- Legislation and Eco-Design Standards: The European Union is moving forward with eco-design legislation, including a ban on destroying unsold textiles, and setting requirements for durability and repairability of products. This legislation aims to increase circularity and reduce fashion waste, creating a more sustainable industry by ensuring items are made to last longer and are easier to reuse and recycle.
- On-Demand and Made-to-Order Fashion: As overproduction remains a significant issue, some brands are shifting towards on-demand fashion models. This approach, already adopted by brands like Unspun and Weekday, could reduce waste and only produce items when there is actual demand, helping tackle the surplus that contributes to fashion waste .
- Innovative Eco-Friendly Materials: New materials such as seaweed-based yarn (as used by Stella McCartney) and Kelsun alginate fabric made from seaweed are gaining traction. These materials offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fibers, reducing the need for pesticides and supporting marine sustainability .
- Recycling Technology Advancements: New developments in recycling blended fabrics aim to reduce landfill waste. For example, Circ’s technology, which recycles polycotton blends, has already been adopted by designer Mara Hoffman, pushing the industry towards more viable options for textile reuse .
These innovations are helping the fashion industry pivot toward a greener future by embracing legislative changes, reducing overproduction, and investing in sustainable materials and recycling technologies.
