Running a fashion business is a busy hustle. When you’re designing, creating, making, marketing, and wearing all the hats, it's hard to find time to stay on top of industry news too. Trends can be a challenge, especially if you're running a slow fashion business. You don’t have to follow them, but you do need to be aware of them—to ensure you’re not falling behind in the industry.
I want to make running an ethical, sustainable, handmade, or circular fashion business as easy as possible for you, so you can increase your sales and expand your impact. If we’re going to succeed as a slow fashion community, we have to stay informed and connected—together.
I want to give you the tools and support I wish I had when I was starting out, so you can skip the years of struggle I went through and fast-track your slow fashion business success. The world needs more sustainable businesses to succeed if we’re ever going to tip the scales against fast fashion. I want to help you spend less time on admin and more time doing what you love—bringing your designs to life, making an impact, and changing the world with your fashion business.
So, every week, I release The TFA Weekly, a roundup of the latest industry news, trends, innovations, and all things fashion technology, all in one place—so you don’t have to spend hours online, reading when you could be making, to make sure you're not missing anything important.
I pull together the latest news from the top ten most trusted fashion news publications, and I've done the hard work for you. No more searching, no more fact-checking, no more trawling—just everything you need to stay in the loop and keep your business moving forward, right here with The TFA Weekly...
Shein Awards $10k to Melbourne Fashion Designer.
Fast fashion giant Shein hosted its inaugural Australian R.I.S.E. Student Designer Challenge, awarding $10,000 to Elian Yang from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The competition focused on retro-futurism, showcasing the creativity of Australian design students. Shein's initiative aims to support emerging designers, with winners also gaining access to the Shein x Designer Incubator Program. This program provides mentorship and exposure through Shein's extensive global supply chain and resources. But is it greenwashing? Absolutely.
Fast Fashion’s Environmental Impact: The True Price of Trendiness.
Fast fashion contributes heavily to environmental degradation, driven by overproduction and textile waste. Brands rely on low-cost labour and unsustainable materials, resulting in significant carbon emissions and harmful waste disposal, particularly in low-income countries. This cyclical impact on both the environment and workers' health raises critical questions about the industry's future. However, innovations like the Fashion Pact and efforts to promote sustainable consumption habits offer some hope for reducing the industry's footprint. We all know fast fashion sucks but systemic change is slowly happening, hallelujah.
Pharrell Faces Backlash from PETA for Supporting Louis Vuitton’s Use of Exotic Skins.
Musician and designer Pharrell Williams, currently the creative director for Louis Vuitton, has come under fire from PETA for promoting the brand's use of exotic animal skins. Despite public campaigns against such materials, Louis Vuitton has continued to incorporate them into their luxury collections. PETA argues that this practice contradicts growing concerns about animal welfare and the environmental impact of luxury fashion. It's pretty simple: exotic skins are a no-no, whether you're rich and famous or not.
Recycling Solution for Blended Fibres, Powered by AI.
Textile recycling faces challenges when dealing with blended fibres, which are difficult to separate. Refiberd, a recycling technology company, has developed an AI-powered solution using hyperspectral imaging to identify and separate fibre compositions. This innovative approach allows for the recycling of blended textiles into new fibres, pushing the industry closer to circular fashion models. Up until a few years ago, this was the industry's biggest recycling challenge, but this tech is a light at the end of the fashion waste tunnel.
Circular Fashion Systems Gain Momentum in 2024.
The push towards circular fashion is accelerating, with designers, brands, and manufacturers embracing circularity to reduce waste and extend the lifecycle of garments. Innovations in recycling, material sourcing, and design for longevity are key factors driving this shift. Brands are increasingly adopting circular business models, contributing to a more sustainable industry. I've been writing about it for years, but mainstream media are coming to the table, finally.
Key Takeaways from the 2024 Global Fashion Summit on Sustainability.
The 2024 Global Fashion Summit focused on sustainable practices in the fashion industry, with key discussions centred on circularity, reducing carbon footprints, and the role of AI in transforming production. Industry leaders committed to advancing sustainability goals, with collaboration and innovation seen as crucial to addressing fashion’s environmental impact. We're still doing a little too much talking and not enough walking in the industry, but small steps on a large scale is better than big steps on a small scale.
How AI is Transforming the Fashion Supply Chain.
AI is revolutionising the fashion supply chain by improving forecasting, reducing waste, and streamlining production. From virtual fitting rooms to smart logistics, AI is enabling brands to respond faster to consumer demand while reducing excess inventory. These technological advancements are not only improving efficiency but also reducing the industry's environmental impact. Don't be afraid of what you don't understand; if you don't upskill, you'll get left behind. There's a reason you don't see horses and carts on the road anymore - and that's because a better way was invented. AI is the industry equivalent.
Indigenous Australian Designers Shine at Fashion Week.
Indigenous designers made a powerful impact at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, highlighting their unique cultural heritage and sustainable practices. With a focus on ethical design, these creators are gaining visibility in the fashion world, drawing attention to the importance of cultural storytelling and sustainability in the industry. I love indigenous designers, check out some of my favourite here.
What is Ultra-Fast Fashion, and Why It’s Ultra-Bad.
Ultra-fast fashion refers to brands that produce clothes at breakneck speed, often releasing new items weekly or daily. This model exacerbates environmental and social issues, as it relies on unsustainable materials and exploitative labour practices. The rapid turnover leads to increased waste and further strains on resources, making it a critical concern for sustainability advocates. Culprits like Shein, Temu and H&M set a pretty crappy trend for the industry, and this one isn't one we want to keep following.
The Billion-Dollar Rise of Sustainable Fashion Startups.
Sustainable fashion startups are booming as consumer demand for ethical and eco-friendly products grows. These startups focus on using recycled materials, innovative fabrics, and transparent supply chains to create high-quality, environmentally responsible garments. Their success is reshaping the fashion landscape, with investors taking note of the economic potential of sustainable practices. This is good news for you if you're running an ethical, sustainable, circular, handmade or slow fashion brand.
Tune in next week for your weekly instalment of The TFA Weekly. You can also reach out if you need more than news to grow your eco fashion brand. I have over a decade of industry experience running and building sustainable fashion businesses, and I've worked with hundreds of brands to increase their sales and increase their impact. Contact me here for mentoring, coaching or help with my online courses to grow your fashion business.
Claire.
