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The Future of Fashion in One Word: Plastics

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Hoping to help the environment—and improve public relations—clothing companies like Everlane, Patagonia, and H&M are making garments out of recycled plastics.

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"It's all your fault," Simon Collins, founder of Fashion Culture Design and self-proclaimed provocateur, told the Copenhagen Fashion Summit of the damage the industry, which is the second most polluting industry after the oil industry, has done to our planet. "Accept that and do something. Don't have a meeting, don't have an idea... You don't win if you feel righteous".

Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for competition, seconded his call to action, referring to the world's leading business event on sustainable fashion as a "summit for change, a summit for solutions". She reminded the industry of its collective responsibility to think about the effects of its choices, because fashion will never be separate to society. One single garment, for example, doesn't just affect the person who wears it, the choice to purchase that garment affects the workers who earn the right to a fair wage, the workers who don't want to fear for their lives in factories, the workers who need clean air and water, and everyone around the world whose future depends on cutting carbon dioxide emissions. "Sustainability has to be built in every part of change," Vestager told the summit. "It has to be fundamental. It's not for the fainthearted, but I don't think anyone would accuse fashion of being fainthearted."

Transparency and traceability are enablers of change, but the industry must read from the same definition of these terms, which have become buzzwords. Transparency, Leslie Johnston, executive director of the C&A Foundation, affirmed is the "disclosure of information in a standardised manner that enables comparison". Traceability is the "ability to discover information as to when and how a product is made." If transparency is all about trust, then traceability is about accountability.

"Transparency is the first step towards a different culture, one where brands become open and accountable, and customers are ready to become vigilant and ask, 'who made my clothes?'" expanded Orsola de Castro, founder and creative director of Fashion Revolution. "Transparency provides an open door. We can't fix what we can't see... We need to make it as easy for us to see the clothes as it is to buy the clothes."

The conversation between brands and customers is a step in the right direction, because until now, de Castro said, there was no conversation. Amanda Nusz, vice president of product quality and responsible sourcing at Target Corporation, adds of forming a company-customer alliance: "It's not only good to do, it's good for business... people will be loyal to ethical brands."

But, if transparency is a win-win for both consumer, corporation and the planet, then why is it not happening? The decision has to come from the top, Nusz advised, because it requires a high level of resources and time. It's not a box ticking exercise that can be paid for and filed away under jobs done, it's about implementing a "holistic programme", looking at the issues that are getting in the way of transparency, making transparency a part of the brand's DNA, and educating and empowering the staff. "Sustainability [has to be] in the room at every meeting at the company," Mark Walker, Outerknown CEO, said of his ethical start-up, which made transparency the core of the LA-based brand's ethos or "vibe" when it launched three years ago.

But most "brands don't trust it and haven't tried it for long enough," de Castro continued. "The fashion industry is built on secrecy, elitism, closed doors and unavailability. [Transparency] is disrupting the fabric of the fashion industry as we know it."

Many brands and manufacturers have been making motions towards supply chain transparency, particularly in the aftermath of the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, which was a "never again" wake-up call. But, the question has to be, how does the industry work together? "It's too big to tackle alone," Nusz explained. Mostafiz Uddin, founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, agreed that there needs to one set of standards to follow, so that each company doesn't start from scratch. "We need to communicate in one language about transparency," he said, and have "standardised information" that customers can understand too. Cecilia Strömblad Brännsten, H&M Group environmental sustainability manager, who outlined H&M's end goal to become 100 percent transparent, agreed that we must "align on a common vision and agenda and set industry targets."

Ebru Ozkucuk Guler, senior CSR executive at ISKO, the leading manufacturer in sustainable denim, has completed Life Cycle Assessments for all 25,000-plus of its denim fabrics in order to fully understand the environmental footprint of each fabric from fibre to finished product. These environmental product declarations can be viewed by anyone online, and in November it will share a set of Product Category Rules, so that other manufacturers can establish eco and socially conscious supply chains using the data.

Geraldine Vallejo, Kering sustainability programme director, supported this notion of sharing knowledge and innovation: "If you only focus on your own efficiencies you're missing the point." Kering has implemented the Clean by Design programme across tier one of its brand suppliers, and is in the process of expanding the Natural Resources Defense Council-implemented scheme to the upper tiers. Burberry, who were represented at the summit by Pamela Batty, vice president of corporate responsibility at the brand, is investing £3million to London's Royal College of Art to establish a Burberry material research group. Its mission will be innovation, and its radical research into new ways to sustainably make raw materials will be made publicly available. Nike launched its biggest ever sustainability challenge - the Nike Circulation Challenge - last year, urging innovators to create new ways of making products with its recycled offcuts scheme, known as Nike Grind. "We believe we can innovate our way through any problem, but the problems are extraordinary complex," Eric Sprunk, Nike COO, said.

Nicolaj Reffstrup, Ganni CEO, maintained that it's up to big businesses to innovate and lead the way. As a "small to medium enterprise" or SME, "there's no politics, we control everything, so there's no excuse for not taking control of an ethical supply chain." But SMEs don't have "the skills or capacity to create innovative solutions... we can't produce manuals and work for them." This needs to come from established, certified business models that not only support a transparent supply chain, but a transparent closed loop fashion system, or circular economy - yet more buzzwords.

An "end to end" production system, where garments are kept in the fashion system for longer and then made into new products at the end of their life cycle, is crucial, because currently 87 percent of fashion gets landfilled or incinerated. When 53 million tonnes of clothes are produced every year, this is a huge problem, and an even bigger one when we consider that in the last 15 years we have doubled the amount of clothes we produce. "We need to paint a vision of what a circular economy can look like," Ellen MacArthur, whose inaugural Ellen MacArthur Foundation report focusing on circular economy found these harrowing statistics, said. "In a time of creativity and innovation, why would we ever turn anything into waste?"

Major global brands present at the summit, including Nike, H&M and Burberry, have signed up to the Make Fashion Circular initiative, which aims to create an "unstoppable momentum" towards an economy in which clothes are never seen as rubbish to be thrown away. Companies promoting a closed loop economy, such as resale sites Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal, and The Renewal Workshop, which repairs damaged products to make them sellable and profitable for brands again, were also in attendance. But, although each is a prime model of how garments can and should have an afterlife, there is still a huge elephant in the room: overproduction.

Closed loop models are so hard and so precise to achieve that they are putting a huge constraint on the industry, Paul Dillinger, Levi Strauss & Co vice president and head of global product innovation, said. "If six out of 10 garments end up in landfill, should we have made those six garments?" Morals must be incorporated in these new business models. "Clothes are regarded as consumables," Paul van Zyl, CEO of Maiyet, explained, and as long as that model exists, it has a lasting impact on society and the environment.

But it's not the consumer's fault. The industry has fed it a "more is more" mindset, and must now change this mindset to become more mindful. "If we think of [transforming] a linear economy into a circle we haven't taken opportunity of the moment," William McDonough, chief executive of McDonough Innovation, explained. "For it to be a virtue we have to have 'goods' and 'services', not 'bads' and 'services'. We need to design goods that are good for the economy." He described the industry as adults behaving with child supervision, and urged it to look in the mirror and find the "right thing to do, not the right way to do it".

Thankfully, the consumer is making strides already. There used to be an "obsession with what they put in their body, now they're becoming obsessed with what they put on their body," Outerknown's Mark Walker said, referring to the parallels between the organic food movement and fashion.

Everyone can claim to be an activist though, and every brand can advocate sustainability, because of the filters available to enhance the profiles we present to the outside world. For transparency about sustainability to work, there has to be a total openness about brand practices and consumer beliefs, and an openness for people to put their hands up and ask for help without getting shot down for not doing enough. Above all, the rallying cry of "who made my clothes?" has to be answered with companies taking the responsibility to honestly say, "I made your clothes". As de Castro said, "it's a question of shopping but also a question of survival."

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Why We Need To Talk About Transparency In Fashion

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"It's all your fault," Simon Collins, founder of Fashion Culture Design and self-proclaimed provocateur, told the Copenhagen Fashion Summit of the damage the industry, which is the second most polluting industry after the oil industry, has done to our planet. "Accept that and do something. Don't have a meeting, don't have an idea...

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Illustration by Jan-Nico Meyer for BoF

NEW YORK, United States - These days, it's hard to open your favourite news app without being bombarded with headlines about millennials, the demographic that every brand wants to charm.

Why? Just look at the numbers. In 2017, millennials in the US alone spent about $200 billion and it is estimated that, by the end of 2018, they will have more spending power than any other generation.

