Every month, the Good On You team scours the internet to bring you the ethical sustainable fashion news that matters—all in one place. Here’s everything you need to know in September 2024.
Are Fashion Companies Cutting and Running From Bangladesh? (Sourcing Journal)
Amidst the recent challenges faced by Bangladesh’s garment industry due to protests, political upheaval, and floods, labour rights groups are concerned that fashion brands will desert their suppliers in the region or request discounts on delayed orders, putting even more pressure on workers. In Sourcing Journal’s article, Jasmin Malik Chua explains the situation and talks to experts about the sector’s future.
Max Mara Fashion Group Confirms It Is Fur-Free (WWD)
Max Mara has become the latest luxury fashion brand to confirm it is fur-free, following an 18-month campaign by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT), WWD reports. The brand said: “We confirm that the brands of the Max Mara Fashion Group have not been selling fur products for some seasons.” It joins the likes of Gucci, Alexander McQueen, and Burberry, which have all banned fur in recent years.
Seoul Authorities Find Toxic Substances in Shein and Temu Products (France 24)
This isn’t the same story we shared back in July—it’s yet another case of toxic chemicals being found in ultra fast fashion products. Authorities in Seoul have been conducting weekly tests on products sold online, and a recent one found high levels of phthalates, formaldehyde, and dioxane—a chemical that can cause liver poisoning—in SHEIN products, while a pair of sandals from Temu contained lead at more than 11 times the permissible level.
Eco-Friendly Fashion Faces Geographical Barriers in Returns: Study (Fibre2Fashion)
Fibre2Fashion reports on a new study which found that: “Despite activewear companies promoting circular economy initiatives like recycling and mending services, these efforts are often restricted to local or national levels, limiting access for international customers.” Shipping costs were also cited as key blockers to widespread consumer uptake on clothing take-back and repair schemes across the 17 activewear brands assessed for the study.
What Fuels Fashion? New Report Finds Big Fashion is Falling Short of Much-Needed Climate Investments (Fashion Revolution)
Fashion Revolution released What Fuels Fashion?, a special edition of its annual Transparency Report. It analyses and ranks 250 of the world’s biggest fashion brands and retailers on their public disclosures of climate and energy-related actions. Among other important findings, the report says: “Nearly a quarter of the world’s biggest fashion brands disclose nothing on decarbonisation, signifying that the climate crisis is not a priority for them.”
Sustainability Giants Join Forces to Transform Consumer Goods Industry (FashionUnited)
ZDHC Foundation and Cascale (formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition) have announced the latest in a series of collaborations to drive improved chemical management and environmental performance in manufacturing facilities. In particular, it aims to align industry practices and create a unified approach to measuring impact.
Sustainability Consultancy Eco-Age Closes (Business of Fashion)
In August, Eco-Age founder Livia Firth announced on social media that the sustainability consultancy would close due to financial losses caused by criminal activity, Business of Fashion reports. The agency, which had been around for 17 years, had a significant presence in sustainable fashion.