Alexander Perry’s Post

Great insights! As a supplier, I see this challenge from a different angle. Many clients demand the use of sustainable fabrics, the reality is that these often require a series of tests and certifications that drive up costs. Interestingly, products made from sustainable materials like recycled cotton or RPET don’t always feel significantly different from those made with regular materials, which can make it difficult for consumers to perceive the added value. I believe that while there is a niche of environmentally conscious consumers willing to pay more, the real key lies in adding value on top of sustainability. Whether it's health benefits, durability, or innovative design, combining these aspects with sustainability can help justify the higher price point and resonate more with a broader audience.

🤔 What can fashion brands (and brands in general) learn from Coach's sustainability initiatives? Over the years Coach has launched multiple sustainability initiatives such as Coachtopia and (Re)Loved. When (Re)Loved launched a few years ago, Coach described it as a groundbreaking initiative to push the fashion industry towards a circular economy. (Re)Loved promised innovation, crafting products from recycled materials, and designing them to be reused or recycled. It was a bold move that garnered attention and applause from sustainability advocates. But let’s not forget what came to light shortly after...... 🌿 Environmental activist Anna Sacks, also known as Trash Walker on TikTok, exposed a different side of Coach. She revealed that the brand was slashing unsold or returned handbags (like many other designer brands) to prevent them from reaching the second-hand market. This practice, aimed at maintaining the exclusivity of their products, stands in stark contrast to their public commitment to sustainability. This brings us to an important conversation about greenwashing. While brands like Coach appear to be taking significant steps toward sustainability, it’s crucial for us, as consumers, to remain vigilant. The good news? ✔ Consumers today are more aware and informed than ever before. It's increasingly difficult for brands to disguise unsustainable practices through clever marketing. 🔎 Transparency is essential, and holding brands accountable is a collective effort. 🌎 For those in the fashion industry, it’s vital to stay informed and critical of such practices. Supporting brands that genuinely commit to sustainability and calling out those that don’t is how we drive real change. What are your thoughts on this? How can we better hold brands accountable and ensure they stick to their sustainability commitments? Share your insights in the comments  👇

It is great to see that brands that see #ESG and #CSDDD as an opportunity rather than a burden can gain significant competitive advantage through transparency, traceability and sustainability throughout the supply chain. Combined with high quality products, great marketing and CX, this is a winning formula. Levent Ergin Vita Berneburg #data #datamanagement

Sustainability seems to be a profitable venture! 💰 A recent study by BCG highlights that embracing sustainable raw materials could boost fashion brands' net profits by an average of 6%. Yet, the race against time is on, with the demand for these eco-friendly materials projected to exceed supply by 2030 ⏳. Brands must innovate and act to secure a greener future. 🌍 What strategies do you think fashion brands could adopt to meet this challenge? 💡 #sustainability #profitablegrowth #rawmaterials #ecofriendlychoices #fashionindustry

Are the wealthy less likely to spend on sustainable fashion? According to a recent study, the answer is yes. Despite the growing demand for sustainable products, the wealthy are still not investing in eco-friendly fashion items. This is concerning, especially since the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. #sustainability #netzero #brands #fashion

Sustainable Brands to Watch in 2023: Leading the Way Towards a Greener Future Discover the top sustainable brands making waves in 2023. From fashion to home goods, these companies prioritize eco-friendliness and ethical practices, paving the way for a greener future. read more : https://lnkd.in/d_mmw57V

Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, there is pressure to find greener clothes for your wardrobe, from work blazers to smart casual hoodies. Unfortunately, fashion greenwashing makes it harder for you and all other consumers to figure out which clothing brands offer the most eco-friendly garments. So, we had to ask: Which are the most sustainable hoodie brands? 👇 https://lnkd.in/gST6M-zM Happy Earth Apparel, PANGAIA, Patagonia, tentree, Colorful Standard, Girlfriend Collective, Paka Apparel, Pact, Threads 4 Thought #sustainableliving #hoodie #hodiebrands #ecofriendlyfashion #sustainableclothing

Mara Hoffman is closing her award-winning sustainable brand because of overproduction. This is what her story tells us about the fashion industry: ✂️ Renowned designer Mara Hoffman set high ethical standards for her brand, earning her the 2023 CFDA Environmental Sustainability Award. Still, in an interview with Vogue, she now announced that she’s closing the brand. Why? She realized that running a sustainable yet financially prosperous brand in 2024 is not fully possible. One aspect is the high costs of using sustainable materials, but an even greater problem is overproduction. Brands are globally producing between 15-45 billion unsold clothes every year. 🛍 The overproduction problem is directly linked to the core structure of the fashion market. The competition is so fierce that to grow, you have to be present everywhere, and growing revenue means increasing volumes. This inherently increases overproduction, as accurately predicting demand in an industry with constantly changing trends is not possible. So, where does this leave brands? ♻️ Eliminating overproduction is impossible as of today, which is why the industry has to wake up and take responsibility for sustainably managing the overstock that is left. There are multiple available channels, but brands need the right tools to make better use of them. 💙 This is why FINDS has set out to help brands make the most out of every unsold product. We are the solution that connects and speeds up the trading process of overstock with circular actors like off-price retailers, charities, and recyclers. Contact us through our website for more information.

I am sad to learn that Mara Hoffman, a designer I deeply admire and a sustainable role model, is closing her namesake label due to issues with overproduction. While her transparency is commendable, and she rightly highlights the sustainability challenge of over-production, striving to avoid creating unsold stock isn't a complete solution. As evidenced by made-to-order companies that still end up with overstock, it's clear that overproduction is an inherent issue in the fashion industry, one that has persisted since ready-to-wear evolved. Instead of searching for elusive solutions to completely eliminate overstock, we need to confront this reality head-on and develop new circular strategies to retain the value of these products. At FINDS, our mission is to bridge the gap between excess stock and innovative circular solutions that can effectively reduce overstock to zero.

How can we make fashion more sustainable? Along with policy, such as the new bill passed in France to tackle fast fashion, we can also look to innovation and new ideas in the private sector. At ChangeNOW 2024 we heard solutions from companies such as Ananas Anam Ltd, PEFtrust® , United Repair Centre, @iroony-materials and @ravel. What do these companies do and how do they reduce the environmental impact of the clothing industry? Ananas Anam Ltd makes clothing out of pineapple leaves, which reduces the need of fossil-based products such as polyester. It can also be used in a number of ways, for example to make 100% plant based leather. Furthermore, the pineapple leaf production gives farmers an extra source of income for a product (pineapples) they are already cultivating! So far they have worked with H&M, Nike, Carolina Herrera, and many more for capsule collections. PEFtrust® measures the environmental footprint of a piece of clothing. As you can't reduce what you can't measure, ensuring traceability and measurability of products is essential for the customer, as demand for sustainable products grow. Furthermore, for the producer, who may be trying to reduce their footprint to respond to these demands. United Repair Centre is working the B2B sector of the garment industry in extending the lifecycle of clothing. By working with refugees, they have come up with high tech repair solutions, working with organisations such as Patagonia, Decathlon and The North Face. Afsaneh Angelina Rafii