There is little doubt that millennials have distinct values and consumer behaviours. This appears to include an interest in sustainability.

Sixty six percent of global millennials are willing to spend more on brands that are sustainable, according to the State of Fashion 2018 report by BoF & McKinsey. Nearly 90 percent believe they will help create more sustainable products by convincing businesses and governments to change existing practices, according to research by LIM College, a school dedicated to the business of fashion in New York. In the same study, an equal percentage of respondents said they would be willing to boycott a fashion brand if it was not sustainable.

Millennials are also more aware of the textile industry's environmental and social shortcomings than older generations, believed Oeko-Tex Association, a group of 16 independent textile research and test institutes in Europe and Japan. They are also more inclined to see the textile industry as a major polluter and are more concerned than previous generations about harmful substances in their clothing. What's more, Oeko-Tex found that 60 percent of millennials are interested in certified sustainable clothing, while 69 percent of millennials check claims like "eco-friendly" or "sustainable" when buying clothes.

The message seems clear: millennials care about sustainable fashion. But do they buy it?

While actual sales data is hard to come by, only 34 percent of millennials say they are driven to make a fashion purchase because a product was sustainable, according to LIM College. What's more, Oeko-Tex reports that while 60 percent are interested in certified clothing, only 37 percent say they have actually purchased them.

Sustainability will be the next major battlefield where brands will compete for millennial spend

Why the gap? Do millennials simply say they care about sustainable fashion but lack the genuine conviction to follow through in what they buy? Or is there something more nuanced at play here?

Product availability and lack of clear marketing seem to be the main issues.

First, the fashion industry is not providing millennials with sufficient sustainable fashion choices that also meet their most important criteria for making a purchase: ease of purchase, price and value. For 95 percent of millennials, these are the key drivers for making purchases, finds LIM College.

Indeed, sustainable fashion brands are so few they can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Of course, there are labels such as , Patagonia or Reformation which are actively pushing sustainability as a core attribute of their brands. Yet, the vast majority of brands do not offer the scale or variety of sustainable fashion items to meet millennial expectations and tastes.

In addition, brands could play a more active role in effectively marketing sustainability. Few consumers will actually take the time to visit a brand's corporate sustainability page or read a sustainability report. Sustainability information needs to be clear, visible and easily accessible - both in-store and online - to cater to the short attention span millennials are so famous for.

This includes putting details on environmental and ethical credentials in e-commerce product descriptions and on physical product labels and banners in retail stores. Specifically, integrating consumer facing sustainability labels such as the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) or the certified Leather Working Group (LWG) could help. Some brands have even created their own labels for sustainable products. For example, when ASOS created Eco Edit, a curated destination where customers can buy sustainable fashion, beauty and jewellery goods, the retailer also created an Eco Edit symbol to help customers identify and learn more about the sustainable product ranges they sell.

Similarly, giving e-commerce consumers the ability to filter products by sustainable attributes like "fair trade" or "100% organic cotton" - much like they filter products based on price, brand or colour - could sync with millennials' desire for ease of use. On REI's website, shoppers can filter by attributes like "biodegradable," "vegan" and "organic."

Why should executives bother? Surely, solving the millennial sustainability gap is a major commercial opportunity waiting to be exploited. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that sustainability will be the next major battlefield where brands will compete for millennial spend.
Luna Atamian Hahn-Petersen is a sustainability consultant, working at Salterbaxter in New York, specialising in helping apparel and luxury companies to develop sustainable brands. How to submit an Op-Ed: The Business of Fashion accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. The suggested length is 800 words, but submissions of any length will be considered. Submissions may be sent to contributors@businessoffashion.com. Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line. Given the volume of submissions we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond in the event that an article is not selected for publication.

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Op-Ed | Millennials Say They Care About Sustainability. So, Why Don't They Shop This Way?

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Illustration by Jan-Nico Meyer for BoF NEW YORK, United States - These days, it's hard to open your favourite news app without being bombarded with headlines about millennials, the demographic that every brand wants to charm. Why? Just look at the numbers.

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A survey of more than 1,000 UK adults by marketingsignals.com found that 82% of those shoppers who prefer to buy in store like doing so because they receive the product as soon as they have purchased it.

A total of 78% would rather see and feel a product in store before looking online for the best price, and 94% of shoppers like to research a product online before buying.

Gareth Hoyle, managing director at marketingsignals.com, said: "In an ideal world, consumers would rather visit a store to make a purchase, but because of time constraints, stock issues and convenience, many turn to shopping online.

"This is a lesson for retailers to ensure that their digital presence is working as hard as it possibly can, offering an omnichannel journey and an experience that is most convenient."

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85% of customers prefer shopping in store

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A survey of more than 1,000 UK adults by marketingsignals.com found that 82% of those shoppers who prefer to buy in store like doing so because they receive the product as soon as they have purchased it.

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Lifestyle ES Magazine

The British fashion industry relies on international trade, thrives on a global pool of talent - and has made no secret of its desire to remain in the EU. So how is it preparing as we enter the final countdown to Brexit? Lucy Tobin investigates

B

ritain's fashion industry didn't vote for Brexit: 90 per cent of designers told the British Fashion Council they were voting remain.

But with less than seven months to go before the UK formally cuts its ties with the European Union, this £28 billion sector has to get three very different looks ready to future-proof business.

Richard Lim, chief executive of analyst Retail Economics, outlines the potential scenarios: 'Hard Brexit - where existing trade deals disappear, and designers, retailers and manufacturers would have to pay to trade with the EU - would mean clothing and footwear tariffs of about 11 per cent, or just over £1 billion more each year.' A second option is a free trade agreement, 'but we don't know what kind of strings will be attached - it's hard for businesses to plan'. Third, the UK could remain part of the customs union, but that seems unlikely given that Theresa May has already rejected this path.

'Whatever happens, the price of a pair of jeans will, in all likeliness, go up after Brexit,' says Lim. 'It's tariffs, and an exodus of [European] shop staff, designers, warehouse staff, delivery drivers... As we "take control of our borders", the pool of available staff is likely to shrink, meaning an inflationary impact on wages. It's likely to be massively disruptive.'

The UK imports almost £10 billion worth of clothes and shoes from Europe each year; more than 10,000 European staff work in the British fashion industry. It has become a microcosm of UK Plc's struggle to deal with the referendum result.

Katharine Hamnett has sold thousands of her 'CANCEL BREXIT' T-shirts and has released a new version, 'FASHION HATES BREXIT'. She is campaigning for a second referendum, but has a contingency plan, too. She has set up her own Italian company, near Venice, 'to handle production and logistics, so we don't get snarled up in complicated Brexit red tape and import and export problems for our manufacturing and shipments'.

'It's terrifying that we know so little about "the deal" - the fashion industry works so far in advance, and it feels like we are in a blackout room and having to use a crystal ball to find our way out,' says Frances Card, fashion consultant and former Matchesfashion.com COO. Her concern is echoed by Clare Hornby of ME+EM, whose Breton T-shirts are loved by the Duchess of Cambridge. Meanwhile, photographer Nick Knight is unequivocal. 'The overwhelming evidence and general agreement on all sides now is that this country and its communities will be considerably worse off both economically and culturally if we leave the EU,' he says.

It's not all bad. The Brexit-fuelled crash in the value of the pound has seen surging numbers of Chinese, Arab and American fashion tourists chucking cash at the West End's fanciest tills. But higher sales may not be enough to offset rising foreign manufacturing costs and an influx of shoppers may be balanced by an outflux of international talent from the industry. José Neves, founder of luxury online platform Farfetch, put it like this at last year's Web Summit in Lisbon: 'We have 25 different nationalities in our London office. If [Brexit] jeopardises that, it'll be a major loss.' Writer and consultant Nick Vinson points out, 'Many great "British" designers are European and proud of it': Mary Katrantzou is Greek, Simone Rocha is Irish, Peter Pilotto is Austrian-Italian.

Loud and clear: Katharine Hamnett's T-shirt

Stephanie Phair, chair of the British Fashion Council, says that 'making sure young people from all around the world have access to creative education and skills to protect our home-grown talent pipeline' is a post-Brexit priority. 'It's extremely important that we remain open and accessible to international talent,' she adds. The BFC helps run the fashion arm of the Home Office's Tier 1 visa scheme, giving 2,000 top designers from outside the EU fast-tracked visas. 'In light of Brexit, this is something that is incredibly important.'

