The Round Up is ZERRIN’s weekly sustainable fashion and beauty news segment, keeping you up to date on all the latest news worldwide. From green moves from some of the industries big international players and exciting updates from emerging labels to tech innovations in the sustainability sphere, you can read about it all in our weekly update.
Image Credit: Reuters
This week: Will Meghan Markle’s new workwear collection be sustainable? + we’ve found your next conscious fashion read, Singapore’s Textile and Fashion Federation programme launch their long-awaited incubator programme and more…
1. Adding to our must-read books on sustainable fashion, Elizabeth L. Cline, author of well-respected title Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, has just released her second book The Conscious Closet.
Her first publication spoke about fashion’s hidden toll on the environment, garment workers and more. In her second work, she was inspired by her own journey quitting fast-fashion. Above all, she shares how to go about building a more ethical wardrobe. Learn how to truly love and understand your clothes again, without compromising on style, morals or the environment.
Order your copy here from 20 August (or why not be ultra eco-friendly and download the kindle e-version?)
2. Should fashion weeks be cancelled? In yet another bold move, environmental activism group Extinction Rebellion has called for a shutdown of London Fashion Week through a letter to the British Fashion Council.
Here’s an excerpt:
“In recognition of the existential threat that faces us, we ask the British Fashion Council to be the leaders the world needs now and to cancel London Fashion Week. We ask that instead the industry convene a People’s Assembly of industry professionals and designers as a platform to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency, to face the truth and to take action following in the footsteps of The Tate and Culture Declares.”
London Fashion Week still seems to be moving ahead (albeit with an additional exhibition, Positive Fashion, which will highlight emerging sustainable designers). However, this move has clearly emphasised the need to turn the traditional fashion week model into something more meaningful.
Here’s what journalist Lucy Siegle says on the matter.
3. Simple, one of the UK’s top-selling skincare brands will use recycled packaging for all of their products moving forward.
This follows on from their move to create Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes that will break down within 42 days if composted (a big move, considering they’re some of the most popular on the market). Moreover, Simple shifts around nine million bottles of product each year. So this shows how important this step is for such a large international beauty brand.
4. Singapore’s Textile and Fashion Federation (known as TaFF, for short) has just launched the first edition of TBFI, The Bridge Fashion Incubator!
TBFI is South-East Asia’s first incubator bridging the gap between fashion, technology and sustainability. They’ve just taken on and announced their first cohort of brands. The 30-week programme identifies and grooms early-stage fashion brands and tech startups. As a result, bringing these businesses closer to market and investor readiness.
Stay up to date with all the happenings on Facebook.
5. Meghan Markle launches new ‘workwear collection’ with Marks & Spencer.
After guest editing the September issue of British Vogue — an issue profiling individuals that are a force for change, inclusivity and sustainability — HRH the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has announced she will be launching a new ‘workwear collection’ with Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Jigsaw. Subsequently, the collections will partner with Smart Works, a charity which provides training and interview clothes for women re-entering the workforce. Our question: will the new collection be ethical? Will it embody sustainability? We hope so. We’re waiting for further updates to be announced!
6. Banana Republic has just announced their own clothing rental service.
The company is now following in the footsteps of Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales, Rent the Runway (and in Singapore, our players like Covetella, Rentadella and StyleTheory). Banana Republic, owned by Gap Inc. has closed a number of stores over the last few years, to launch the new service – Style Passport, in September. For $85 a month, customers will be able to rent up to three garments at a time. The fee also includes priority shipping, unlimited exchanges and dry cleaning. Have you jumped on the fashion rental train?
