Updates

A new method to evaluate a dumped piece of clothing’s quality from A to F could help determine  whether it can be resold, recycled or tossed. This new comprehensive assessment delivers more data and insights into waste management and prevention. 

The fast fashion setup incurring mass production of cheap goods that sometimes only last a single season, and the increase in the trend of returning wears is a business model fed by the depletion of natural resources, labour in poor countries and fossil resources. There is an urgent need to regulate product quality so that products last longer and can be repaired, according to a research. 

In a bid to help textile suppliers in Taiwan incorporate digital technology into their sample management processes, material marketplace for designers Swatchbook has announced a strategic partnership with the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF).

The Effluent Guidelines Program Plan by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a critical next step to tackle pollutants like PFAS and nutrients at the source, before they can harm our health and the environment. 

The slowdown in consumer demand in Europe and the United States is set to impact the Indian leather apparel and accessories (comprising bags, belts, and harnesses) industry, with revenues predicted to decline 7–8% in fiscal 2024.

The Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh has launched the School of Apparel and Retail Management to support professional and leadership development of women.

A Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) report states that existing approaches and initiatives to making fashion fair and sustainable, while an important step forward, are insufficient in addressing harmful business models.

Punitive tariffs imposed by the US on apparel, footwear, travel goods and furniture imported from China have failed to make a significant negative impact on Chinese exporters. The additional cost burden associated with the tariffs is instead being passed on to the final consumer — the American family.

Innovation in fibre-to-fibre recycling will be key in keeping textile fibres in the loop as volumes of non-reusable clothing are set to dramatically increase, exhorts a study commissioned by the umbrella organisation for recycling industries in Europe.

Tech-traceability major FibreTrace today launched an easy-to-use, globally accessible platform with no fees attached, eliminating the barrier to transparency for producers, manufacturers, brands and retailers.