Stylist Tamara Cincik set up Fashion Roundtable to make sure the industry's concerns were heard. 'Fishing makes £1.4 billion for the UK economy, fashion almost £30 billion, but we only hear about cod,' she says. 'I know of two long-established London brands, one in accessories, one in women's and menswear, moving to Portugal, and a large fash-tech business looking to relocate its logistics to Italy. With a hard Brexit or no deal, swathes of fashion firms expect to leave,' she adds.

Universities claim the talent drain isn't happening yet. The London College of Fashion says its proportion of EU applicants hasn't dropped over the past year. The college's head, professor Frances Corner, is a rare positive voice: 'Brexit gives us an opportunity to ask what sort of fashionable future we want. Ideas and thoughts can't be tied down to national boundaries, they will always break through,' she says. But she mourns the end of EU funding, and potentially of the Erasmus scheme, which enables students and staff to work elsewhere in Europe.

The International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, has said that Brexit is 'an unprecedented opportunity to create a trading environment that delivers for our country, our businesses and our citizens'. And it's true that Brexit isn't a wardrobe disaster for every London company in the fashion industry. Vote Leave's push for the return of 'made in Britain' is already bearing fruit in the unlikely location of Haringey. At a dazzling white workshop in Zone 2, Jenny Holloway runs Fashion Enter, where 107 stitchers, cutters and designers manufacture womenswear for Marks & Spencer, Asos, Matthew Williamson and Preen, among others. Since the referendum, she's had Tesco and Arcadia come knocking. 'Brexit, and the chaos in Turkey, mean manufacturing is drifting back to the UK,' Holloway says.

The in-crowd: right, designers Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery express support for the remain campaign during one of their label's catwalk shows in 2016 /

'We can go from idea to delivery in three weeks.' However, some 80 per cent of her stitchers are Eastern European. 'When [the Brexit vote] first happened, two went home immediately - they felt unloved and unwanted. We used to have skilled workers from Bulgaria, Romania and Poland knocking on the door every week - that's stopped completely.'

UK makers also need something to make their clothes from - and there aren't any cotton fields in Seven Sisters. Three quarters of materials used in the UK are imported. If there is no deal, UK manufacturers will be subject to a bewildering array of tariffs.

'Manufacturers will face reams of paperwork for each component part,' Anna Tobin, at Ready for Brexit, explains. 'Plus there are possible technical barriers to trade - if a country decides a British clothing firm's standards aren't high enough, it could be barred. Then there's the possible port queues delaying shipments, new VAT rules that mean importers will have to pay their 20 per cent upfront, and potential delays at immigration for foreign buyers.

'Business that's done unthinkingly now - shipping in cloth from Italian mills, sourcing components from China, Turkey and India, transporting finished clothes and models over to Paris or Milan for the shows, and product lines into stores in Europe - will entail many more additional steps. It will be a logistical nightmare.'

Spaniard Álvaro González makes the sandals of his eponymous shoe brand in Florence, sells them in his Marylebone shop plus wholesale worldwide via Matchesfashion.com, Mr Porter and Browns Fashion, all based in London. 'Delivery for SS19 is just before [Brexit day] but our next collection, which we are designing now, is a concern - we have no way of knowing how we can sell and deliver it. We wholesale in euros, and sell in our store and via e-commerce in pounds. Our margins are at risk with exchange rate fluctuations.'

Stephen Sidkin, fashion law partner at Fox Williams whose clients include La Perla and Orla Kiely, believes the industry is not well prepared: 'Many fashion firms are adopting the ostrich position - which could prove painful.' But he admits they have no choice. 'By next week, many brands will have decided what individual pieces from their SS19 collections to manufacture - but unless they are paying in sterling, how can they know where exchange rates will be when payment for overseas manufacturing becomes due? Or what customs duties will be payable both into the UK and into the EU?'

All of which means that experts are worried about London losing its reputation as a global fashion capital. Last month, Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton gave £1m to the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum. Frances Card, meanwhile, adds: 'We came back from a major exodus of designers and top models at London Fashion Week around a decade ago - it was hard to do. The threat of [Brexit's] potential loss cuts through all aspects of our industry - disaster for our stores, businesses and carefully nurtured brands, and the freedom to move everything and everyone easily across borders. Don't let's lose our place again.'

Illustrations by Michelle Thompson

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How will Brexit impact the UK fashion industry?

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The British fashion industry relies on international trade, thrives on a global pool of talent - and has made no secret of its desire to remain in the EU. So how is it preparing as we enter the final countdown to Brexit? Lucy Tobin investigates

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Over the last five years, the fashion industry has felt the same pangs as the rest of the retail world. However, unlike some industries, there have been bright pockets. Apparel brands, especially those with fast fashion or direct-to-consumer models, that have been able to quickly innovate to meet consumer needs have seen success.

At Bazaarvoice, we have a client base of over 5,700 brand and retailer websites, a large number of which are in the fashion and apparel space. As an Account Director on our Client Success team, I partner with some of our largest global retailers. Along with the rest of our Client Success and Sales teams, I work closely with our clients to understand their goals and pain points. Because of this, we have deep insight into industry trends. To get a broad understanding of trends impacting our fashion and apparel clients, I reached out to Client Success and Sales team members across the organization. What were their clients' concerns for 2018? How are they trying to innovate in the year ahead? Based on that insight, these are the four fashion industry trends to stay on top of in 2018.

Staying competitive in a uniquely crowded market

Competition is a concern for any business, regardless of industry. But today's retail environment is particularly challenging. Not only do brands have to adjust to changing consumer trends and preferences but also to an industry with a wide variety of players, including fast fashion, direct-to-consumer, and Amazon.

Account Executive Austin Rindner says, "There is a ton of increased competition in apparel. High end apparel brands are facing significantly more competition from fast fashion and other cheaper alternatives. Amazon is starting to dip the into the apparel space, which is another concern."

Fast fashion brands like H&M, Zara, and ASOS have disrupted the industry by meeting a previously untapped consumer need - on trend clothing and accessories for a lower price. These brands can turn around new products in fewer than six weeks from conception to shelf, and their success is forcing the rest of the fashion world to keep up. According to McKinsey's 2018 State of Fashion report, "sales of the traditional fast fashion-sector have grown rapidly, by more than 20 percent over the last three years."

In 2018, fashion brands have prioritized innovation to stay competitive with consumers who expect trendy inventory. Mandy Oettmeier, Client Success Director, says that "increasing efficiencies and productivity within inventory management and supply chain" is a major focus area for many of her fashion and apparel clients.

When talking about competition, it would be remiss not to mention Amazon. Over the last year, the e-commerce giant has made a lot of moves to expand its reach, including acquisitions and forays into new markets. Andy Fryer, an Account Executive in our Asia-Pacific region, said, "Amazon just launched here in Australia. It's not really a massive threat to fashion and apparel right now, but only time will tell."

In addition to new markets, Amazon has been breaking into new verticals and has recently begun to make more aggressive moves to establish itself in the apparel space. The company has quietly rolled out its own fashion lines over the last two years, but, in late 2017, it branched out from basics with a trendier line called Find and its own athletic apparel collection, Goodsport. Austin added that, "Alexa has started to offer fashion advice like a personal wardrobe consultant. This gives Amazon even more direct insight into their customers that traditional brands and retailers struggle to access." Just recently, Amazon announced that it was increasing its fees for the clothing and accessory category, making apparel the most expensive category to sell on Amazon.

The fashion industry is uniquely competitive, and that doesn't show signs of changing anytime soon. Brands that don't innovate fast enough will be left behind.

Delivering a seamless experience across all consumer touchpoints

Omnichannel - the concept of integrating all of your consumer touchpoints (social media, brick-and-mortar, online, mobile, etc.) to provide a seamless customer experience - has dominated industry conversation for the last five or so years. A headline of a Forbes article last year asked, "Can We Stop Saying Omnichannel And Just Say Retailing?". While we might be tired of hearing the word, omnichannel should be table stakes for fashion brands. However, the reality is that many still struggle to figure it out.

Many of our fashion and apparel clients have prioritized providing an omnichannel experience for 2018. But first, to be able to do this, they need to get a grasp on their customers. In conversations with our clients, there was a desire to better understand their customers, especially a holistic view outside of their own properties. This means getting a handle on customer data. Technological innovation has given brands the opportunity to collect mass quantities of customer data, but the problem becomes making sense of it and putting it to work in the right way.

