Esther Knight

The UK 2024 election could be a pivotal moment for British fashion and technology innovation! As the UK gears up for this important election, the apparel industry stands at a critical juncture. Despite contributing a staggering £62bn to the economy (UKFT Association), our sector faces immense challenges—from the collapse of Matches Fashion to sustainability and skills shortages. Industry leaders are calling for robust policy commitments to: 🔹 Restore tax-free shopping 🔹 Support SMEs 🔹 Integrate the arts into education With the right governmental support, the UK could become a global leader in innovative, sustainable fashion. Without it, we risk a steep decline. This election will determine whether British fashion and technology can rival global powerhouses or face an uncertain future. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲? The apparel sector isn't just about products; they're about fostering creativity, driving economic growth, and leading in sustainability. By investing in sustainable practices, we can ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of global fashion and innovation. #UKElection #FashionIndustry #Sustainability #PolicyMatters #Innovation

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An industry-backed white paper has urged the government to introduce variable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees to drive sustainability in the UK fashion and textiles sector. Read more below. #EPR #fashion #fashionnews #retail #textile

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This initiative must also encompass material suppliers and designers, ensuring rigorous standards. Offering substantial tax incentives to companies providing genuinely sustainable fabrics—those made from natural materials and processed in environmentally friendly ways—is crucial. We need increased investment in biomaterials for binders, dyes, machine threads, and fabric finishes. Less focus should be placed on recycling or repurposing plastic fibers like recycled polyester, which, upon closer inspection, do not live up to their perceived sustainability.

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77 per cent of the British public would support targets to increase clothing reuse, according to new polling commissioned by the Green Alliance for its ‘Changing fashion: what people want from a greener clothing industry’ report. 🎯🏷️ Released today for #EarthDay2024, the report delves into the rapidly evolving reuse landscape in the UK and public receptivity to secondhand goods. It builds on previous research from WRAP, which found that 54% of the public are happy to purchase secondhand or vintage clothing, with cost being their primary motivator. WRAP’s Textiles Delivery Manager, Kathryn Tims, and Lead Analyst, Sarah Gray, were among the experts who contributed their insights to the report. Kathryn emphasized, “Reuse is on the rise in the UK, which is great news for the planet, businesses, and people’s pockets. “Positioned prominently in the waste hierarchy, reuse will be crucial in helping us achieve our Textiles 2030 targets, promising a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an 8% decrease in water usage. Resale also makes commercial sense, as revealed in the report, with secondhand clothing fetching up to 55 per cent of its initial recommended retail price in some instances. "This year, through our Textiles 2030 Circular Business Models Working Group, we’re primed to build on these insights and those gained through our Circular Business Models Guide by collaborating with our members to bolster our collective understanding of the economic benefits of resale in order to initiate resale pilots.” 📚 You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e5AVJsFW 🤝 If your business could benefit from being a part of our Circular Business Models Working Group, enquire about Textiles 2030 here: https://lnkd.in/ekEhMBdM

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Embark on a journey into the world of sustainable fashion and ethical clothing design in the UK, where fashion meets sustainability and social responsibility to drive a revolution in the fashion industry towards eco-conscious practices and ethical production standards. 👚🌱 By embracing sustainable fashion principles, the UK's fashion sector is reshaping the way clothing is created, promoting transparency, minimizing waste, and empowering consumers to make ethical fashion choices that benefit both people and the planet. 1. Sustainable Fashion Talent Pool: Attracting eco-fashion designers, sustainability advocates, and ethical brands, the UK nurtures a vibrant community of professionals committed to crafting sustainable garments, championing fair labor practices, and spearheading eco-fashion initiatives that prioritize sustainability and social impact. 🧵🌍 2. Ethical Clothing Incentives: The UK government provides support through sustainable fashion grants, ethical fashion certifications, and initiatives aimed at promoting circular fashion solutions, inspiring brands to embrace ethical sourcing, reduce their environmental footprint, and uphold sustainable supply chain practices. 💚👗 3. Green Fashion Hub: Positioned as a global leader in sustainable fashion innovation, the UK serves as a hub for ethical fashion research, green clothing collaborations, and sustainability-driven fashion campaigns, driving the transformation of the fashion industry towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and socially responsible fashion ecosystem. ♻️👖 Whether you're passionate about sustainable fashion, ethical clothing production, or advocating for a more responsible fashion sector, the UK offers rich soil for cultivating your sustainable fashion dreams. Let's connect and explore opportunities to collaborate in shaping a more sustainable fashion future together! 🌿👠 #SustainableFashionUK #EthicalClothingDesign #FashionRevolution #EcoChicMovement

