Sustainable Fashion After COVID-19

By Alex Assoune Mar 09, 2023

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the fashion world hard. The global textile and apparel industry is sinking due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. One of the positive after the crisis is sustainable fashion gaining importance.

The global demand for apparel and textiles has severely decreased since the beginning of 2020. Key players in the industry are starting to realize that something needs to change.

Consumers now pay more attention to how they spend their money. The plan for the future and demand more sustainability, accountability, and transparency from fashion companies.

Large brands and retailers worldwide have canceled orders and closed stores down. Some of them even refused to pay for clothing that had already been manufactured.

For developing East-Asian countries where most clothes are manufactured today, the consequences are devastating. Factories stood still, businesses went bankrupt, and millions of people lost their livelihood.

Farmers and garment factory workers were laid off and had to return to their hometown without enough resources to nourish their future and their families.

The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters globally. It has been responsible for environmental degradation and human rights violations for decades. The COVID-19 crisis has only made it more obvious.

The most promising change after the pandemic is the globally growing importance of local, fair, ethical, and sustainable apparel production. Fashion doesn't have the luxury to ignore sustainability anymore.

Luckily, conscious consumerism is growing. Millennials and Generation Z especially believe that companies have a responsibility to address environmental and social issues.
"We see a clear link between sustainability and continued commercial success. Our sustainability ambitions will help us stay ahead of customer demand after this crisis caused by the coronavirus. Both our current and future customer base are calling for more sustainable choices in fashion."

- Kate Heiny, Director for Sustainability at Zalando SE

The COVID-19 has forced us to rethink the way we produce and consume clothes. And that's a great thing. Ultimately, every progress takes time. But with a collective effort, we can all work towards making fashion more sustainable.

Here are 10 recent articles about the rising sustainable fashion trend in an industry facing COVID-19 challenges at the beginning of 2020.

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Fashion Cannot Survive Without Sustainability Post-COVID-19

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, the global fashion industry is sinking. Sustainability is now more important than ever for fashion to stay relevant after the COVID-19 crisis.

One of the most positives after the global lockdown is the shift towards more environmentally friendly fabrics in garment manufacturing. While fashion stores are slowly reopening around the world, designers focus more on sustainability.

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The Fashion Industry Could Be More Sustainable Post COVID-19

So many fashion shows were canceled around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People lost jobs, clothing stores had to close, textile factories stood still, and businesses went bankrupt.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fashion industry like many other industries is in crisis. Almost all production orders were canceled or deadlines very difficult to meet in these difficult conditions.

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Accelerating Sustainability in the Fashion Industry After COVID-19

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), and Higg Co jointly published a new report on April 20th, 2020, titled Weaving a Better Future: Rebuilding a More Sustainable Fashion Industry After COVID-19.

The report uses surveys with key stakeholders, studies of prior global crises, analysis of economic trends, and consumer sentiment to highlight that the fashion industry must become more sustainable to survive global disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Global Fashion Agenda Sustainability Guide to Fashion Leaders

The Global Fashion Agenda urges fashion leaders to rebuild the fashion industry with sustainability in mind in a new report, the CEO Agenda 2020 - COVID 19 Edition.

The global fashion industry primarily uses a linear system (take, make, waste) to produce new clothes. 73% of the world’s clothing eventually ends in landfills to decompose or be incinerated.

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Fashion is More Sustainable During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the global textile and apparel industry hard. However, the fashion world is getting better and more sustainable, according to recent studies.

The coronavirus pandemic has shut down businesses, retail stores, garment factories, and millions of people lost their livelihood. Luckily, many fashion brands and retailers are now slowly recovering.

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Award-Winning Indian Designer Rahul Mishra on Sustainable Fashion

Award-Winning Indian Designer Rahul Mishra interviewed by the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) explains his philosophy centered on sustainable fashion.

This expert in traditional textiles and Indian crafts had focused his attention on the environment, employment, and empowerment, long before the rise of slow fashion.

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Which Fashion Brand Can Resist The Crisis

Fashion is one of the industries most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. But not businesses are created equal. Some fashion brands are doing a lot better than others, even during the pandemic.

Fashion is a fast-growing and ever-changing sector. Companies that are capable to adapt quickly to market changes stay on top every time. Those that have innovated during the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown saw their business take off.

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The Coronavirus Crisis is Killing the Old Fashion Industry

The coronavirus crisis is accelerating change in the fashion industry. Apparel and footwear brands have to face consumers' demand for more sustainability and digitalization.

Huge fast fashion stores like Zara in Madrid are slowly opening up after being forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. And new customers are rushing to try on new clothes, feel fabrics, and come up with new outfit ideas.

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Sustainability Still Going Strong During The Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has a huge negative impact on the economy, jobs, and livelihood of many people around the world. The coronavirus creates an unprecedented worldwide crisis that puts the planet at risk. Is it time to forget about sustainability?

Sustainable business activity seems difficult to maintain during the recession. Companies and people should be focused on their survival. Isn't sustainability, particularly in the fashion world, just a trend?

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10 Essential Thoughts to Buy Better Fashion in 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has a huge negative impact on the economy, jobs, and livelihood of many people around the world. It hits the global textile and apparel industry hard with an unprecedented crisis. Is it time to buy better fashion items and prepare for the future?

Sustainability is more important than ever before. Sustainable fashion is essential for businesses to recover and thrive post-COVID-19 crisis. As consumers, our purchasing decisions have a tremendous impact. They matter for the economy, but also the society and the environment.

Read more...

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

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Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
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