Brick-and-mortar, online, social media, mobile, and customer service are major customer touchpoints, and, therefore, major priorities for any omnichannel strategy. Our different apparel clients are focused on different areas. For example, Ashley Knowles, Client Success Director, says that "while one client is working towards a successful mobile app launch, another is trying to improve their in-store experience, and both see a truly omnichannel experience as a priority." Similarly, Mandy says her fashion clients want to "accelerate their online and mobile businesses, try to meet customers where they are, better manage big data, and deliver buy online, pick up in-store and order in-store options."

Whether focused on improving one particular channel or the journey as a whole, it's clear from talking to many brands and retailers in the fashion industry that a seamless customer experience is still a goal that many are working towards.

Fostering brand loyalty with customers who have infinite choices

Once you reach and convert customers, how do you keep them? The rapid innovation and growth in the fashion industry has created new standards in retail, but, more importantly, it's created new standards in consumer expectations. Shoppers can choose from a never ending list of brands and products. In addition to competing for new customers, fashion brands are investing in ways to keep the customers they have.

There are a variety of ways that today's fashion brands foster loyalty - social media, rewards programs, mobile apps, discounts - but if you don't have a memorable, quality product, you will lose customers right away.

The issue of returns is particularly challenging for the fashion industry, as customer experience relies heavily on fit. 80% of first time customers who experience a return will never shop at that retail website again. Carla El Gawly, Account Director for many of our European fashion clients, reinforced that the high rate of returns in fashion, particularly for e-commerce, remained an issue for her clients and results in major hits to sales and loyalty. Many retailers say that 20-40% of their online sales are returned, with fit being the #1 reason. On the flip side, 85% of consumers saying they go back to a brand specifically because of how it fits them. One way I have seen retailers combat this challenge is with specific efforts to get more information about fit into customer reviews. While the industry has begun to reduce returns and better align with customer expectations, this issue remains an obstacle to brand loyalty.

Whether working with recognizable influencers on social media or relaunching a mobile app, a number of our apparel clients are working on various programs to foster brand loyalty. No matter the tactic, loyalty comes down to building trust and positive relationships with consumers. In the world of fashion and accessories, this starts with having a quality product.

Investing in and delivering on personalization promises

As it turns out, there's a way that fashion brands are attempting to solve for their struggles with competition, omnichannel, and loyalty: personalization. Providing a 1:1 customer experience emerged as the biggest theme amongst our fashion and apparel clients, and McKinsey named personalization as the #1 trend for the fashion industry in 2018:

"Personalisation and curation will become more important to the customer. As consumer values coalesce around authenticity and individuality, brands will value data even more to tailor recommendations, engage influencers, and personalise experiences. The fashion companies that flourish will re-focus on their strengths."

Like omnichannel, successful personalization starts with consumer data. Research, including our own, shows that most consumers are comfortable with companies collecting personal data, as long as it "leads to products and services that make their lives easier, more entertaining, educate them, and save them money.

If brands tap into their consumer data, they can serve up content and recommendations that align with an individual's preferences and shopping intent. In our own research, 66% of fashion and apparel shoppers said that a personalized shopping experience and product recommendations are somewhat or very important. Without personalization, brands risk providing an inaccurate or unremarkable customer experience and losing potential customers. According to a report from Boston Consulting Group, apparel retailers that have implemented personalization strategies see sales gains of 10% or more, a rate three times faster than other retailers.

Fashion brands are still figuring out how to provide personalization at scale, but, this year, many of our clients have made a commitment (and an investment) to deliver. John Sheffield, Account Executive, went as far to call 2018 the year of personalization: "Apparel brands are looking to customize the user experience through ads, recommendations, visual commerce, and display. It seems like many of my clients are investing in giving their web experience a facelift or a full overhaul. They are always exploring personalization and display advertising technologies."

In this industry in particular, consumers are looking for clothing and accessories that help them express their personal style. It follows that when looking for products that reflect their individuality, these shoppers expect an individualized experience with a brand.

If one thing was clear across all of our apparel clients, it was that no one brand has everything entirely figured out. Whether it's logistics, omnichannel, loyalty, or personalization, fashion brands are investing in innovation that will keep them ahead of their competitors. McKinsey predicts that the apparel industry will grow 3.5-4.5% in 2018. However, that won't be evenly split across fashion players. When it comes to this industry, fortune will favor the bold.
To receive e-mail updates on all personalization-related content, subscribe to our Personalization Hub.

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The four trends impacting the global fashion industry in 2018

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Over the last five years, the fashion industry has felt the same pangs as the rest of the retail world. However, unlike some industries, there have been bright pockets. Apparel brands, especially those with fast fashion or direct-to-consumer models, that have been able to quickly innovate to meet consumer needs have seen success.

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Business confidence in UK hits lowest ebb since financial crisis

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Normally robust services sector leads the rout, according to BDO optimism index

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Following on from our previous article on ' How to attract the millennials ', it's interesting to examine this age cohort's spending attitudes and behaviours by comparing them to those of other generations; Baby Boomers and Generation X.

Baby Boomers are generally considered to be born after the Second World War up until around the 1960s, Generation X is categorised as being born from the mid-1960s to the end of the 1970s, and Millennials are broadly agreed to be born between the early 1980s to the mid-90s. But how does when we're born, affect our attitude and behaviour?

The Money Matters Team at Sainsbury's Bank did some research into this question and came up with some fascinating findings.

From the frugal baby boomers with their "make do and mend" attitude deriving from a war-effort sentiment, the "work hard play hard" attitude of Gen X who grew up in the Thatcher era, to the "treat yourself" generation of millennials who spend most of their time outside of work socialising and eating out. As you can see, there are plenty of differences in the attitudes towards saving and spending between the generations.

Being the first truly digital generation, millennials' unique life experiences have ultimately changed the way we live, work and consume. For example, this group will spend £44,000 more than baby boomers and £25,000 more than Generation Xers on rent by the time they're 30. This bleak reality is counteracted by a greater demand for a healthy work-life balance, with 54% spending their disposable income on dining out rather than saving and investing. And lastly, being the least likely to carry cash, card payments are looking to almost double by 2025. As a result, it's important that businesses understand what this tech-savvy generation look for in their experience with companies.

Have read through of the visual below to read about the rest of the findings.

More on customer service and growing your business.

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The article accompanied by the infographic highlights the the saving and spending habits of millennials, generation X and baby boomers. The different generations have different habits as customers that small businesses need to be aware of in order to attract the right people to their business.

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Working for a digital marketing agency that specializes in visual content, I've learned that different consumer segments have different preferences in terms of design, brand voice and platform. Usually, our clients use a style guide that already suits their target audience. Unfortunately, not all clients are in-tune of their demographic's preferences or how to capitalize their shopping behaviors to maximize their content's impact. So we decided to do our own digging not only in the area of infographics but also in the behavior of consumers towards other touch points - from email to landing pages. Here's what we found out:
Consumer Generations of Today
For the past few years, millennials have been under a microscope, and rightfully so. They spend $600 billion a year or around $85 per day. That's 28% of the total daily per-person consumer spending. As the biggest consumer generation to date, the business world thoroughly dissected everything from their preferred channels to spending habits.

Millennials lived through a period of rapid change, both economically and technologically. As a result, their shopping patterns have also changed dramatically from the previous generation. For example, they aren't as impressed with branded content in traditional formats, unlike Generation X before them. Thanks to a phenomenon called "banner blindness," they prefer recommendations from social media connections over ads.

That's why companies that target millennials want their content optimized for social media shareability - be it an Instagram picture quote or data visualizations on SlideShare.
Generation X: Maximizing Value
Businesses find it difficult to categorize or approach Gen X from a marketing standpoint. They are among the most sophisticated and educated consumers today. In the U.S., 35% of Gen Xers hold degrees, whereas only 19% of millennials do. They understand the meaning of value and are more likely to stay loyal to a specific brand.

1. Ramp up your newsletters (digital and physical). Be sure to take advantage of direct mail to make your brand messages stand out, as opposed to being crammed together with hundreds of others in an email inbox. However, avoid putting them off with a thick wall of text. To maximize engagement, incorporate visuals to address their pain points and summarize key takeaways. You can also offer coupons to provide even further incentives.

2. Prove value through practicality. Gen Xers appreciate straightforward messaging that stresses the need for a product. The faster you deliver this information, the more likely you are to close conversions, which is why most infographics are designed to condense in-depth data into a more digestible, readable and actionable. Remember, these are people already support children and their retired parents. Leverage cost and efficiency comparisons between similar brands to make your brand offerings more appealing. For example, you can develop a side-by-side comparison checklist or a Venn diagram to illustrate the advantages of your product over more expensive competitors. Highlight the cost differences at the end to emphasize the value they can get out of your brand.