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Here's the headlines from Sustainable Fashion this week ⬇ 1) Last week John Lewis & Partners announced they have teamed up with the University of Exeter to develop a framework and strategy for circular designed products, created in line with the circular design toolkit from WRAP. The 20 piece collection includes nightwear and bedding, and supports the retailers commitment that 100% of new 'own-brand' products are to be designed with circularity in mind by 2028. 2) In material news, US workwear brand Carhartt has joined the US Cotton Trust Protocol and Better Cotton in a move towards more responsibly sourced cotton. 3) Biotech specialist CARBIOS has struck a deal with Chinese textile group Zhink Group, to build a bio-recycling plant in China. The plant will use Carbios technology which enables recycling of PET plastic and textile waste into virgin-like products, with the aim of achieving true circularity. 4) Italian synthetic yarn manufacturer Fulgar has launched a new bio-based Nylon (branded as Q-Geo) , which is derived partially from corn-waste. 5) Australian recycling company Samsara Eco, who work with lululemon, has raised AUS $100 million ($65m) in latest funding. The funds will be used to scale-up global recycling capabilities using their enzyme technology to recycle apparel waste, diverting millions of tonnes of plastics away from landfill and incineration. 6) At last weeks The Sustainable Angle Future Fabrics Expo, UK bio-based start up 3D Bio-Tissues (powered by BSF Enterprise) launched their high quality 100% ethical-lab grown leather sample. The leather is grown without harming animals, and can still be treated using traditional methods, and meets the growing demand for alternative leather products. 7) As part of their 'Plan A - Another Life' Campaign - Marks and Spencer have announced a clothing repair service in partnership with SOJO. According to M&S, only 10% of the population feel confident enough to repair clothing themselves, and 60% of consumers want retailers to offer more services which support them to live a more circular life. 8) This week Barbour launched their rental service in partnership with Oxfam at Glastonbury, offering festival goers the opportunity to rent pre-loved, upcycled wax jackets for £45 for the duration of the event. Love the concept, intrigued to know if they all get returned after the rental period 🤔 9) Last week eBay announced the launch of 'Rocket Man Resale' featuring hundreds of items from Elton John's wardrobe! All proceeds will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 10) The latest on the SHEIN - UK human rights group Stop Uyghur Genocide has launched a legal campaign to stop the flotation on the London Stock Exchange (potentially worth £50 billion), although paperwork for a potential London IPO has been filed by Shein 🤮 Have a great week Lydia SPONSORED BY Recomme.co Making circularity work for you https://www.recomme.co/ Image: Barbour

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👚 Top children clothing brands: comparing May 2023 to August 2024 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/efaXQkcE Discover which children’s clothing brands are most purchased by the main market via insights derived from the Moya Quiz in partnership with iMali Quiz 🥇 Ackermans continues to dominate as the preferred store, showing a slight uptick. 🥈 Pep holds the number two spot, but declines slightly. 🥉Mr Price rounds up the top 3 and gains popularity from last year. To get a detailed understanding of these shifts and how they might affect your marketing strategy, check out our full report. For more detailed analysis and strategic advice, connect with us here - https://lnkd.in/eQvHwd_E #ChildrensClothing #BrandPositioning #ShoppingTrends #ConsumerBehavior #DigitalMarketing #SouthAfrica #RetailTrends #MoyaApp #Datafree

