Fashion & Retail News
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Monday, 28 September 2020Walmart aims for zero emissions by 2040
BENTONVILLE - Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is targeting zero emissions across the company’s global operations by 2040 without the use of carbon offsetting. Walmart, together with its charitable arm, the Walmart Foundation, is also… -
Monday, 28 September 2020Allbirds closes US$100 million funding round
SAN FRANCISCO - Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds has announced the successful completion of a US$100 million funding round which it described as a vote of confidence in its strength in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by global investment… -
Monday, 28 September 2020Labour Behind the Label welcomes Boohoo report
LEICESTER - Labour Behind the Label has welcomed the publication of an independent inquiry into Boohoo’s Leicester supply chain as a "damning indictment" of the fast fashion retailer's practices, culture and failings. And the charity urged the UK… -
Monday, 28 September 2020M&S reintroduces Shwopping scheme
LONDON – Marks & Spencer will bring back its Shwopping scheme later this week, encouraging consumers to donate their unwanted garments. The service, which was ditched only six months ago before the company U-turned on the decision, will benefit the… -
Monday, 28 September 2020ASOS launches first circular clothing collection
LONDON – Fashion retailer ASOS has launched its first circular collection of garments and accessories, all of which have been made to comply with eight pre-defined design principles. The collection demonstrates the company’s commitment to a circular… -
Friday, 25 September 2020Chanel issues its first Sustainability Bond
LONDON – Luxury fashion brand Chanel has raised US$700 million for the issue of its first Sustainability Bond. The company’s is different to that of the likes of Burberry – which recently issued its own US$300 million bond – in that it will include… -
Friday, 25 September 2020Asics joins RE100 environmental initiative
KOBE – Sportswear brand Asics is the latest to join the global environmental initiative RE100, as it commits to using only renewable energy across its entire business operations by 2050. Asics joins the likes of Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Chanel and… -
Thursday, 24 September 2020Bestseller, Spinnova forge new partnership
HELSINKI – Finnish fibre innovator Spinnova will embark on a “long-term sustainability journey” with Bestseller, as the pair announce a new partnership which will see the fashion brand look to integrate Spinnova’s patented method of producing… -
Wednesday, 23 September 2020Amazon spotlights sustainability with new global initiative
SEATTLE – E-commerce giant Amazon has today unveiled Climate Pledge Friendly, a new programme which promises to spotlight more sustainable product alternatives on the company’s online marketplace. Through this initiative, Amazon will initially… -
Tuesday, 22 September 2020Remake initiative looks ahead to broader industry action
SAN FRANCISCO – Workers’ rights organisation Remake has outlined an ambitious new initiative which expands on the success of its #PayUp campaign – which has to date forced U-turns on retracted payments to the tune of US$22bn globally – and urges… -
Tuesday, 22 September 2020Lee Jeans spotlights sustainability with Selfridges’ pop-up
LONDON – Lee Jeans has partnered with department store Selfridges to launch a pop-up store selling garments produced using recycled and organic materials, and the firm’s water-free Crystal Clear dyeing process. Called ‘Lee’s For a World That Works… -
Monday, 21 September 2020Tech duo back blockchain’s potential in fashion
LONDON – Blockchain technology provider Everledger has partnered with tech firm and IoT (Internet of Things) specialist Temera to provide greater product transparency within the fashion industry. Using NFC chips by Temera and Everledger’s… -
Monday, 21 September 2020Zalando launches pre-owned fashion service
BERLIN – European fashion platform Zalando has launched a new pre-owned clothing service in Germany and Spain, through which users can return their unwanted garments to be resold via its online marketplace. The concept is all in aid of enabling a… -
Friday, 18 September 2020Salomon to launch fully recyclable running shoe
ANNECY - French sportswear brand Salomon has announced that it has developed a fully recyclable performance road running shoe, the Index.01, which will go on sale next spring. The Index.01, the company’s first shoe that is designed to be… -
Friday, 18 September 2020Oxfam partners with Depop for #SecondhandSeptember
LONDON – British charity Oxfam has partnered with e-commerce platform Depop as it looks to draw attention to its #SecondhandSeptember campaign, which challenges consumers to refrain from purchasing brand-new stock for the entire month. On Oxfam’s… -
Friday, 18 September 2020H&M cuts ties with supplier over forced labour
STOCKHOLM - Swedish fashion brand H&M is ending its relationship with a Chinese yarn producer over concerns about the use of forced labour by Uyghur prisoners in the country's Xinjiang region. The company had already pulled out of Xinjiang where up… -
Thursday, 17 September 2020Uniqlo set to launch recycled down jackets
