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Sustainable fashion

October 2024

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I vowed not to buy new clothes all year. Here’s how it’s going

Our fashion editor swore off shopping for 12 months. She hasn’t been perfect, but she’s made progress.

July 2024

That cool op-shop jacket could earn you carbon credits

Federal regulators are considering a proposal to offer financial incentives to consumers who buy second-hand clothes.

June 2024

The Zimmermann show at Paris Fashion Week in March. Zimmermann has also signed up to Seamless.

France has a plan to end fast fashion – now Australia does too

As cheap clothing clogs landfill, the fix is in: tax it.

April 2024

Together with Lululemon, Australian start-up Samsara Eco has created a jacket made of recycled textiles that can be recycled itself infinite number of times.

This Aussie start-up could change fashion forever

Samsara Eco has patented technology that can break down fabric into new yarn, which can be recycled infinitely. Its CEO thinks it could upend the industry.

March 2024

The El Ganso sneaker, made from Acciona’s decommissioned wind turbine blades.

Turning turbines into sneakers: a recycling idea takes flight

Renewable energy giant Acciona was unsure how to dispose of its fibreglass and carbon-fibre wind turbine blades. Its solution came out of the box.

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Sarah Harris Gould and Lauren Tapper, photographed at the Capella Hotel in Sydney.

Five hot New Zealand designers to add to your wardrobe

These fashion creatives from across the ditch are redefining Antipodean cool.

February 2024

Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek with Guy Dempster, winner of eBay’s Circular Fashion Fund.

Plibersek says fashion industry must act on environment, or she will

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek delivers a call to arms for fashion brands to rethink volume and speed of manufacturing.

November 2023

Denise Birdseye owns As If boutique in Albert Park, Melbourne.

Why it’s getting harder to find a designer label op-shop bargain

Charities and dedicated boutiques know the value of second-hand luxury goods and are tapping into a growing market for these items.

Eva Kruse, Pangaia’s chief global engagement officer, in Sydney this month.

Sustainable fashion is possible, but not at the pace we’re going

Eva Kruse is the world leader in eco-friendly clothing. She thinks people can change, but need to move much faster than ever before.

Matt and Lara Fells of St Agni at heir Byron Bay store.

How ‘less is more’ became a winning strategy for this Byron Bay label

St. Agni’s version of pared-back perfection is garnering fans on a global scale.

Rex Zhang, left, and Nathan Yun launched Paire in late 2020, starting with socks.

Why these brands don’t believe in cutting new clothes from old cloth

Two companies – one Australian, one in the United Kingdom – are focused on fashioning a better apparel industry. Their first stop: fabrics that are more sustainable.

October 2023

Stylist Simone Oro from Oro Fashion House with a collection of vintage pieces.

These stylists will help you find a fresh look – but not a new one

“People think the answer is just to buy more and more,” says Simone Oro, one of a number of stylists turning to preloved clothing for their clients.

Samsara Eco chief executive Paul Riley, left, with chief science officer Colin Jackson at Australian National University.

Why your Lululemon yoga pants could be a good investment

An Australian start-up has found a way to turn plastics otherwise destined for landfill into yoga pants and T-shirts. And fashion brands are seeing an opportunity.

Want to stand out from the crowd? Ditch your bag and get a bilum

Australian textile designer Caroline Sherman is making a difference by taking holdalls from communities in PNG all the way to the Oscars red carpet.

July 2023

Kathmandu’s Shasta O’Loughlin in a Redu puffer jacket.

The fashion brand selling clothes otherwise destined for the bin

Returns are a headache for retailers and a sustainability nightmare. A pilot program by Kathmandu aims to repair damaged clothing to sell again.

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June 2023

Frequently washed jeans or a new pair of stonewashed ones? The effect is the same – and the fading increases with every wash.

Serious question: how often do you wash your jeans?

Some people pop theirs in the freezer to kill germs, while others never wash their beloved denim garments. So, what are the rules?

“We are a business that’s borne of the ocean. This is our responsibility,” says Rip Curl chief customer officer Michael Scott.

‘Our responsibility’: Fashion retailers poised to pay landfill levy

Surfwear brand Rip Curl says it wants to be among the first companies to pay a levy designed to unravel fast fashion.

March 2023

A Max Mara icon, the camel coat, on the runway at the brand’s fall 2023 ready-to-wear show in Milan last month.

Eight wardrobe items that deliver maximum style with minimal effort

Stylists say the secret to a successful wardrobe is investing in ‘iconic’ pieces – but some classics are more deeply embedded in industry lore than others.

February 2023

Actor Claudia Karvan on Heron Island, doing her bit for Groundswell, a giving platform for climate activism.

Celebs are flocking to Heron Island for this invitation-only event

A Heron Island think tank on climate change has become a hot ticket for scientists, Indigenous leaders and creative types.

October 2022

Country Road is launching a $1.5 million climate fund.

How Country Road is tackling climate change

Fashion makes a sizeable contribution to climate change. The retailer is launching a $1.5m climate fund aimed at projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/sustainable-fashion-jb3