News + Trends

The latest fashion trend has nothing to do with looks

17.7.2019

Translation: machine translated

"Inditex", one of the world's largest textile companies, wants to turn the conventional consumer cycle on its head in favour of a zero-waste future and follow the sustainability trend.

Fast fashion is a thing of the past. The trend that progressive fashion brands are setting today is sustainability. They recycle old clothes and extend their lifespan. With new systems, they are making it easier for customers to return old clothes to the shop in exchange for credit notes. Brands such as H&M from Sweden and Eileen Fischer from America have made a start. Since yesterday, "Inditex", one of the world's largest textile companies from Spain, has also been taking part in the environmentally conscious endeavours.

Inditex is going greener: no waste by 2025

On 16 July, CEO Pablo Isla announced that Inditex aims to produce zero waste and 100% sustainable fabrics by 2025. The plan affects all eight brands in the group. These include Zara and Massimo Dutti, for example, which are also represented in Switzerland. The materials used by the brands, such as cotton, linen and polyester, are to be 100% organic or recycled in future. "Join Life" is the name of the label that identifies the use of more sustainable raw materials and the prioritisation of water and energy-friendly processes. Next year, all of the Group's stores will be equipped with bins for used clothing and recycling as well as donations to charity.

"The collection programme is just one of the cornerstones of Inditex's circular economy efforts," says the official report. "Single-use plastics are also to be completely banned from sales by 2023." 100% of the waste generated at the Group's headquarters, on logistics platforms and in stores is to be recycled. To this end, Inditex will further expand its collection and recycling system for all materials used for the distribution of packaging and garments. These are mainly FSC-certified cardboard boxes, recycled and recyclable plastic, alarms and hangers, which are recycled within the supply chain itself under the so-called "Green-to-Pack" programme.

The avant-garde in zero waste

The American textile company Eileen Fischer is considered a pioneer in environmentally conscious endeavours and a "buy-back" system. Over the last decade, it has extended the life of over 1 million items of clothing by taking back or donating them through its "Waste No More" programme. It also regularly organises exhibitions to draw people's attention to the disproportionate consumption of clothing.

The exhibition of recycled fabrics took place on the occasion of the Salone del Mobile at the Rossana Orlandi Gallery. — When old clothes are turned into art: The wall textiles come from the take-back programme of fashion brand Eileen Fischer.

The last one was also called "Waste No More" and took place during this year's Salone del Mobile. It was curated by Lidewij Edelkoort, one of the most important trend researchers, who has been expressing her dismay at the rapid consumption and disposal of clothing for years.

Lidewij Edelkoort has been drawing attention to the dangers of fast fashion for years. Image: Thomas Kunz

Less is more

Eileen Fischer's simple textiles, created from fabric remnants, prove that less is more. These were on display in the rooms of the Rossana Orlandi Gallery. Because everything was kept in white, the exhibition had a calming and decelerating effect. Just like the news from Inditex. It is difficult to say which of this is greenwashing or which of the initiatives by Zara and co. can really be implemented in the coming years. But at least a change is taking place in the consumer cycle that promotes the latest "slow fashion" trend.

Trash to Treasure: The different fabric remnants only become visible from close up.

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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