TOKYO - Retailer Uniqlo is to launch a new initiative that involves producing and selling new garments made with recycled clothes collected from customers who no longer need them. Called Re.Uniqlo, the programme will be launched in Japan on 2nd… -
Wednesday, 16 September 2020H&M, IKEA back call for 55% EU emissions cut
BRUSSELS - More than 150 businesses - including H&M and IKEA - are calling on the European Union (EU) to commit to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. The European Corporate Leaders Group (CLG Europe), a… -
Wednesday, 16 September 2020Sustainable fashion app expands across UK and Ireland
LONDON - Sustainable fashion app Nuw is to expand its services across the UK and Ireland after previously being available in only London, Dublin and Cambridge. The app, which allows its users to borrow and swap clothes in their area for a… -
Wednesday, 16 September 2020Burberry confirms details of sustainable bond
LONDON - Luxury fashion brand Burberry has revealed that it is aiming to raise £300 million (US$390m) in funding through the issue of its first Sustainability Bond. The five-year bond, the first of its kind by a luxury fashion brand, will be used to… -
Wednesday, 16 September 2020Outerknown vows to eliminate plastic packaging
CALIFORNIA – US apparel brand Outerknown has vowed to eliminate plastic polybags from its operations, and says all its suppliers will switch to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified tissue bags by the end of next year. To achieve this, the… -
Wednesday, 16 September 2020Sportswear brand On launches subscription service
GENEVA – Swiss sportswear brand On has launched a new apparel subscription service which will enable consumers to stay ahead of new releases whilst also enabling a circular economy. Through this service, called Cyclon, users will pay £25 a month for… -
Tuesday, 15 September 2020Playbook tackles fashion's impact on climate
WASHINGTON – The Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action has today launched a new ‘playbook’ to enable actors in the fashion supply chain to identify what climate actions to take and which initiatives could support them on the road to… -
Tuesday, 15 September 2020XR activists seek funding for fashion initiative
LONDON - Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists have launched a crowdfunding campaign to set up a new initiative - Fashion Act Now - tasked with making sure the fashion industy works fast enough to mitigate climate change. In an online plea for… -
Tuesday, 15 September 2020MPs urge government to help fix fashion
LONDON - Cross-party MPs are calling on the British government to help fix fashion by doing more to support the development of more sustainable fabrics, boost textile recycling and help to bring back manufacturing jobs to the UK. Those are the key… -
Monday, 14 September 2020IKEA to open its first secondhand store
LEIDEN - Swedish homeware giant IKEA is to open its first secondhand store later this year as part of the company's bid to be fully circular by the year 2030. The store, a test project which will be closely monitored, will open in ReTuna, the… -
Monday, 14 September 2020Fashion rental platform integrates carbon tracker
LONDON – Fashion rental service Hurr Collective has integrated a real-time carbon footprint tracker into its platform which will provide users with insight into the emissions savings their actions will make by opting not to purchase brand-new items.… -
Monday, 14 September 2020Fashion 'blind to water pollution impact'
LONDON - The fashion and textiles industry is largely blind to water pollution with only one in ten companies aware of the risks across their own supply chains, according to new research. The report, 'Interwoven Risks, Untapped Opportunities' by… -
Friday, 11 September 2020Primark launches A Better Future campaign
DUBLIN - Fast fashion retailer Primark has this week launched a new campaign, Time for Change: A Better Future, which it says is aimed at making sustainable fashion more affordable. It includes significant increases in the number of products made… -
Thursday, 10 September 2020Solo New York wins sustainability award
NEW YORK - Sustainable bag brand Solo New York has won the Business Intelligence Group's 2020 Sustainability Initiative of the Year award. The brand's Re:cycled Collection was recognised for its innovative use of recycled materials and broader… -
Thursday, 10 September 2020H&M backs biodiversity research with investment
BONN – Fashion brand H&M has announced a new four-year financial contribution to The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which will support a new project at the organisation looking at the impact and dependence… -
Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Burberry to launch 'first sustainability bond'
LONDON - Burberry has announced plans to become the first luxury brand to issue a sustainability bond to fund social and environmental improvements. The proceeds will be used to finance eligible projects listed under Burberry’s new Sustainability… -
Wednesday, 09 September 2020Startup’s rental platform set to launch in US
NEW YORK – Clothing rental startup Wardrobe will soon launch in the US following a successful beta phase which it started in November of last year. With a peer-to-peer business model, Wardrobe enables users to list their own items whilst browsing… -
Tuesday, 08 September 2020Monki brand launches upcycled capsule collection
