Fashion wants to improve on sustainability, but its plan has a huge hole

Even the best materials can’t counteract a production volume of three billion garments per year, or investor expectations of beating out fast-fashion competitors. Photo: stocksnap.io

Last week was New York Fashion Week, and on Monday (Sept 19) Climate Week will come to the Big Apple. At the intersection of these annual showcases lies an uncomfortable truth.

No one has figured out how to credibly align climate goals with fashion’s current business model. Retailers have in the past few years announced a slew of sustainability measures – practically every company in the industry has a plan, or a plan to make a plan, for changing how they manufacture products to be greener, and extending those products’ lifespan.