Sustainable Fashion Blueprint 2018 report
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. by William James
Fashion is an ambivalent sector. On the one hand, fashion has a fundamental role in our societies as a key employer, an engine for economic growth and a social medium to express one’s personality. On the other hand, it has a devastating impact for the present and future generations of businesses and consumers; it is extremely polluting and resource intensive; complex and opaque and, on occasion, a breeding ground for discrimination.
In the past decade, sustainability has secured a place of focus on the agenda of the industry’s key actors, including governments, international organizations, businesses and consumers. It has also become a greater topic of interest in business schools. We started the Sustainable Fashion Blueprint study during our MBA, as a result of our interest in exploring the potential of sustainability in minimizing the challenges of the fashion industry and the role of businesses and consumers in catalyzing sustainable principles for the industry.
The Sustainable Fashion Blueprint 2018 report is the result of this study. The report focuses on exploring the roles of businesses and consumers in promoting sustainability in fashion and synthesizing the actions each can take to be more engaged in the sustainable fashion movement.
The report highlights that both consumers and businesses have to push for sustainable fashion in their own ways. Businesses may do so by committing to operational transparency for consumers and by implementing sustainable business models. This will undeniably come with important challenges, short term costs and long term commitment, but will be an insurance of a business’s perennity within the industry. Consumers may do so by using their bargaining power over businesses to advance their shared sustainable values and, at the same time, reshape their own purchasing habits. As highlighted by the Mamoq Fashion Survey, the consumer survey conducted during the study, consumers’ desire for sustainability is present, but the awareness is less so.
We hope this report will encourage readers to further explore sustainable fashion and act as a foundation for readers in their self-guided learning.
Preview of the report below and available for download here
We would like to thank the team at MAMOQ for their partnership and support throughout the study as well as the people who provided their help and feedback on the report.