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‘Fashion industry fails in climate action.’ The fashion industry is lagging in setting climate targets, according to a report. British Fashion Council Collective Fashion Justice Emma Hakansson #climatechange #climatecrisis #sustainablefashion #sustainability #climateaction #climatesolutions #netzero #energysecurity #fashionindustry

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The CMA’s new anti-greenwash guidance in the UK is a welcome step to help drive greater compliance across fashion brands and retailers and root out misleading green claims. It’s indicative of the broader shift we’re seeing in the fashion industry, with sustainability becoming an operational imperative, rather than the voluntary, passion-driven cause of previous years. The fast-changing regulatory landscape that brands, retailers and manufacturers are having to navigate is complex – so guidance such as this, and support from organizations like Cascale, is vital to help companies comply with this new dawn of regulation. However, while we should applaud progress, this isn’t a moment to pause and pat ourselves on the back. The reality is the fashion industry isn’t doing enough to combat climate change, and compliance is the bare minimum. We must anticipate change and be proactive in improving our businesses for the better of people and the planet – right now. I challenge everyone to do better than the minimum. https://lnkd.in/e4VEB-m7

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Shocking figures on the environmental footprint of the apparel and textile sectors were released last week, including the realisation that the amount of materials coming from recycled sources is negligible at best - so has the fashion industry spun too far out of control? https://buff.ly/41wDZiy #Fashionsustainability #fashionsourcing #fashionindustry #WeekinReview

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The linear fashion industry thrives off the take-make-waste model that sees clothing rapidly produced, consumed and disposed of. According to WRAP the UK consumed 1.42 million tonnes of new textile products in 2022 and its estimated that more than half of the fast fashion produced is disposed of in under a year. While we rapidly throw away such high volumes of clothes – via textile recycling banks, charity shop donations, clothing take-back schemes - we don’t often ask the question ‘where do my clothes end up?’ During our trip to Accra, we saw exactly where the UK’s discarded textiles go. When poor quality used clothing is donated the overwhelming majority will end up here on the beaches of Accra, Ghana. 15 million clothes arrive at Kantamanto Market every week, many from the UK who are the largest exporter of secondhand clothing to Ghana. While the secondhand clothing trade here in Kantamanto employs 30’000 people and it’s a hub of creativity and circularity, the quality of the clothing received is so low and the scale is so high that it is physically impossible to resell and repurpose it all, and so our textile waste is threatening livelihoods and the local environment as it ends up as tangled masses on the beaches. The problem is that cheap fast fashion is simply not designed to last. We need to address the overproduction of fast fashion and advocate for the ethical production of high-quality clothing that is designed with end-of-life in mind. Brands must take accountability for the waste management of their garments – communities, like Kantamanto Market, should not be burdened with this. Sign up to our newsletter to hear more about how we plan to solve this problem #textilewaste #textilerecycling #wastecolonialism #secondhandclothingtrade

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What's been going on in the world of sustainable fashion? Check out your weekly industry update in partnership with enkel and Lydia Brearley and find out how you can get your hands on a piece of Elton John's wardrobe! #SustainableFashion #CircularFashion #Circularity 

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👏 Our very own Fashion for Good leads the charge to launch an invaluable tool that will transform how the fashion industry tracks, understands and utilises the untapped potential of textile waste. ♻️ Reflecting on the significance of the World of Waste platform, anita chester, Head of the Fashion programme at Laudes Foundation said: “Access to deep data to accurately determine where and how to intervene will be the real unlock in solving the mounting issue of waste generated across fashion’s supply chain. Ultimately, we know that better informed and more cohesive efforts between actors will lead to 🔑 increased (financial and non-financial) support to scale innovations, 🔑 industry proactively investing to transform their supply chains, and 🔑 policy creating the enablers to support the transition to an inclusive and circular fashion industry.” Take a look at the platform here: https://lnkd.in/eHkREMCM

