Even before the impact of Covid-19, the fashion industry was in the process of adjusting to a new reality, where old ways of manufacturing and selling weren’t able to keep up with new global standards and rising consumer expectations around sustainability and transparency. MADE Trends’ deck “Sustainability: A Starting Point” is an overview of key trends and changing consumer attitudes, illustrated with best-in-class examples from leading environmentally conscious brands to re

Fast fashion is a feminist issue - In fast fashion, 80% of the people making our clothing are young women, ages 18 to 24, most of whom earn less than $3 a day, according to the nonprofit group Remake. - Teen Vogue & Slow Factory Nearly half (48%) of U.S. consumers say they would definitely or probably change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment. And these consumers are putting their dollars where their values are, spending $128.5 billion on susta

As more consumers stay in, categories related to the home may also benefit as a result of the fear around COVID-19, or coronavirus, as more local and state governments encourage citizens to self-isolate and avoid social activity or commuting. Amid the coronavirus spread, economists are worried about the impact the virus would have on the economy and are already observing a shift in consumer demand. Over the upcoming months, consumers will be willing to spend more for products

Minnesota-based materials company 3M is releasing a new type of packaging that requires no tape and no filler, and it can be customized to fit any object under 3 pounds—which 3M says accounts for about 60% of all items that are bought online and shipped. 3M claims that the material, called the Flex & Seal Shipping Roll, can reduce time spent packing, the amount of packaging materials, and the space needed to ship packages. The roll is made out of three layers of different pla

Gabriela Hearst is walking towards a Zero carbon footprint. An unexpected Fashion Week trend? Carbon neutrality. American designer Gabriela Hearst’s New York show was carbon neutral, and now Gucci has announced that its upcoming Milan runway will be too. Gucci even went a step further, announcing that it plans to have a fully carbon-neutral supply chain by the end of September. Gucci has been on a green mission since 2017 when it announced it would be going fur-free. Since th

Consumers are increasingly drawn to small brands with compelling and authentic narratives. In order to keep pace, larger companies must learn how to think small and either create their own new brands or acquire disruptive DTC brands. With VC dollars at the ready, funding is enabling the growth of challenger brands and is expected to continue through 2021. More related articles: Farfetch's next move? testing the resale market, Retail at risk: analysts cite resale revolution,

Younger generations’ passion for social and environmental causes has reached critical mass, causing brands to become more fundamentally purpose-driven to attract both consumers and talent. Consumers from some, but not all markets will reward players that take a strong stance on social and environmental issues beyond traditional CSR. Brands like All-Birds and Drunk Elephant are front runners in this space. More related articles: Farfetch's next move? testing the resale marke

The lifespan of the fashion product is becoming more elastic as pre-owned, refurbished, repair and retail business models continue to evolve. Fashion players will increasingly tap into this market to gain access to new consumers seeking both affordability and a move away from the permanent ownership of clothing. Noting new power players like The Real Real, Thred-Up, and Urban Outfitters Nuuly. More related articles: Farfetch's next move? testing the resale market, Retail at r

End of Ownership The lifespan of the fashion product is becoming more elastic as pre-owned, refurbished, repair and retail business models continue to evolve. Fashion players will increasingly tap into this market to gain access to new consumers seeking both affordability and a move away from the permanent ownership of clothing. Noting new power players like The Real Real, Thred-Up, and Urban Outfitters Nuuly. Getting Woke Younger generations’ passion for social and environme

Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who shot to global fame for inspiring worldwide student strikes to promote action against climate change, took her mission to U.S. President Donald Trump’s doorstep on this month with a protest outside the White House. Next came the “Climate Strike” in which youths and adults were encouraged to walk out of schools and work to urge more action on climate change. Trump is among a small minority of global leaders who have openly questioned the sc

How to follow the trend and be sustainably conscious? Consumer views on ownership are changing – the closet of the future is about rotation, not accumulation. Research shows that younger consumers are driven by two key priorities: to be seen in new styles constantly and to be sustainably conscious. So there is much to celebrate in the phenomenal rise of the resale clothing market which offers variety, value, and sustainability. Changing attitudes towards ownership is propelli

The current system of ‘take, make, dispose’ is increasingly unsustainable. In order to protect our dwindling resources, and ensure the future prosperity of our planet we must start to transition from a linear model to a circular one, implementing a cradle-to-cradle approach where the product’s end life is factored into the initial design. A circular economy that is based on reducing waste can unleash trillions of dollars in growth opportunities in materials net saving, job cr

2019 is widely seen as the year the fashion industry ‘woke up’. Consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Zs, are increasingly concerned about environmental and social issues and have started to consider how their clothes are made, what they’re made of and what happens to them after they’re worn. The answer to these questions increasingly guides purchasing decisions, so there is a moral and economic imperative for the apparel industry to claim more responsibility across the s