In March 2024, the lower house of the French parliament voted unanimously to crack down on ultra-fast fashion, targeting giant companies like Shein and Temu, which have become increasingly popular with consumers around the world by offer popular fashion with amazingly low prices. price tags.
French parliament cracks down on fast fashion, proposing advertising bans and per-item fines. Australia emphasizes ethical production amid growing consumer awareness of sustainability. Global Sourcing Expo in Sydney focuses on sustainability and addresses environmental impact. Panels discuss circular fashion and the conscious evolution of fashion among major retailers.
France's landmark bill proposes a complete ban on fast fashion ads and escalating fines of up to ten euros per garment as a measure to curb the devastating environmental impact fast fashion is having on the planet.
While an outright ban on fast fashion has yet to be proposed in Australia, brands face a growing obligation to provide evidence of ethical production processes.
“Now, more than ever, product sustainability has a significant weight in customer purchasing decisions,” explains Marie Kinsella, CEO of International Expo Group and organizer of Global Sourcing Expo, the first truly global wholesale show of its kind in Australia.
This is demonstrated by a 2023 survey by Monash Business School which revealed that more than half of Australians (51%) say sustainability is an important factor when making a retail purchase.
“At the same time, regulators are introducing comprehensive supply chain transparency and due diligence laws, resulting in a new era of corporate responsibility that brands will need to adhere to.” Maria Share.
Sustainability is a central pillar of the Sydney Global Sourcing Expo, which will take place from 12 to 14 June 2024 at the International Convention Center and will bring together hundreds of world-class exhibitors from more than 20 countries to showcase garments from clothing, footwear, textiles and home products. . “We have a long history of connecting Australian and New Zealand buyers with world-class suppliers who not only offer the highest quality products, but also adhere to ethical and sustainable production processes,” he says. Maria.
She believes that the greatest harms posed by the rise of ultra-fast fashion include, but are not limited to: 1) Unsustainable production and supply chain processes, 2) Environmental pollution, and 3) Labor exploitation.
“In response to these growing threats, the Global Sourcing Seminar program at the upcoming GSE Sydney has been carefully curated to include sessions that will highlight strategies to overcome these challenges and help brands ensure their sourcing practices are transparent and ethical. “. Maria says.
Ensure sustainable apparel manufacturing and transparent supply chains
By 2030, all textile products on sale in the European Union will be required to carry a Digital Product Passport (DPP), which contains an unprecedented amount of environmental impact data. Crucially, the DPP is linked to France's bill that would require all fast fashion retailers to include the reuse, repair, recycling and environmental impact of an item close to the price of the product, which would require full traceability of the supply chain for all companies exporting to the EU.
Recognizing the enormous task ahead of brands, Melinda Tually, director of Ndless, a human rights and sustainability consultancy, will lead a Global Sourcing Seminar panel discussion that will provide companies with a framework to identify and address data gaps environmental. She will also share tips for identifying strategic partnerships with service providers to ensure seamless supply chain traceability and data delivery to end users.
Addressing the environmental impact of fast fashion
Every year, 200,000 tonnes of clothing goes to Australian landfills, and the rise of ultra-fast fashion brands is a major contributor. “The good news is that there are local innovators looking to change the way Australians design, consume and recycle clothing, such as Seamless, a national product management plan from the Australian Fashion Council,” says Maria.
Announced by the Australian Government a year ago, Seamless aims to divert 120,000 tonnes of end-of-life clothing from landfills by 2027, a goal they are achieving through major partnerships with brands including BIG W, Lorna Jane and David Jones. Its broader mission, as Seamless CEO Ainsley Simpson will share in her upcoming Global Sourcing Seminar session, is to achieve a circular apparel economy in the country by 2030.
Circular fashion refers to the creation of a closed-loop system for clothing, which reduces waste and maximizes the life of clothing and textiles, unlike fast fashion garments, which often fall apart after use. some uses. If the approach is implemented correctly, brands can reap the benefits, as Rosanna Iacono, CEO of The Growth Activists, will explain in her global sourcing seminar, 'Circular Fashion: Moving from Ambition to Implementation.'
End labor exploitation
The low price of fast fashion comes at the expense of exploited workers. However, the living wage movement stands as a ray of hope for equitable labor practices and fair wages. While many apparel companies have resisted raising workers' wages for fear that higher production costs will alienate price-conscious consumers, the Living Wage panel at the Global Sourcing Seminar program will highlight one company local that has successfully implemented the Living Wage initiative: Outland Denim.
James Bartle, CEO of sustainable fashion pioneer Outland Denim, has expanded his focus to consider the human rights aspect of ethical manufacturing, specifically hiring at-risk young women and providing funding for personal development programs including language classes and personal defense.
“Implementing a living wage goes beyond having an income that supports a decent standard of living by covering necessary expenses: it gives workers the freedom to prepare and save for unexpected events,” he says. Maria. “The panel will look at the benefits of the living wage movement from both a practical and academic perspective, giving the public a variety of approaches to see how this initiative could best be implemented in their own unique context.”
Australia's leading fashion retailers come together to discuss the conscious evolution of fashion
Australian clothing brands are increasingly embracing the “conscious fashion” philosophy, which is seen as the antithesis of ultra-fast fashion. “Conscious fashion is a philosophy that considers all the inputs that go into making our clothes (natural, animal and human) and the damage that the manufacturing process can cause,” he says. Maria. “Prioritizes the sustainability of people and the planet as much as the bottom line.”
The Global Sourcing Expo has brought together some of Australia's largest and most influential clothing retailers – Country Road, Trenery, bassike and ELK Conscious Fashion for a panel discussion led by Fashion Equipped founder Elizabeth Formosa on Navigating Evolution fashion conscious. Panelists will share practical and crucial tips for implementing a more sustainable strategy, one conscious decision at a time.
“The evolution of conscious fashion is calling and we are proud to be able to provide a platform to the movement that shapes brands with purpose.” Maria concludes.
Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.
Fiber2Fashion News Desk (HU)