STOCKHOLM – Monki, a brand of H&M, has announced the launch of a new upcycled capsule denim collection which makes use of pre-consumer waste. The Swedish fashion firm says the three items created, a jacket, pair of denim jeans and tote bag, make use… -
Tuesday, 08 September 2020H&M knuckles down with plastics project
JAKARTA – Fashion brand H&M, in partnership with bottled water company Danone-Aqua, has vowed to step up the work of its Bottle2Fashion initiative with the launch of a new children’s clothing range made from plastics intercepted on the coasts of… -
Tuesday, 08 September 2020Hong Kong welcomes ‘Sustainable September’ initiative
HONG KONG – Fashion resale platform Vestiaire Collective is spearheading a new ‘Sustainable September’ campaign in Hong Kong, which encourages consumers to opt for second-hand clothes only this month. In a similar vein to Oxfam’s… -
Tuesday, 08 September 2020Consumer survey highlights sustainability perceptions
JYVÄSKYLÄ – Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland have surveyed more than 1,500 consumers across the country, as well as in the USA, France, Germany and Sweden, to assess their perceptions of sustainability in textiles and clothing.… -
Monday, 07 September 2020Green Carpet Fashion Awards go digital
MILAN - The Green Carpet Fashion Awards - which recognise industry moves towards sustainability - are going digital this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The event, normally held at La Scala theatre in Milan, will this year be a fusion of… -
Monday, 07 September 2020UK project vies to create circular sportswear
MIDDLESBOROUGH – UK sportswear brand Presca says it hopes to revolutionise the market as it kick-starts a project which will vie to create fully circular performance apparel. Having secured funding, Presca, along with Poseidon Plastics and a team at… -
Friday, 04 September 2020Adidas makes eco-versions of classic trainers
HERZOGENAURACH - Sportswear brand Adidas has redesigned some of its most iconic trainers for a new range, which it calls Clean Classics, designed to reduce the company's impact on the environment. The vegan trainers aim to minimalise plastic waste… -
Friday, 04 September 20202020 Redress Design Award winners revealed
HONG KONG - Environmental charity Redress has announced the winners of the 2020 Redress Design Award which is billed as the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition. Grand final winners of the competition, which was held online this… -
Thursday, 03 September 2020
IKEA owner to invest in tackling climate change
LEIDEN - IKEA owner, the Ingka Group, is to invest €600 million (US$710m) in sustainability measures including a 'zero fossil fuel' approach to help IKEA achieve its ambition of becoming climate positive by 2030. The money will be spent over the… -
Thursday, 03 September 2020Oxfam reignites #SecondhandSeptember with Selfridges pop-up
LONDON – British charity Oxfam has announced that it will establish a new second-hand fashion pop-up in the London store of clothing retailer Selfridges. The pop-up will be there for just four weeks and coincides with Oxfam’s #SecondhandSeptember… -
Thursday, 03 September 2020Vivobarefoot attains B Corp status
LONDON – UK footwear brand Vivobarefoot has attained B Corp status, but says with this recognition it won’t rest on its laurels, instead vowing to become regenerative, not just sustainable. Certified B Corp companies are scored based on assessments… -
Wednesday, 02 September 2020Ebay data shows surge in second-hand fashion buys
CALIFORNIA – Online marketplace Ebay has released new data which highlights an exponential increase in consumer appetite for second-hand fashion. According to its insight, as of June more than 12 million people had bought a pre-owned fashion item… -
Wednesday, 02 September 2020Icebreaker to be plastic free by 2023
AUCKLAND - VF Corporation-owned outdoor clothing brand Icebreaker has commited to eradicate synthetics from its entire collection within three years to go plastic free by 2023. Icebreaker carried out a full audit of its supply chain, leading to the… -
Wednesday, 02 September 2020Timberland targets circularity, net positivity by 2030
STRATHAM – Fashion brand Timberland has outlined the bold new environmental target of becoming carbon negative by 2030. The US firm says a two-pronged approach will be adopted to achieve this, with efforts focusing on making all products 100 per… -
Tuesday, 01 September 2020Tommy Hilfiger outlines 2030 targets
AMSTERDAM – Fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger has outlined a number of new environmental and social sustainability targets for the next decade which address circularity, resource consumption, inclusivity and community wellbeing. With a strategy named… -
Tuesday, 01 September 2020New Fashion Conveners coalition to drive industry forward
GLOBAL – A new coalition headed up by leading organisations across the fashion and textile industries has been created in a bid to align agendas, drive improvements on the sustainability front and to reduce duplication of effort. Called the ‘Fashion… -
Friday, 28 August 2020
Criticisms mount against Boohoo inquiry
LEICESTER - The Labour Behind the Label initiative has added its voice to criticism of Boohoo's QC-led inquiry into allegations of workers' rights abuses in its UK supply chain. It comes after the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) refused to give…
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