Fashion Industry Needs to Make Meaningful Change

By Innovation in TextilesFrom a performance standpoint, consumers nowadays are increasingly seeking out apparel with specific attributes for various uses, including softness and stretch in ready-to-wear, or moisture wicking and light weight in outdoor gear. But as consumers demand these products, the industry needs to shift towards producing them more sustainably.In November, the US government released a climate change report that details the possible negative impact that our environment will face in the next few decades. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which includes more than 1,300 scientists from the US and other countries, forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees F over the next century. According to the IPCC, the extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.The time is here for the fashion industry to make a meaningful change in how we source, produce and distribute apparel to consumers, according to Renee Henze, Marketing Director, DuPont Biomaterials and Sorona.The industry has been discussing circular models of production and sustainable processes for a few years now. Do you think much has been achieved in terms of lowering the environmental impact of textiles and fibres production in 2018?Renee Henze: While various organisations have taken steps towards reducing the environmental impact of apparel in 2018, to truly ignite meaningful change, the collective industry – from materials suppliers down to the consumers – needs to play a role in adopting a more circular model of fashion. Fortunately, in the past several years, we’ve seen a growth in the supply of sustainable materials and practices, as well as demand at both the brand and the consumer level.Read the full article here.