Millennials: Experience Is Key
Just like Gen Xers, millennials also want value. But I have found that they lean towards the experience and authenticity rather than relationships.

1. Invest in content marketing. Content marketing can help build up the need for your product and shorten the sales cycle by conveying your selling points early. However, you need to ensure you provide value by tackling topics that matter to your audience. For this, you can use a content research tool like BuzzStream to find trending ideas based on keywords in your niche.

2. Become omnichannel. Millennials are omnichannel shoppers who like to explore and compare different deals. The good news is, certain e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce can help offer a consistent experience by consolidating channel management in one place. It supports major touchpoints like eBay, Amazon, Google and social networks.

3. Offer great customer service. Regardless of niche, customer service is crucial to the shopping experience. Desk by Salesforce is a one-stop customer service platform you can use to accommodate inquiries across channels that are relevant to millennials. This includes email, phone, discussion boards and live chat. A universally-used messaging app such as Facebook's Messenger should also work. Not only will it help you connect with your audience on a more personal level, it can also be integrated with a chatbot to automate customer service. Just make sure you use a conversational and approachable tone to improve their experience and encourage them to contact you again whenever they need to.

Generation Z: Mobile and Social
Finally, I've found that Gen Z shares many similarities with millennials like tech-savviness and affinity with social media. These traits, however, are more permeated in all walks of life - and with increasingly smaller displays. Remember, most Gen Zers owned a mobile device for most of their lives. Mobile internet, apps and social media are all but second nature to them.

1. Give them the tools for interaction. For social media, I've found that simply sharing content will not generate the engagement you need from Gen Zers. You need to get them into the conversation by asking questions, running polls and responding to comments. A great way to do so is to promote a hashtag that they can use to voice out their concerns. You can also utilize free platforms like Google Forms to engage them in an interactive survey.

2. Connect with their influencers. While Gen Xers have their celebrities, Gen Zers have social media stars to influence their purchase decisions. Getting ahold of them might be challenging, but it'll put your brand front and center of your Gen Z customers. Fortunately, there is a slew of tools you can use to discover as well as engage relevant influencers. This includes TweetDeck, FollowerWonk and Social Crawlytics.

Having to cater to a whole new generation of consumers is an ordeal, but it's an opportunity for any business to reinvent their brand. After all, where there is growth, there was once change. To resist the times would be to put a cap on your potential.

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Generation Face-Off: Comparing Gen X, Y And Z Shopping Behaviors

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Working for a digital marketing agency that specializes in visual content, I've learned that different consumer segments have different preferences in terms of design, brand voice and platform. Usually, our clients use a style guide that already suits their target audience.

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Generation X are viewed by many as the hard-to-reach generation, defined more by the millennial and baby boomer brackets they sit outside of, rather than the characteristics that set them apart.

Around a third of internet users globally fit into the Gen X category (born 1964-1982, aged 35-53). The majority are busy professionals with families, and as a generation they wield great spending power, making them a key audience for marketers.

But as they usually find themselves on-the-go, they lack the luxury of time to explore the digital world in the same way younger generations do.

And as they're more likely to be going online with a purpose, marketers have less moments of opportunity to engage Gen Xers.

So how can we understand this generation a little better? Here we outline four insights to help improve targeting to Gen X in 2018 and beyond.

1. They've fully embraced digital media.

Broadcast TV is still the biggest source of entertainment for Gen Xers, but that's not to say they haven't embraced all things digital.

In fact, a third of daily time spent watching TV-based content is dedicated to online TV/streaming services.

1 in 5 also paid for a TV or movie streaming service last month, showing they're actively engaging with new media.

Their digital footprint in news consumption is also worth noting; they now dedicate more daily time to reading digital press than print - revealing key opportunities where Gen Xers are consuming content with intent.

2. They're almost as present on social as millennials.

Gen Xers are now spending an average of close to 2 hours a day on social media (that's 48 minutes less than millennials ), and they shouldn't be hard to find.

Facebook is way ahead of the pack as their social hub.

The number that was actively engaged with the platform last month is equal to that of millennials (at 49%).

But unlike millennials, who are most likely to be using it to fill up spare time, Gen Xers' motivations for using social media are far more goal-oriented than just casual browsing. They're most likely to use it to stay up-to-date with news, and to keep in touch with their friends.

These purpose-driven social media activities highlight a bigger need to target content to Gen Xers, as purpose brings guaranteed attention.

3. They now prefer mobile across every stage of their online purchase journey.

Gen Xers are becoming just as attached to their mobiles as the younger generations, so much so that their handsets are now the go-to device for research , purchase and advocacy stages in the consumer journey - a significant shift from the last quarter.

They're now more likely to reach for a mobile than a PC/laptop when searching for products to buy online (59% vs. 54%), purchasing products online (49% vs. 46%) and for posting product or brand reviews (24% vs. 23%).

In fact, this leaning towards mobile is impacting physical purchases too, with 3 in 10 having used their phone to pay for an item past month.

4. They look to save money and will be loyal in return.

In terms of spending power, Gen Xers are where it's at. A quarter sit within the affluent income bracket , but the same number says they always try to find the best deals when purchasing products.

Around a half are motivated by coupons or discounts to make a purchase. Out of all generations, they're also the most likely to value the possibility of receiving loyalty points when purchasing, with many being happy to advocate brands in return.

If brands get it right, Gen Xers are the generation most likely to be loyal.

3 in 5 agree that once they find a brand they like, they'll stick with it.

As with any generation, the deal-breaker is to understand the needs of Gen Xers without generalization, tailoring brand message and strategy accordingly.

After all, with spending power in mind, Gen X's return and interaction is potentially more rewarding than any other.

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4 Insights into Generation X Every Marketer Should Have - GWI

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Generation X are viewed by many as the hard-to-reach generation, defined more by the millennial and baby boomer brackets they sit outside of, rather than the characteristics that set them apart. Around a third of internet users globally fit into the Gen X category (born 1964-1982, aged 35-53).

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What We Do & Why

We believe that sustainable manufacturing solutions are the only way to protect the earth and our future.

With an increasing desire for sustainable products from consumers and a growing need to address plastic pollution, DGrade has developed Greenspun® a high-quality yarn made from recycled plastic water bottles. Greenspun® yarn replaces traditional polyester yarn to produce a wide range of fabrics for clothing and accessories.

DGrade is the only company to manage the full supply chain from plastic bottle collection through to clothing production.

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Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions | High Quality Clothing from Recycled Plastic Bottles | DGrade

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We believe that sustainable manufacturing solutions are the only way to protect the earth and our future. With an increasing desire for sustainable products from consumers and a growing need to address plastic pollution, DGrade has developed Greenspun® a high-quality yarn made from recycled plastic water bottles.

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Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know there's a horrifying amount of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans: around eight million metric tonnes of the stuff. And if things continue as they are, it's predicted that by 2050 there will be more of it than fish in the sea.

Our single use plastic usage is declining thanks to plastic bag taxes and the rise of reusable coffee cups and water bottles, but it's still a massive problem. And while recycling is not the definitive answer, it's certainly going to help.

Jumping on this bandwagon are many clothing brands who are tapping into our new-found consciousness for the environment. But it's not all cynicism, as many of these companies are surf brands who see the problem first hand on our beaches, coastlines and in the oceans and want to fight back to save the ecosystem they love.

The most common type of recycled plastic is PET bottles. To be re-used, it's sorted, cleaned and stripped of labels and caps, melted down into little pellets and then spun into a yarn that's used to make garments.

From swimwear and snow wear to jumpers and backpacks, here's our tried and tested roundup of the companies who are making something useful out of all of our plastic waste, and saving it from landfill.

Batoko cockatoo swimsuit: £40, Batoko

Having already recycled the equivalent weight of 220,000 plastic bottles, Batoko uses collected ocean waste to make its gorgeous swimsuits, which come in just nine bold designs in a bid to also combat the perils of fast fashion. All of the British brand's incredible prints are created digitally which saves water and energy and produces little waste, while also using non-toxic inks. Of course, everything is packaged and delivered in compostable bags too, giving them extra brownie points. Our favourite is the cockatoo print that's just made for holidays on tropical beaches. Each suit is lined, with a low scoop back and a medium cut leg. The brand has recently - after popular demand - brought back its children's range too.

Lefrik multi wash bag: £17.50, Lefrik

This Spanish brand has been making bags out recycled PET bottles since 2012 and pride themselves on being functional, fashionable and eco-friendly. If you need them to tick anymore boxes, they're also vegan too (and Peta approved). This entirely waterproof wash bag - great for travelling and any spillages that might occur while doing so - has four separate removable compartments, easily attached by poppers, which is great if you only want to use part of it. We also liked that it could be hung up with the top loop to make it more easily accessible for travelling.

