Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, fashion designers from all over the world have taken the initiative to promote sustainability, eco-friendliness, and inclusivity within the industry.

The result?

More consumers have taken these practices into account when purchasing new clothes. 

But let’s look at the facts: retail sales across the globe and especially in the luxury sector plummeted by 70% from March to April.

Does this mean utilizing more sustainable production practices may be a vital aspect of the fashion industry’s recovery from the pandemic? 

Members of the United Nations Environment Program such as Michael Stanley-Jones seem to think so, arguing that environmentally-conscious practices can help rebuild the world economy.

Since March 2019, an umbrella group made up of the United Nations and several partner organizations have backed coordinated efforts to develop unified policies regarding sustainable fashion development. 

The group, known as The Alliance, assists brands with developing sustainability goals, protecting workers, cutting down on waste, and reducing carbon emissions within their supply chain. 

Several individual recognizable designers have also taken a stance on becoming more sustainable. 

Nimco Adam, a clothing designer from Somalia who has designed for more than 55 fashion companies including the likes of Forever 21, has recently turned away from using chemicals and synthetic materials for developing tie-dye clothing and instead uses traditional African textiles.

And for good reason!

Hours of submerging clothes into tubs of chemical dyes have caused her to lose her sense of smell. 

Environmentalist and sustainability advocate Sissi Chao started a Chinese company called the Remake Hub which uses recycled plastic to make apparel and different consumer goods, anything from eyewear to clothing to even furniture. 

These designers aren’t alone.

Many public figures have encouraged these practices including the likes of British musician Elle L. Elle believes the US should follow the footsteps of France, who recently passed a law requiring clothing companies to comply with over 100 sustainability provisions. 

The demographic known as “Gen Z” has also been crucial to the success of these aims to become more sustainable— the power isn’t in just the law or in the hands that write it, but in the hands that hold the shopping bags. 

Check out the full story at UN Environment Programme