Transparent - Sustainable Fashion in the Digital Era

Time for transparency

One of the most important principles that is changing production practices in the fashion industry and in relation to textiles is transparency. It shows the social and economic impact of what hangs in our closet and even tells us the story of how it got there. It changes communication between operators in the supply chain, just as it causes companies to communicate differently with consumers. Transparency puts pressure on companies to be accountable. Wasteful production methods and exploitative labour practices become as visible as opportunities to reuse what was previously dumped and thrown back into mass production.

Paired with accountability, transparency leads us to rethink what we carry, how we perceive the steps involved in production, and what we accept or will not accept.

This publication was produced in collaboration with Zalando and is intended to give an overview of the fashion and textile industry. We have researched which digital initiatives have been explicitly launched to force changes in production processes, even for large companies. We wanted to shed light on all areas: from experts to CEOs to designers, and of course companies that already offer the possibilities of data integration, supply chain mapping and material tracking. These initiatives can play an important role in reducing social and environmental impacts.

Ellen MacArthur therefore calls for: "The vision of a new textile industry offers the opportunity to put the fashion industry on a new track. Rather than just trying to "be less bad", we need to change the way we make and use clothing so that its production and use creates economic, social and natural capital rather than depleting it. It is an invitation to industry to explore new materials, develop new business models, and apply new technologies.

Download the magazine here: Transparent-Magazine

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