Brothers We Stand recycled sweatshirt: £35, Brother We Stand

Proving being ethical doesn't put a stop to fashionable menswear is Brother We Stand. As well as sourcing and selling other ethical and sustainable menswear brands on its website and in its Bristol store, including Elis & Kresse and Jollie's socks, it also has its own label.

Every product from Brothers We Stand has a transparent footprint and are Soil Association accredited. Using a blend of recycled cotton and PET bottles, the crewneck sweatshirts feature classic ribbed cuffs and a fleecy inner, wihch are created from waste cuttings that are shredded and turned back into reusable fibres. It's an easily wearable jumper that quickly becomes a wardrobe staple.

Kanken Fjall Raven backpack: £67.49, Surfdome

What started as a simple school bag in Sweden in 1978 designed to help the backs of school children carrying lots of books, has become a well-loved design recognised around the world. It's now sold in a huge array of colours and fabrics, and this special edition is made from 11 recycled plastic bottles. It is also dyed using "spindye" which uses much less water than the traditional way of dying materials.

O'Neill Blue hybrid mesh leggings, £59.99, O'neill

O'Neills founder and Californian surfer, Jack O'Neil, is often credited as creating the wetsuit and never shying away from innovation, O'Neill has had an eco-friendly active wear line since 2017, "Our Ocean Blue". All of these items are made using recycled bottles and have been created with the help of New York brand, Bionic, who create the threads from plastic recovered from beaches. The first line of clothing in the range is estimated to have recovered 200,000 bottles from beaches and shorelines worldwide.

And staying true to the brand's form, most of the items come in a range of amazing prints and colours, with matching leggings and sports bras. They're stretchy, comfy and can be used for most activities from yoga to running, as well as casual wear if you're not working out.

Picture Organic treva snow pants: £144.49, Surfdome

Set up by three snow and skate-mad school friends in France in 2008, Picture Organic has been sustainability focused since the very start. All of its products - designed for skiing, skating, surfing and outdoors - are either made from recycled plastic, organic cotton or material scraps that would otherwise be burned, which are all responsibly sourced and free of harmful chemicals, too.

These lightweight pants are pretty technical: we especially like the snow skirt, the leg vents and the fact they're vegan. We also like the design of the slim fit style, but they do come up pretty snug, so think about going up a size. Available in five colours with matching jackets, too.

Riley Studio oversized hoody: £90, Riley Studio

Riley Studio uses a range of materials either made from waste or recycled nylon from plastic bottles and even use a material and can be recycled an infinite amount of times, keeping it from landfill.

Made in Portugal with a mixture of recycled plastic bottles and cotton, this oversized hoody keeps materials from landfill and reduces the carbon footprint production of the item by 75 per cent. We love its baggy fit and super soft fleece feel on the inside, and that it's a gender neutral hoody that's also available in reversed colours.

Quicksilver high line boardshorts: £19.99, Surfdome

As one of the original surf brands, hailing from Australia in 1969, Quicksilver are best known for its surfing essential board shorts - and these are the modern day version. Teaming up with Repreve and using its recycled PET nylon, around nine bottles go into each pair of shorts, which has so far used more than 109 million bottles - and counting - since starting in January 2012.

Choose from 42 different designs, but expect all the normal features, the v-shaped waist, tie fastening and fast drying.

Patagonia down sweater jacket: £200, Patagonia

For the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, it had always been about sustainability. And that's why its classic down sweater jackets are made from 100 per cent recycled poylester. It's also made with goose down for the best insulation, but Patagonia promises to use only traceable non-live plucked feathers. The brand has also remodelled its long-sleeve logo tee - renamed the responsibility-tee - each of which is now made from 4.8 plastic bottles.
Buy now
Planks good times ltd editon eco snow jacket: £139.99, Surfdome

Founded by Jim Adlington, an ex-professional British skier, who designs kit for free skiing (freestyle skiing with jumps and obstacles), everything by this brand is made for skiers, by skiers. This limited edition eco jacket is made entirely from recycled bottles, using a recycled yarn which comes from Repreve - the world's leading recycled yarn manufacturer - which has already recycled 10bn bottles, and aims to do the same again by 2020.

The jacket has a waterproof rating of 15,000mm (high enough to withstand moderate range and average snow) is breathable, has fully taped seams to keep out water, has pit zips, a helmet compatible hood, a powder skirt with large front and side pockets. We love the relaxed fit too. It's a durable, reliable jacket that will see you through season after season.

Verdict: Clothes made from recycled plastic

We love the Batoko swimsuit for many reasons: its amazing print, great cut, using plastic waste from the ocean and the fact it's has a limited number of designs and is against fast fashion. It's comfy and you'll get loads of compliments about it, too. We also really love the credentials of Picture Organic for its true dedication to sustainability, from the company's birth and its great designs.
IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

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10 best brands turning recycled plastic bottles into clothes

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Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know there's a horrifying amount of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans: around eight million metric tonnes of the stuff. And if things continue as they are, it's predicted that by 2050 there will be more of it than fish in the sea.

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Can Recycled Plastic Clothing Do More Harm Than Good?

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why recycled plastic clothing does more harm than good, why clothing made from recycled plastic is bad for the environment, greenwashing

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_shopify_s | Shopify | Collects data on user behaviour and interaction in order to optimize the website and make advertisement on the website more relevant. | 1 day | HTTP
_shopify_sa_p | Shopify | Collects data on visitors' behaviour and interaction - This is used to make advertisement on the website more relevant. The cookie also allows the website to detect any referrals from other websites. | 1 day | HTTP
_shopify_sa_t | Shopify | Collects data on visitors' behaviour and interaction - This is used to make advertisement on the website more relevant. The cookie also allows the website to detect any referrals from other websites. | 1 day | HTTP
_shopify_y | ecoalf.com | Collects data on user behaviour and interaction in order to optimize the website and make advertisement on the website more relevant. | 1 year | HTTP
_y | ecoalf.com | Collects data on user behaviour and interaction in order to optimize the website and make advertisement on the website more relevant. | 1 year | HTTP
ABTastyGeoloc | Abtasty | Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. | Session | HTML
ABTastyUA | Abtasty | Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. | Session | HTML
cn_previous_entity_info | cdn.connectif.cloud | Determines which products the user has viewed, allowing the website to promote related products. | Persistent | HTML
criteo_write_test | Criteo | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
cto_bundle | ecoalf.com | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 13 months | HTML
cto_tld_test | Criteo | Used to identify the visitor across visits and devices. This allows the website to present the visitor with relevant advertisement - The service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
ps_analytics | ecoalf.com | Tracks which photos or galleries the specific user has seen. This information serves for marketing purposes. | 29 days | HTTP

criteo [x2]

exchange.mediavine.com
Outbrain

Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers.

