What is Sustainable Fashion? - Sustainable Fashion, also called eco-fashion and ethical fashion, involves the design and manufacturing of clothing, home furnishings and other textile products in a sustainable manner that takes into account any environmental and socio-economic impacts. The goal is a system that protects the environment, causing minimal to no harm, and promotes social responsibility and ethical treatment of workers.
Sustainable Fashion involves all stages of the product's life cycle from design; selection & production of raw materials; manufacturing;
dyeing/finishing; sewing/assembling; packaging/storing and transportation, and disposal. It may include the use of recycled materials and components; reuse of wastage; and, the careful use of natural resources, such as water, land, soil, plants and animals. From a socio-economic perspective, there is a responsibility to maintain ethical working conditions for workers in the field, the factory and the office, including complying with best practice methods and applicable codes of conduct.
The consumer also has responsibilities: to stay educated and maintain awareness of sustainability issues when making purchases; avoid short-term fads that drive fast fashion; properly caring for and repairing clothing to extend its life; and, recycling, repurposing and donating old garments. You can also let companies and manufacturers know that stainability is important to you, and join organizations that promote sustainability.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
ECO-GLOSSARY Learn terms such as carbon footprint, fast fashion, transparency, recycled & upcycling. Glossary Link
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
Read below about university research programs involving advances in sustainability, cutting edge textile products & technologies.
Neolast™ - Celanese and UnderArmour announce the development of a more sustainable alternative to spandex/elastane stretch fabrics.
FABRICLINK NETWORK TOP 10 TEXTILE INNOVATION AWARDS - These awards recognize technical & sustainability advancements that advance performance or expand product applications. Review Award Winners Here
NEWS RELEASES - Read recent press releases on sustainable products & technologies, an learn what's new in apparel & textiles.Read the News
CERTIFICATIONS Learn about the various Eco-Certifications & Standards for textiles.
GET INSPIRED & WRITE YOUR OWN SUSTAINABILITY STORY!
Do your part: stay educated and be aware of sustainability issues when making purchases; avoid short-term fads that drive fast fashion; properly care for and repair clothing to extend its life; repurpose and donate old garments. You can also join organizations that promote sustainability & environmental protection.
Helpful Hints & Connections:
How to be a Smart Shopper - Be educated; read labels, know who's making your clothes & what they're made of; avoid buying clothes you may only wear a couple of times.
10 Tips to Make Your Clothes Last Longer - Learn: What to look for in well-made clothes; How to sort, wash & dry items, Remove stains; and, hang & store clothes.
25 Environmental Organizations & Agencies
Get involved and sign up with one of the active notable environmental organizations currently working for green causes, including wildlife preservation, land conservation and climate change prevention.
NEWS & VIEWS
Yarn Dyeing Specialist Atkinson Dyeing Cuts Carbon Footprint With Innovative Heat Recovery System
The centerpiece of this transformation is the installation of a state-of-the-art heat recovery system, which captures 60°C wastewater and uses it to preheat incoming cold water to 50°C.
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Revitalizing Fabric Scraps into Vivid Patchworks of Trees, Bouquets, and Goddesses
Using fabrics gathered from friends, stoops around her Brooklyn neighborhood, and secondhand shops, a French-American artist/designer transforms scrap materials into vibrant forms.
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Scientific studies on microplastics indicate alarming conclusion
The scientific evidence is now more than sufficient: collective global action is urgently needed to tackle microplastics—and the problem has never been more pressing.
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The Overlooked Thrift Store Section That Can Add Color And Charm To Your Kitchen
Before you dive headfirst and spend a fortune on redesigning your kitchen, take a trip to a thrift store or a flea market.
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Textiles Recycling Expo Makes Successful Debut In Brussels
The first Textiles Recycling Expo took place in Brussels on 4-5 June 2025 and is heralded as a landmark event, bringing together key stakeholders and promoting discussion, collaboration and innovation.
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Avantium demonstrates scalability of chemical recycling
Its method produces a glucose solution from the cotton portion of the mixed textiles that is easily separated from the polyester components.
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Denim dyeing with a reduced footprint
A pretreatment and dyeing process for laser-friendly, easily washable denim, DENIM HALO leaves a reduced environmental footprint by avoiding manual hand scraping or potassium permanganate spraying. It also helps reduce caustic soda use in sulfur dyeing.
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eVent Fabrics Unveils Circularity Initiative, Recyclable, Plant-Based Laminates
Featuring 11 different laminate configurations across the eVent stormST™ and windstormST™ technology platforms, this plant-based collection is engineered for recyclability and designed to support closed-loop product systems.
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Tapestries Are Timeless Interior Decor—How to Pull Off the Look Today
Historically, ‘tapestry’ refers to a type of handwoven textile meticulously produced to depict nature scenes, as well as biblical, mythological, and heraldic narratives.
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Missing JOANN? Get Your Home Décor and Crafting Fix With the Best Stores Like JOANN
Are you wondering where to get the seasonal home décor you love and the arts and crafts supplies you need?
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