Incorrect information on garments: 41% of labels are misleading
In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable fashion, transparency stands as a fundamental pillar for both brands and consumers. Textile labels are meant to be a beacon of truth — yet some studies expose a very different reality: a large share of garments on the market carry misleading or incorrect information about their material composition. Incorrect labeling undermines the integrity of the fashion industry. The Dutch Study: 41% of Labels Are Wrong A study conducted in the Netherlands* on more than 10,000 garments revealed alarming statistics: labels were inaccurate in 41% of cases. Most of the sample consisted of post-consumer, non-reusable clothing items discarded by consumers and delivered to a textile…
Fashion and sustainability regulations: risks, sanctions and opportunities
It is not enough to create products in a greener and more ethical way. There are other steps needed in fashion and textiles to gain people’s trust, show commitment to sustainability and avoid sanctions and fines. In view of the new regulations, we discuss this with lawyers Camilla Gentile and Isabella Carantani of the law firm Close to Ius, with whom we are organizing a dedicated workshop: Sostenibilità e Normative Tessili. Isabella supports companies in adopting targeted legal solutions for the ethical and transparent management of business practices, specializing in industrial property, environmental and social sustainability and transparent communication. Camilla focuses on legal advice in the area of sustainability and…
India and fashion: what point is sustainability at?
When we think of India, we imagine traditions, colors and craftsmanship, but do we connect it with sustainability? What if this is where one of the keys to a greener future in fashion lies? In this episode, we discover the lesser-known side of a country that might surprise us about India’s contributions to the spread of more sustainable fashion. We talk to Sulakshana Chemudupati, our collaborator at Dress ECOde as a sustainable fashion consultant. She has worked for 15 years in the fashion retail industry as a design professional with successful mainstream brands in India and the UAE. We completed an MBA in sustainability management together, that’s where we met.…
Tackling Textile Waste in Europe – Germany, France and Italy under the loop
Textile waste has become an increasingly urgent environmental issue in Europe and globally, fuelled by the rise of (ultra) fast fashion and the increasing volumes of discarded clothing. The European Union faces a significant challenge, with approximately 6.95 million tonnes of textile waste generated in 2020 — averaging around 16 kg per person. Of this, only 4.4 kg per person was collected separately for reuse and recycling, while 11.6 kg per person ended up in mixed household waste. On average, a whopping 82% of textile waste was post-consumer waste, household and non-household sources combined, followed by an additional post-industrial waste (17%) and pre-consumer waste, accounting for 1% (European Environment Agency,…
After Mylo, the “leather” from mycelium, also Circulose, the textile fiber from recycled cotton, stops
Last year, the company Bolt Threads decided to put Mylo, an innovative “leather” from mycelium, on hold, despite the support of large brands such as Adidas, Kering and Stella McCartney. A couple of weeks ago, Renewcell, the renowned manufacturer of Circulose, had to file for bankruptcy despite significant support and partnerships gained in the industry. The pause of Bolt Threads and the failure of Renewcell, two major players in sustainable fashion, raise questions about the fashion industry’s effectiveness in supporting innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact. Renewcell Renewcell is a Swedish company known for its technology that recycles cotton T-shirts and jeans destined for landfill into a new material, Circulose,…
Anne-Laure: How to be (im)perfectly green mothers with a dress ECOde
You can be (im)perfectly green mothers with a dress ECOde, as Anne-Laure tells us. This time we’re on home ground: after Anne-Laure, who is part of Dress ECOde, announced the arrival of a little creature to me, I kept repeating: “Why don’t you tell what you’re doing now that you’re a mother?”. Because the commitment must be shared, it can be useful for other mothers or mothers-to-be who try to be greener. Thus this interview was born. We also interviewed Elisa in the past about how to be mothers committed to sustainability. Now it’s our Anne’s (and her baby’s) turn. It’s also a way to celebrate Sasha’s arrival: welcome baby!…
The upcycling fashion show under the stars of Frasso Sabino
With the upcycling of the most diverse materials, the ecological dresses walk the catwalk in Frasso Sabino (province of Rieti). An unmissable appointment. Every year the creativity of recycling designers shows how it is possible to look at what we would otherwise throw away as waste with different eyes. The clothes parade through the streets of the small village under a clear sky, among the tables arranged for the occasion. In the jury, we observe them one by one to evaluate the complexity of the realization, the recycling of materials, the originality, the creative commitment. In the meantime, a special dinner cooked in a pot and without meat is served.…
UE: “We want fast fashion out of fashion”
On 30 March 2022 the European Commission published the Sustainable and Circular Textiles Strategy, long awaited to lead the fashion industry towards sustainability by cleaning it from the dark sides. Textile consumption in Europe has the fourth largest impact on the environment and climate change, after food, shelter and mobility. The strategy implements the commitments made under the European Green Deal (#EUGreenDeal) and the new action plan for the circular economy. The EU thus begins to define end criteria for textile waste used not only as clothing, but also for household, cars, medical equipment, buildings and many other applications. The strategy aims to propose actions for the entire life cycle…
UE: “Vogliamo far uscire di moda il fast fashion”
Il 30 marzo 2022 la Commissione Europea ha reso pubblica la Strategia per il Tessile Sostenibile e Circolare, tanto attesa per condurre l’industria della moda verso la sostenibilità ripulendola dai lati oscuri. Puoi ascoltare qui l’articolo: Strategia Tessile EU Il consumo di tessili in Europa ha il quarto maggiore impatto sull’ambiente e sui cambiamenti climatici, dopo cibo, alloggio e mobilità. La strategia attua così gli impegni presi nell’ambito del Green Deal europeo (#EUGreenDeal) e del nuovo piano d’azione per l’economia circolare. L’UE inizia infatti a definire i criteri di fine vita dei rifiuti tessili utilizzati non solo come abbigliamento, ma anche per la casa, le automobili, le apparecchiature mediche, gli…
What are our clothes made of?
What fibers make up our garments? What are the clothes of Zara, Mango, H&M and other fast fashion brands made of? How much are the clothes we throw away actually reusable and recyclable? About 550 kg of clothes were analyzed in the first ever study on fibers thrown into textile collection containers. Developed by INTEXTER * of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)) and student Beatriz Rodríguez of ESEIAAT **, the study is included in the report Análisis de la recogida de la ropa usada en España (Analysis of the collection of used clothing in Spain)***. Analyzing the composition of the textile products in the bins through an innovative methodology,…