13 days

HTTP

mv_tokens | exchange.mediavine.com | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 13 days | HTTP
mv_tokens_eu-v1 | exchange.mediavine.com | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 13 days | HTTP
tr | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Used by Facebook to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real time bidding from third party advertisers. | Session | Pixel
ads/ga-audiences | Google | Used by Google AdWords to re-engage visitors that are likely to convert to customers based on the visitor's online behaviour across websites. | Session | Pixel
NID | Google | Registers a unique ID that identifies a returning user's device. The ID is used for targeted ads. | 6 months | HTTP
pagead/1p-conversion/# | Google | Pending | Session | Pixel
pagead/1p-user-list/# | Google | Tracks if the user has shown interest in specific products or events across multiple websites and detects how the user navigates between sites. This is used for measurement of advertisement efforts and facilitates payment of referral-fees between websites. | Session | Pixel
3pi | ID5 | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 3 months | HTTP
callback | ID5 | Collects data on visitor behaviour from multiple websites, in order to present more relevant advertisement - This also allows the website to limit the number of times that they are shown the same advertisement. | 1 day | HTTP
car | ID5 | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
cf | ID5 | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
cip | ID5 | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
cnac | ID5 | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
cq/10/124/0/3.gif | ID5 | Pending | Session | Pixel
id5 | ID5 | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 1 day | HTTP
_kuid_ | Salesforce | Registers a unique ID that identifies a returning user's device. The ID is used for targeted ads. | 179 days | HTTP
_li_ss | Liveintent | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 29 days | HTTP
lidid | Liveintent | Collects data on visitors' behaviour and interaction - This is used to make advertisement on the website more relevant. The cookie also allows the website to detect any referrals from other websites. | 2 years | HTTP
uuid | MediMath | Collects data on the user's visits to the website, such as what pages have been loaded. The registered data is used for targeted ads. | 1 year | HTTP
data-c | Media.net | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 29 days | HTTP
data-c-ts | Media.net | Collects data on the user across websites - This data is used to make advertisement more relevant. | 29 days | HTTP
i | Openx | Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network. | 1 year | HTTP
w/1.0/sd | Openx | Registers data on visitors such as IP addresses, geographical location and advertisement interaction. This information is used optimize the advertisement on websites that make use of OpenX.net services. | Session | Pixel
obuid | Outbrain | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | 3 months | HTTP
_pinterest_ct_ua | Pinterest | Used by Pinterest to track the usage of services. | 1 year | HTTP
v3 | Pinterest | Used by Pinterest to track the usage of services. | Session | Pixel
AdServer/Pug | PubMatic | Sets a timestamp for when the visitor entered the website. This is used for analytical purposes on the website. | Session | Pixel
KRTBCOOKIE_# | PubMatic | Pending | 29 days | HTTP
PUBMDCID | PubMatic | Registers a unique ID that identifies the user's device during return visits across websites that use the same ad network. The ID is used to allow targeted ads. | 3 months | HTTP
SEUNCY | Semasio | Registers a unique ID that identifies the user's device for return visits. | 1 year | HTTP
serving/cookie/sync | server.seadform.net | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | Session | Pixel
stx_user_id | Sharethrough | Sets a unique ID for a specific visitor. This ID can be used to recognize the visitor upon re-entry and implement any preference choices made. The cookie also allows the website to track the visitor on multiple websites for marketing purposes. | 29 days | HTTP
csync | Smart | Optimises ad display based on the user's movement combined and various advertiser bids for displaying user ads. | 13 months | HTTP
pid | Smart | Registers a unique ID that identifies a returning user's device. The ID is used for targeted ads. | 13 months | HTTP
TestIfCookieP | Smart | Identifies new users and generates a unique ID for each user. | 13 months | HTTP
UID | Freewheel | Unique user ID that recognizes the user on returning visits | 29 days | HTTP
uid-bp-# | Freewheel | Pending | 29 days | HTTP
user-registering | Freewheel | Sets a unique ID for the visitor, that allows third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This pairing service is provided by third party advertisement hubs, which facilitates real-time bidding for advertisers. | Session | Pixel
TapAd_3WAY_SYNCS | Tapad | Used for data-synchronization with advertisement networks. | 2 months | HTTP
TapAd_DID | Tapad | Used to determine what type of devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs etc.) is used by a user. | 2 months | HTTP
TapAd_TS | Tapad | Used to determine what type of devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs etc.) is used by a user. | 2 months | HTTP
dbm/1/info | Semasio | Collects information on user behaviour on multiple websites. This information is used in order to optimize the relevance of advertisement on the website. | Session | Pixel
matchadform | Dataxu | Presents the user with relevant content and advertisement. The service is provided by third-party advertisement hubs, which facilitate real-time bidding for advertisers. | 29 days | HTTP
wfivefivec | Dataxu | Collects data on the user's visits to the website, such as what pages have been loaded. The registered data is used for targeted ads. | 13 months | HTTP
AFFICHE_W | Weborama | Used by the advertising platform Weborama to determine the visitor's interests based on pages visits, content clicked and other actions on the website. | 1 year | HTTP
A3 | Oath | Collects information on user behaviour on multiple websites. This information is used in order to optimize the relevance of advertisement on the website. | 1 year | HTTP
B | Oath | Collects anonymous data related to the user's website visits, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded. The registered data is used to categorise the users' interest and demographical profiles with the purpose of customising the website content depending on the visitor. | 1 year | HTTP
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | YouTube | Tries to estimate the users' bandwidth on pages with integrated YouTube videos. | 179 days | HTTP
YSC | YouTube | Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen. | Session | HTTP
yt.innertube::nextId | YouTube | Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen. | Persistent | HTML
yt.innertube::requests | YouTube | Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen. | Persistent | HTML
ytidb::LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTML
yt-remote-cast-available | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTML
yt-remote-cast-installed | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTML
yt-remote-connected-devices | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTML
yt-remote-device-id | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTML
yt-remote-fast-check-period | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTML
yt-remote-session-app | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTML
yt-remote-session-name | YouTube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTML

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ECOALF - Sustainable and Recycled Clothing

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Our commitment includes respecting the planet and animals through sustainable production. ¡Discover our sustainable fashion products!

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The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world and a major contributor of greenhouse gases.

Parts of the industry have also been accused of breaching human rights and not paying workers enough.

But the latest Fashion Transparency Index has revealed some brands are beginning to show signs of improvement.

Campaign group Fashion Revolution looked at 200 labels' social and environmental policies.

It found the most transparent brands were Adidas, Reebok and Patagonia - they each scored 64% of the total points possible - followed by Esprit and H&M.

"We know anecdotally, that there's a sense of competition between brands to do better than their competitors, particularly between sports or luxury brands," Carry Somers, founder of Fashion Revolution told Radio 1 Newsbeat.

"But we do really have a long way to go, the average score is only 21%."

In a statement on its website, H&M said: "We believe being transparent - clear and open - about how and where our products are made, is an important part of helping us become more sustainable.

"The more we share, the more we learn, and the more we can identify the areas to focus on."

While Fashion Revolution says it's good news that more brands are becoming more open by publishing their policies, it doesn't mean they're the most ethical or sustainable.

"What we need to see the brands doing is to disclose more about the outcomes of their polices and the tangible impacts they're having on the lives of their producers and environment," Carry Somers says.

"We have the right to know that the money we're spending with the brand isn't supporting human rights abuses and environmental degradation - transparency is the first step in making sure this takes place".

The Index also looked at fashion's environmental impact.

It found that more than half (55%) of the 200 brands are publishing their annual carbon footprint on the company's own sites, but only 19.5% reveal carbon emissions in the supply chain - which is where more than half of the industry's emissions occur.

Exposing flaws

The Fashion Transparency Index started after the Rana Plaza factory collapsed in Bangladesh in 2013.

More than 1,100 garment workers died and hundreds more were injured.

The disaster exposed poor safety standards and regulation, and raised questions over the responsibilities of the big retail brands given their push to keep prices as low as possible in an era of fast fashion.

'Fashion brands need to do better'

Not all brands are telling the public about their human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts - five scored zero on the Index.

They included Eli Tahari, Jessica Simpson, Mexx, Tom Ford and Chinese menswear brand Youngor.

Another 10 brands revealed almost nothing (less than 2%), including Longchamp, Max Mara and New Yorker.

"There are still far too many big brands lagging behind," Fashion Revolution policy director and report author Sarah Ditty says.

"Major brands are disclosing very little information and data about their purchasing practices, which means that we still don't have visibility into what brands are doing to be responsible business partners to their suppliers."

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

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The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world and a major contributor of greenhouse gases. Parts of the industry have also been accused of breaching human rights and not paying workers enough. But the latest Fashion Transparency Index has revealed some brands are beginning to show signs of improvement.

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Plastic is incredibly versatile and long-lasting, finding its way into every corner of our lives. But the very qualities that make plastic so useful also make it a huge problem. Cheap and disposable, plastic has been a symbol of our throwaway culture. As a result, vast quantities pollute our world. Much of it flows into the oceans, turning them into a plastic soup. A truckload of plastic enters the ocean every single minute and UK supermarkets produce 800,000 tonnes every year. With production increasing, that's set to rise.

Bottles, pots and food trays are immediately obvious, but other types of plastic pollution can be harder to spot. When plastic breaks down it doesn't disappear, it gets smaller creating tiny particles called microplastics. Even clothes made from artificial materials shed microplastic fibres when they're washed. Microbeads, another type of microplastic, are sometimes added to products such as cosmetics and toothpaste. Impossible to filter from waste water, they end up in our oceans.

Bits of plastic have been found in every corner of the world, including the deepest ocean trenches and on uninhabited islands. Our own researchers have found plastic pollution in Antarctica . Turtles, dolphins and seabirds can become entangled or injured by large pieces of plastic. It can even be mistaken for food. Microplastics are just as devastating. Swallowed by everything from microscopic zooplankton to giant blue whales, they enter the food chain and carry harmful toxins. Microplastics have even been found in human poo.