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We were saddened to read that the UK Fashion industry is still way behind on sustainability targets. This article suggests that profit is still a priority in this industry rather than climate action. The fashion industry is still reluctant to use sustainable materials over more traditional ones and there is still no accountability, so unless this changes, things will carry on as they are. At Strive, we’re passionate about helping our clients keep one step ahead of the game through brand positioning, product development and a deeper insight into what customers want. If this sounds like something you need help with, get in touch by sending us a DM or emailing us at [email protected] #MarketResearch #MRX #StriveTogether #CustomerInsights

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At GMS+, we recognize the growing influence of the Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) certification in the fashion industry. Brands are increasingly turning to ethical and sustainable practices, and the RAF standard has set new benchmarks for the humane treatment of alpacas and responsible land management. Recent data shows a 20% rise in consumer interest in brands carrying ethical certifications like RAF, with the sustainable fashion market projected to grow at a 9.1% annual rate in the coming years. By adopting RAF-certified materials, brands partnering with GMS+ can enhance their credibility and capture this expanding market. Together, we can drive positive change, foster transparency, and help shape a more responsible, eco-friendly future for the fashion industry. #ethicalsourcing #Sustainability #Sustainable #Sustaibleliving #fashionstyle #fashion #apparelsourcing #garmentmanufacturing #gmsfashionltd #b2bfashion #Slowfashion #Fashionforgood

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Had the pleasure to attend the Circular Fashion Innovation Network event yesterday in London, coupled with panels and film showings to push/lobby the industry and government to move forward on circularity. As global efforts to combat climate change slow down (the U.S in particular), the UK is pushing forward with CFIN. This initiative, led by the British Fashion Council and UK UK Fashion and Textile Association, is working to transform the fashion industry through sustainable practices, AI integration, and circular business models. While other nations are scaling back their sustainability goals, the UK has a unique advantage. The country’s large number of SME fashion businesses are more agile and adaptable, allowing them to embrace circular systems faster than larger counterparts. Additionally, the UK’s closer ties to Europe make it better positioned to collaborate on regulatory changes, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies which are fast becoming a mandatory requirements as more regulation is implemented, driving further innovation in recycling and waste reduction. You can read my article on the topic here, pulling links from what has happened to put UK production on the map in recent years, as well as references to the UK's new "Industry 2035" proposal that cameo out this week. Thanks to John Lewis & Partners Kathleen Mitchell, Tim Duret from Veolia UK, Caroline Rush from the British Fashion Council and Nigel Lugg OBE for the insights. https://lnkd.in/eWYqaPXn Glossy #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #FashionInnovation #UKFashion #CFIN #GreenGrowth #AI

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A new report from the Green Alliance think tank is calling on the UK government to take decisive action by prohibiting the destruction of unused clothing and implementing a robust extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles. Titled 'Changing fashion: what people want from a greener clothing industry', the report delves into the current state of reuse within the UK's fashion sector and underscores the necessity for government intervention. The UK government needs to incentivize manufacturers and retailers to adopt more sustainable practices throughout the textile supply chain. This proactive approach aligns with public sentiment and demonstrates a commitment to addressing the environmental impacts of the fashion industry. It is imperative for policymakers to heed these recommendations and enact meaningful reforms to create a more sustainable and circular economy for textiles in the UK. #sustainability #earth #zerowaste #environment #sdgs #brisbane #savetheplanet #gogreen #plasticfree #planetearth #ecology #renewableenergy #environmentallyfriendly #climateaction #plastic #climate #protect #cleanenergy #noplastic #globalwarming #greenenergy #climatecrisis #COP26 #unep #agenda2030 #sustainabilitymatters #co2 #plasticpollution #waste

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Report reveals inclusion, equality gaps remain in fashion sector A new report from non-profit Fashion Minority Alliance x Blurred reveals the fashion sector is struggling to create a sense of inclusion and equality in its workplaces. Fashion Minority Alliance Blurred #JSDaily #Equality #Fashion

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