Giorgio Armani Posts 24% Profit Drop in Tough 2024, Steps Up Investments
The Milanese group was hit by declining revenues and a slight increase in operating costs but said it retained a long-term approach amid a sharp downturn in luxury demand.
sustainability / Materials
Sustainability
Fashion’s Recycling Start-Ups Inch Closer to Commercialisation
Over the last month, a flurry of companies with backers from H&M to Inditex have advanced plans to build their first industrial-scale textile-to-textile recycling plants, advancing a technology that is often held up as a holy-grail-like solution to many of fashion’s environmental ills.
Fashion’s Recycling Start-Ups Inch Closer to Commercialisation
Over the last month, a flurry of companies with backers from H&M to Inditex have advanced plans to build their first industrial-scale textile-to-textile recycling plants, advancing a technology that is often held up as a holy-grail-like solution to many of fashion’s environmental ills.
The Brewing Controversy Over the Cotton in Your T-Shirt
Zara owner Inditex, the world’s largest fast fashion company, is ditching the industry’s biggest sustainable cotton scheme amid a deforestation scandal and a wider push to prioritise organic fibres.
Sustainability
Is ‘Clean’ Fashion About to Have a Moment?
With clean beauty now mainstream, an emerging wave of brands are promoting skin-kind clothing made from natural fibres and without the use of harsh chemicals, seeking to tap into consumer interest in products that promise health and wellness benefits.
Is ‘Clean’ Fashion About to Have a Moment?
With clean beauty now mainstream, an emerging wave of brands are promoting skin-kind clothing made from natural fibres and without the use of harsh chemicals, seeking to tap into consumer interest in products that promise health and wellness benefits.
Big Brands Banned Fur. Why Is It Back on the Runway?
The luxury sector is turning to a roster of faux alternatives to tap into a resurgence in consumer appetite for fluffy fashions.
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Textile-to-Textile Recycler Circ Raises $25 Million
The company has gained new backing from Taranis, an investment firm owned by oil company Perenco, and additional funds from investors including Zara-owner Inditex as it looks to bring its recycling capabilities to commercial scale.
Can Brands Still Make the Case for Sustainable Fashion?
In a climate where consumers are wary of greenwashing and a backlash against “woke capitalism” takes shape, brands peddling sustainability messaging have to treat the topic with a degree of irreverence and put the product first.
‘Ethical’ Cotton Is Being Picked by Child Labourers in India, Watchdog Finds
A new report has linked businesses supplying companies including Zara-owner Inditex, H&M Group, Gap Inc. and Amazon to incidents of forced labour and debt bondage on Indian cotton farms.
The Best of BoF 2024: Fashion’s Sustainability Pullback
This year offered up a jarring reality check for players seeking to improve the industry’s environmental and social impact, with brands deprioritising sustainability efforts even as the risks of inaction have become more apparent.
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Sustainability: The Case for Collective Action
A fragmented fashion industry needs to cooperate in order to avoid falling further behind on decarbonisation efforts, according to the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2025.
Fashion’s Plastic Addiction in Four Charts
Cheap and versatile polyester has underpinned both the fashion industry’s growth and its worsening environmental footprint. Efforts to switch to recycled fibre are stalled, new data show.
The Supima Design Competition Showcases Fashion’s Next Generation at New York Fashion Week
Through partnerships with leading fashion schools across the US and a robust and growing network of alumni, the Supima Design Competition is setting up emerging design talent for success.
Why H&M and Inditex Are Betting on Lab-Grown Cotton
The fashion giants have invested in Galy, a Boston-based start-up that aims to drastically reduce cotton’s environmental impact.
The News in Brief
E-Commerce Firm Jumia Draws Takeover Interest From Axian
A deal between the biggest e-commerce platform in Africa and telecommunications company Axian would help both company expand across the continent.
Billionaire H&M Founding Family Speeds Up Share Purchases
The Persson family and its related companies owned over 60 percent of H&M's shares at the end of May, prompting speculation the company may return to private ownership.
Kate Moss’ Cosmoss Enters Liquidation
The prestige skincare and wellness line founded by the British supermodel entered liquidation proceedings after failing to file its company accounts.
Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo Paired for Blockbuster Exhibition
The two era-defining avant-garde fashion designers will be the subject of a major exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.
Exclusive: Smythson of Bond Street Acquired by Oakley Capital
The British luxury lifestyle brand, known for its leather handbags, notebooks, homeware and other accessories, will look to accelerate its growth and expand internationally.
L’Oréal to Acquire Hair Care Brand Color Wow
Hair care was the second fastest-growing category at L’Oréal last year after fragrances.
Bold Management Acquires Influencer Agency The Digital Prototype
The deal bolsters Bold’s talent management capabilities in France.