The United Kingdom sends $42 million worth of second hand items to Kenya every year, but unfortunately many of them are ending up in landfill. As Kenya attempts to open up its own manufacturing capabilities for local fashion designers, one of the greatest challenges has been the sourcing of fabrics. So what if we employed African creatives to re-fashion these unwanted clothes into new items to sell back to European markets?
Read MoreGET A LIFE is an arts publication lifting the lid on sickness through the lens of young creatives and patients. Issue 01 contains content centred around cancer and coronavirus from over 30 contributors, all working from locked-up locations around the world.
Read MoreWhen it comes to sustainable development in the fashion sector, education equals empowerment. The current fashion landscape is experiencing pervasive greenwashing where ‘sustainability’ has become a buzzword used by marketeers to tout supposed ‘ethical’ credentials. But what do these words really mean?
Read MoreAMMA Natural Textiles is a sustainable fashion and textile business located in Nuwara Eliya, a tea estate region in Sri Lanka. This innovative business empowers women by employing them to make handmade zero waste garments and accessories. AMMA’s new collection is now live on Kickstarter— we can’t think of a better Christmas gift idea!
Read More“One of the most prominent issues with Topshop’s business model was that they didn’t shift their values to match what Gen Z were demanding as consumers. Unlike my generation, where your identity was largely reflected by what brand you wore, fashion for this particular generation has been more about aligning with brands that reflect their own identities and less about buying the latest It-bag. These shoppers are value-oriented and are far more open to alternative fashion systems…”
Read MoreBy refusing every norm, Halima Aden took the world of fashion by storm. She showed the world a Hijabi model is something that the fashion industry craved. But behind her stratospheric rise, there was a sense of deep unease. It conjures up an uncomfortable argument: was the fashion world ever really inclusive?
Read MoreCompare and contrast the body-con dresses, capes and stilettos favoured by the Trump women, with the Converse, jeans and jacket combos sported by Kamala Harris. This stark contrast illustrates the power of sartorial politics— by decoding our clothes, we can see the true values at the heart of a narrative.
Read MoreBlack Friday perpetuates a myth of boundless resources— all supported by exploitative and environmentally damaging business models, particularly in the fashion industry. However, the retail sector and morale are in need of a boost. Can these apparently divergent concerns be reconciled?
Read MoreNew research shows that disabled people have been severely overlooked during the pandemic — despite reassurances that people with disabilities wouldn’t be disproportionately impacted. It’s clear that we must deliver a more comprehensive and individualised strategy for disabled people during the pandemic to ensure they are protected and receiving the vital support they need.
Read MoreDuring lockdown consumers became more conscious of sustainable fashion, with one in four (23%) now repairing clothes, and one in five (19%) keeping items for longer. The climate emergency is intensifying, and we need fast, effective action more than ever. To lead this change, the sustainability charity WRAP is launching Textiles 2030 - of which Fashion Roundtable are proud to be founding signatories.
Read MoreThe UK-US trade agreement is going to be vital for our sector's global survival if we see a Brexit agreement which limits our access to the all important EU markets of Paris and Milan.
Read MoreA recent report revealed that just 16% of people working in the creative industries are from working class backgrounds. Unpaid internships uphold the structural divide in fashion — allowing those with the economic means to advance and become successful, whilst working-class and POC individuals are left at a serious disadvantage.
Read MoreFrom optimising your social media presence to never mixing friendships and business, Angeliz Venter shares everything she’s learnt as a young female entrepreneur.
Read MoreRetail shopping is experiencing its most dramatic change for many generations. Aside from the tragedy of Covid-19, there is a new narrative that’s moving away from consumerism and looking at new options for shopping. The familiar vocabulary of ‘new’, ‘latest’ and ‘must-have’ is being replaced by ‘sustainable’, ‘re-use’ ‘recycle’ and ‘restore’.
Read MoreIn the 90 days leading up to April 22, internet searches for ‘How to live a sustainable lifestyle’ increased by 4,500% according to Google. Faced with great change and uncertainty, consumers have a growing interest in sustainability. However, this new mindset may not be enough to turn the tide on fast fashion. Despite struggles across the retail sector, fast fashion brands are still coming out on top.
Read MoreAn exciting research project called Forest Fabrics at the University of Borås, Sweden, is on the quest to create a sustainable fabric made from paper. One of the collaborators behind the project, Swedish brand House of Dagmar, is currently working to see how the fabric can be used in their clothes.
Read MoreModern slavery continues to be a problem both globally and in the UK. Persistent and coordinated political efforts are needed to end and prevent it once and for all.
Read MoreThe made-to-order industry is the answer to some of the big problems presented by our current fashion industry. By only producing what has been ordered by a customer, textile waste is almost entirely eliminated. But there are limitations to this system. Can made-to-order brands maintain this production model as consumer demand grows?
Read MoreTrend forecasting is a crucial part of the product development process, and likely the starting point to the majority of products we buy, wear, and throw-away each year. While Trend Forecasters are rarely recognised for their considerable contribution and artistry, they are also rarely challenged for their role in our wasteful industry.
Read MoreThreat actors are launching new attacks on businesses and individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic. A study revealed that every 19 seconds, a small business in the UK is hacked. However, only 52% of companies acknowledged they have a strategy in place to manage cyber threats. Here’s 5 tips on how to mitigate the threat…
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