🌿 The Fashion Letter | #43 📩

Outerknown is an American sustainable clothing brand founded by pro surfer Kelly Slater.

They create a wide range of clothing for both men and women (from their famous Blanket Shirts to recycled swimwear).

As a member of the Fair Labor Association, Outerknown ensures that everything is produced ethically.

The brand also works with Fair Trade and B Corp-Certified suppliers and factories that have implemented sustainable manufacturing processes.

Additionally, 90% of the brand's garments are made from recycled, organic, and ‘regenerative’ materials. 

Outerknown has a resale platform where you can buy pre-loved styles, and it regularly supports different environmental non-profits.

Jenny Hu, the Chief Product Officer and co-founder of SHADE by SHADY.CLUB, has a rich background in developing technology focused on human experiences and behavior.

Over the past two years, she has dedicated her efforts to creating SHADE, a tool designed to help consumers make more sustainable fashion choices. 

SHADY.CLUB was established with the goal of challenging the fast fashion industry. Their first product, SHADE, currently in Beta, is a straightforward yet powerful Chrome extension that integrates visual search into a shopper's journey, offering sustainable alternatives.

Building Brands in a Net Zero Culture Report

• 37% of ‘very engaged’ individuals said they would prefer to do other things for the climate aside from fashion choices.

• Yet only 34% of Gen Z say they think of fast fashion brands positively and love these types of brands vs 47% of Millennials.

• 77% of Gen Z buy second-hand / vintage clothes vs. 72% of Millennials (but they are more likely to say this is because it is cheaper rather than for the climate).

• Only 34% of Gen Z say they think of fast fashion brands positively and love these types of brands vs 47% of Millennials.

Check more facts.

📅Global Fashion Summit: Shanghai Gala Dinner 2024 📢

7 November

Fashion stands at a pivotal point. After unlocking significant progress over the years, the industry now needs to amplify its efforts to make a greater impact. Achieving the next level of success requires deeper collaboration and evidence-based progress, essential for moving towards a net-positive future.

The upcoming Gala, themed "Unlocking The Next Level," builds on the Copenhagen edition's theme. Marking 15 years since the inaugural Global Fashion Summit in 2024, the event aims to elevate awareness of sustainability in fashion. It will highlight innovative practices and technologies, address critical issues and solutions, foster stakeholder collaboration, and inspire actions toward sustainability goals.

This Gala will set the stage for GFA and Chinamind NEXT's participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on 8 November 2024, a forum celebrated for its focus on sustainable innovation technology.

Federica Marchionni, CEO of GFA, will deliver a keynote address to esteemed leaders, showcasing how innovation and emerging technologies can propel sustainability in lifestyle sectors and advance the industry towards climate goals.

The Vestiaire Collective mission is to revolutionize the fashion industry for a more sustainable future. As the world's first B Corp fashion resale platform, they champion the circular fashion movement, offering an alternative to the wasteful practices of overproduction and overconsumption.

Their philosophy is clear: Long Live Fashion. Despite their growth, they continue to reduce emissions, achieving a net positive environmental impact that widens year after year. Impressively, they prevent three times more emissions than they generate, without relying on offsets. They've also cut carbon intensity by reducing air transport and increasing local shipping, alongside optimizing packaging to minimize waste.

Determined to be the leading voice for circularity in fashion, they were the first resale platform to ban ultra-fast fashion and push for stricter regulations for clothing producers and brands. Recognizing that change can't happen alone, they forge long-term partnerships with like-minded brands to offer Resale as a Service, enabling clients to experience circular shopping.

Diversity strengthens their team, with 67 nationalities represented and 80% of employees feeling empowered to express themselves authentically at work. Committed to closing the gender gap in tech, they aim for 50% female representation in their leadership team by 2026. Five employee resource groups, focusing on women's empowerment, ethnic diversity, accessibility and mental health, parents, and LGBTQIA+, are run by passionate volunteers.