inspired by existing tools and technologies that will move from ideation to reality and from pilots to wide-scale adoption”

Respectful and secure work environments

The Corona pandemic in particular has made it clear that it is mandatory for companies to fulfil existing obligations. At the same time, they must support their supplier. Currently, only 20-30% of fashion companies support the financial situation of their suppliers. Together with workers' representatives, local associations and NGOs it must be worked on the progress of human and labour rights. That is the only way to ensure that the voices of all workers are heard in the future. Transparency plays a crucial role in this process to build a basis of trust that enables the exchange of information. You can check Remake to see how transparent fashion brands are now. 

Better wage systems 

Brands must support the improvement of wages and working conditions of their suppliers. This is the only way to create a better working environment. In response to the pandemic, fashion industry CEOs need to support and expand wage and social protection systems during lockdowns. Companies must ensure that everyone in the entire supply chain receives fair wages. However, government action is also needed, as it can create the right conditions for this to happen. 

Circular systems

When manufacturing new clothing, it is important to ensure that it is designed for durability and later recycling. At the same time, the percentage of recycled fibres in products must be increased. The fashion industry should establish functioning infrastructures for the collection of old clothes and encourage consumers to participate in circular initiatives. Especially in view of COVID-19, ways must be found to qualify garment workers for recycling processes or to expand capacity in upcycling facilities, as there have rarely been so many unsold textiles as in times of the pandemic. Brands need to conduct a thorough analysis of their deadstock, overstock and inventory to identify possible solutions. For a circular economy to be fully integrated into the fashion industry, collaboration with policymakers is also necessary. 

Efficient use of resources 

Industry representatives need to start identifying and tracking water and energy consumption and chemical pollution throughout the entire supply chain. That’s the only way to emerge industry baselines and to identify hotspots of pollution. Companies need to replace the use of toxic chemicals with less harmful alternatives. In particular, the investment and implementation of sustainable water management is a crucial step to mitigate water scarcity, protect biodiversity and provide safe drinking water in manufacturing countries. In addition, fashion industry representatives need to drive innovations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Low-carbon and nature-based solutions must be expanded now. 

Smart material choices

Most of the garments currently produced are made of elastane, polyester or viscose. This mix of materials needs to be switched to materials with a lower environmental impact. Overall, brands that rely on natural fibres need to focus on regenerative agricultural practices. 

As you can see, both the fashion industry and we as consumers have a lot of work to do. But one thing is certain: we need to start transforming the entire industry NOW.

How does Kleiderly contribute?

With Kleiderly we have developed an award-winning material that replaces oil-based plastics and protects clothes from going to landfill at the same time. By doing so we can save up to 85% of CO2 emissions. We locally produce our products in Italy so keep the supply chain local and as sustainable as possible. 

Source: 

https://ceo.globalfashionagenda.com/