Open Letter to the Fashion Industry Calls for Change

By Alex Assoune Oct 16, 2020

The textile and apparel industry must become sustainable. A large group of leading fashion designers submitted an open letter to the fashion industry calling for rapid changes.

The coronavirus crisis is causing major issues for the fashion industry. But it also offers opportunities for fashion brands, designers, retailers, and consumers to rethink the way we produce and consume clothes.

It's time to accelerate change for greater sustainability in the fashion world. Designers including Dries van Noten, Joseph Altuzarra, Mary Katrantzou, Tory Burch, Gabriela Hearst, Erdem Moralioglu, Craig Green, and Lazaro Hernandez signed the letter in May 2020.

Transforming the way the fashion industry works is a priority. It's especially urgent given the disastrous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We agreed that the current environment although challenging, presents an opportunity for a fundamental and welcome change that will simplify our businesses, making them more environmentally and socially sustainable and ultimately align them more closely with customers’ needs."

- Open Letter to the Fashion Industry
Business leaders call for a fundamental change in the traditional season dates for more simplicity and a balanced flow of deliveries. They want to increase sustainability throughout the supply chain by reducing waste, transforming fashion shows, and using digitalization.

More efficient processes are necessary to make the fashion industry more sustainable. It requires innovation and deep changes in materials, production, supply chain, distribution, commerce, and waste management.

Sustainability is one of the most important issues of our time. The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters globally. The enormous amounts of waste, pollution, and greenhouse gases it produces each year add to global warming.
Read up my article on the fashion industry's catastrophic contribution to climate change to learn more about the social and environmental impact of your wardrobe.

In closing, the letter reads as follows: "Working together, we hope these steps will allow our industry to become more responsible for our impact on our customers, on the planet and on the fashion community, and bring back the magic and creativity that has made fashion such an important part of our world."

Read the full letter and the list of people who signed it on forumletter.org

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.