WILL the second-hand market and upcycling be enough to revolutionize one of the most polluting industries in the world? Brands and start-ups alike are working to go even further by developing innovations that will help make fashion more ethical for the long term. Here's an overview.
There's no denying that the fashion industry has been doubling down in recent months, if not years, to reduce its impact on the planet and work towards more ethical forms of production. But it is difficult to gauge whether these initiatives, however commendable they may be, will be enough to turn things around. In the face of this situation, some players have chosen to invest in innovations that will serve the entire industry in order to move towards a fashion as responsible as possible.
A revolution in cotton dyeing
Cotton dyeing, which is highly polluting, could become much greener in the years to come thanks to Color on Demand, the name given to the first wastewater-free cotton dyeing system launched at the end of March by Ralph Lauren. It may not sound like much, but textile dyeing -- which is difficult to do without in the fashion industry -- uses millions and millions of liters of water and is responsible for 17 to 20% of the world's wastewater. And it is precisely to fight against such water waste and considerably reduce the pollution linked to this practice that Ralph Lauren has launched its new Color on Demand platform, an innovative system designed to recycle and reuse all the water needed for cotton dyeing.
Described as "revolutionary" by many in the fashion industry, this platform not only reduces the amount of water used, but also requires fewer chemicals, dyes, and electricity, and could even help shorten manufacturing times. Ralph Lauren has been impressing many with this innovation, which could quickly become a source of inspiration for making cotton dyeing a much less polluting practice.
Recycling clothes in real time
It may come as a surprise to some, but retail giant H&M is far from being a laggard when it comes to proposing green innovations designed to further the evolution of the fashion industry. And just because it's a fast fashion brand, we shouldn't ignore any valuable innovations that come out of its efforts. Any initiative can help! Last October, in the middle of the pandemic, the Swedish giant presented Looop, "the world's first in-store recycling system" installed in its Stockholm store. An innovation that allows you to come into the store with a used cotton T-shirt, which is probably in the process of polluting your wardrobe as well as the planet, and leave with a brand new garment... You have to see it to believe it!
In just eight steps, from cleaning to knitting to shredding to spinning, Looop transforms your old clothes into new ones, without water or dye -- an important detail -- thus helping to reduce waste and avoiding the need for new raw materials. Developed in collaboration with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), this technology could benefit a large number of people and help revolutionize the textile industry.
Transforming CO₂ into oxygen
Contrary to what one might think, this particular innovation is still about fashion. The only difference between it and the two previous innovations cited is that this project will do very little to reduce the environmental impact of the industry. But it may do much more... During the last Paris Fashion Week, DS Automobiles unveiled its DS Conscious Collection, in partnership with EGONlab and Post Carbon Lab. What's in it? A capsule of four garments -- a bomber, two t-shirts and a trench coat -- capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
While on first glance they may seem quite ordinary, these garments were treated by Post Carbon Lab with a photosynthetic coating, consisting of a layer of living algae, which captures carbon dioxide and converts it into oxygen and glucose. In a statement, DS Automobiles says the four items absorbed no less than 1,452 grams of carbon dioxide during the ten-week creative process. An innovation that could, once again, inspire many for a greener future.
ETX Studio
Fri Apr 09 2021
An increasing number of innovative solutions are cropping up to help accelerate the green revolution in the fashion industry. ETXStudiopic
Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia harap individu disyaki pecah amanah didakwa segera
Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia (KRM) berharap individu di sebalik isu pecah amanah disyaki berlaku dalam pengendalian akaun bank badan induk itu didakwa segera.
PM adakan pertemuan dengan Presiden Rwanda
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengadakan pertemuan dua hala dengan Presiden Rwanda Paul Kagame di luar Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (WEF) pada Ahad.
Iraq luluskan RUU anti-LGBTQ
PARLIMEN Iraq pada Sabtu meluluskan rang undang-undang (RUU) yang menjenayahkan hubungan sejenis.
Rumah terbuka Persatuan Komuniti Bugis Sabah meriah
Keunikan pakaian suku kaum Bugis dan kepelbagaian juadah menjadi tarikan utama rumah terbuka Persatuan Kaum Bugis Sabah.
Perayaan masa terbaik pupuk persaudaraan - Hajiji
Datul Seri Hajiji Noor menyifatkan perayaan yang ada di negara ini sebagai medan terbaik memupuk tali persaudaraan dalam kalangan rakyat pelbagai kaum dan agama.
Konsert jelajah terakhir Kitaro bakal tarik ramai pengunjung
Konsert jelajah Kitaro di Rainforest World Music Festival 2024 bakal jadi yang terakhir buat Kitaro yang memasuki usia 71 tahun, Februari lalu.
Abang Jo setuju cadangan syarat untuk pemohon PR di Sarawak
Dalam perkembangan lain Abang Johari bersetuju dengan cadangan untuk menetapkan syarat bagi komuniti peniaga dan pelabur yang mahu mendapatkan status Penduduk Tetap (PR) di Sarawak perlu memasukkan minimum dua juta ringgit ke dalam akaun deposit tetap negeri ataupun membeli hartanah bernilai 1.5 juta ke atas.
Kes denggi di Kedah membimbangkan, catat 1,550 kes pada ME16
Kes denggi di Kedah berada pada tahap membimbangkan apabila sejumlah 1,550 kes dilaporkan pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-16 tahun ini.
Kerajaan Sarawak tidak paksa penduduk pedalaman terima projek empangan Melata
Abang Johari berharap penduduk pedalaman Sarawak agar membuka minda dengan melihat kepada manfaat projek empangan melata yang penting bagi menghasilkan tenaga boleh diperbaharui di kawasan merfeka.
Sarawak akan jana tenaga hijau seratus peratus hijau
Premier Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg akan berbincang dengan SEB bagi membolehkan dua loji tenaga arang batu miliknya ditukar kepada loji bersumberkan biomass.
Selepas Gucci dan Prada, Ralph Lauren batal pertunjukan fesyen gara-gara COVID-19
Tindakan itu diambil sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga dalam soal keselamatan dan kesihatan serta bagi menghormati pekerja, rakan kongsi dan pengguna.
"That train is everything!" - 'Veil' meleret Priyanka Chopra jadi sebutan!
"And forever starts now ...," itu antara bait-bait kata yang ditulis Priyanka Chopra buat teman sehidup sematinya, Nick Jonas ketika majlis resepsi semalam.
Nick Jonas dan Priyanka Chopra bercinta?
Pelakon yang sedang mencipta nama di Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra, dilaporkan kini sedang menjalinkan hubungan cinta bersama penyanyi Nick Jonas.