Reducing plastic pollution

We're just beginning to realise the scale of the problem, but fortunately the answer is simple: make and use less plastic. People around the world have come together to end plastic pollution, and it's working. Greenpeace supporters have challenged Coca Cola to use less plastic, while countries like the UK have banned certain microplastics. Supermarkets are starting to talk about what they need to do.

But we need to go much further to end the flow of plastics into the ocean. Food and drink companies need to slash the amount of unnecessary plastic packaging they use. We also need to get rid of single-use plastics - like cutlery and glasses - once and for all.

Find out how your supermarket ranked in our plastic league table , and get tips on reducing plastic in your own life .

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Plastic is incredibly versatile and long-lasting, finding its way into every corner of our lives. But the very qualities that make plastic so useful also make it a huge problem. Cheap and disposable, plastic has been a symbol of our throwaway culture. As a result, vast quantities pollute our world.

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Taxation should also be reformed to reward companies that offer clothing repairs and reduce the environmental footprint of their products.

Chair's comments

Environmental Audit Committee Chair Mary Creagh MP said:

"Fashion shouldn't cost the earth. Our insatiable appetite for clothes comes with a huge social and environmental price tag: carbon emissions, water use, chemical and plastic pollution are all destroying our environment.

"In the UK we buy more clothes per person than any other country in Europe. 'Fast fashion' means we overconsume and under use clothes. As a result, we get rid of over a million tonnes of clothes, with £140m worth going to landfill, every year.

"Fashion retailers must take responsibility for the clothes they produce. That means asking producers to consider and pay for the end of life process for their products through a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. The Government must act to end the era of throwaway fashion by incentivising companies that offer sustainable designs and repair services. Children should be taught the joy of making and mending clothes in school as an antidote to anxiety and the mental health crisis in teenagers. Consumers must play their part by buying less, mending, renting and sharing more."

On workers' rights Chair Mary Creagh MP commented:

"Fashion retailers have 'chased the cheap needle around the planet', commissioning production in countries with low pay and little trade union representation. Behind the perfect Instagram profiles and the pristine shop fronts of our fashion retailers the reality is shocking. Illegally low pay, the use of child labour, prison labour, forced labour and bonded labour in the global garment supply chain.

"We recommend that the Government strengthen the Modern Slavery Act to require large companies to ensure forced labour is not in their supply chains. Retailers including Foot Locker and Versace are failing to comply with the Modern Slavery Act. Company law must be updated to require modern slavery disclosures by 2022. Companies must report, or face a fine."

Committee's key recommendations

Mandatory environmental targets for fashion retailers with a turnover above £36 million;

A new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme to reduce textile waste with a one penny charge per garment on producers;

The scheme should reward fashion companies that design products with lower environmental impacts and penalise those that do not.

The report calls on the Government to use the tax system to shift the balance of incentives in favour of reuse, repair and recycling to support responsible fashion companies.

The Government should follow Sweden's lead and reduce VAT on repair services.

Lessons on designing, creating, mending and repairing clothes should be in the school curriculum

The Government should publish a publicly accessible list of retailers required to release a modern slavery statement. This should be supported by an appropriate penalty for those companies who fail to report and comply with the Modern Slavery Act.

The fashion industry must come together to set out their blueprint for a net zero emissions world, reducing their carbon consumption back to 1990 levels.

Sustainable clothing: "voluntary approach has failed"

The report warns that although some parts of the fashion industry are making progress in reducing their carbon and water consumption, these improvements have been outweighed by the increased volumes of clothing being sold.

It concludes that a voluntary approach to improving the sustainability of the fashion industry is failing with just 10 fashion retailers signed up to reduce their water, waste and carbon footprints.

It recommends that compliance with WRAP's Sustainability Clothing Action Plan targets should be made mandatory for all retailers with a turnover of more than £36 million as a 'licence to practice'.

It is also recommended that Government work with retailers to increase use of digital supply chain technology for better traceability.

New economic models for fashion

The MPs say that we need new economic models for fashion which are based on reducing the material consumption associated with growth. To drive improvements, the Government should reform taxation to reward fashion companies that design products with lower environmental impacts.

This could include extending the proposed tax on virgin plastics to synthetic textile products to stimulate the market for recycled fibres in the UK. The Committee also wants the new EPR scheme to accelerate research by Government and industry into the environmental performance of different materials and measures to reduce microfibre pollution.

The report also calls on Ministers to explore how they can support a new 'sharing economy' - with hiring, swapping or subscription clothes services.

Government must act to end the era of throwaway fashion

Increasing a garment's lifetime is one of the most effective means of reducing its environmental footprint. Around 300,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in household bins every year with around 80% of this incinerated and 20% sent to landfill.

A charge of one penny per garment producers as part of a new EPR scheme could raise £35 million for investment in better clothing collection and recycling in the UK. The Government should offer incentives for design for recycling, design for disassembly and design for durability.

Following Burberry's decision to incinerate unsold stock worth millions last year, the Committee is calling on the Government to ban incineration or landfilling of unsold stock that can be reused or recycled.

Changing the law to end labour exploitation

Most clothes sold in the UK are produced in Asian countries with low labour costs and weak environmental governance. Recently there has been a growth in garment manufacturing in UK as brands and retailers seek to respond faster to consumer demand.

The Committee heard evidence that underpayment of the minimum wage was widespread in Leicester's garment factories and that manufacturers are under pressure from retailers to produce garments at unrealistically low prices.

The report calls for changes to the Modern Slavery Act and Companies Act to increase transparency and require large fashion brands and retailers to perform due diligence checks across their supply chains to ensure their products are produced without forced or child labour.

Further information

Image: Rita Platts

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government must end era of throwaway fashion

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Government must end era of throwaway fashion - News from Parliament

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Taxation should also be reformed to reward companies that offer clothing repairs and reduce the environmental footprint of their products. Environmental Audit Committee Chair Mary Creagh MP said: "Fashion shouldn't cost the earth. Our insatiable appetite for clothes comes with a huge social and environmental price tag: carbon emissions, water use, chemical and plastic pollution are all destroying our environment.

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In recent years, technology has been dabbling in the fashion world. With the shift from brick-and-mortar retail shopping, technology's impact has been difficult to ignore - especially with e-commerce in full force.

As in all sectors, tech is revolutionizing how businesses operate, with the use of data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual technology and so on -leading to streamlined and efficient processes. In light of these technologies, the retail sector is growing as well as the need for retailers to adapt to the new landscape and embrace the turning point of the fashion world.

So, which technologies are making the biggest impact in the fashion industry?
Internet of things (IoT)
One of the biggest opportunities reaching the retail industry is the introduction of IoT. This technology mechanizes our world by letting us interact with everyday objects through the internet.

For fashion, this means a drastic change is emerging. A recent Retail Vision Study report stated that 70% of retail decision makers globally are ready to adopt the Internet of Things to improve customer experiences. Apparel items will have digital capabilities that open communication between retailer and customer - such as , yoga pants with built-in sensors that users into alignment by vibrating they move through the various yoga poses. This example and other IoT apparel, interact with the user to collect data that helps retailers understand needs and concerns, and implement it to create a more personalized experience.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Big data is the buzzword sweeping most industries in the business world - and the fashion industry is no stranger to this. In fact, retailers have started jumping onto the digitalization bandwagon and are using these machines to their advantage.

As of now, social media is the ruler of the web - and is providing customers with the platform to mend and shape trends. But, what most customers don't realize, is that they are also providing brands with a goldmine of data that can be used to predict trends and significantly reduce the gap between what is being produced, and sold .

So, rather than manually gathering data, retailers are utilizing AI to collect, organize, analyze, and sort data into relevant categories, that can then be used to predict and understand what their customers are looking for - and deliver on it.

AI in action is demonstrated by Screenshop , an app created by Kim Kardashian that uses AI image recognition to make fashion easier. Users simply take a photo or screenshot anywhere of a look they like and open the app to find similar products at any price - so users can shop the whole look. This handheld fashion store helps users find shoppable prices to ultimately create a better wardrobe.
Mobile commerce
These days, internet access is so readily available wherever, whenever and it's all due to one thing - smartphones.

With social media apps, digital wallets, and communication apps, it's clear that mobile has not only impacted our everyday lives but now squeezing its way into the business world.

This era of connectivity has introduced a sleeker form of shopping through mobile commerce. Armed with our smartphones, now not only can we shop online but, have easy payment experiences with digital wallet options such as and Android Pay. In fact, BigCommerce found that two out of three millennials prefer to shop online rather than go to a physical store .

This newer method of shopping makes buying on the go easy and simple with just the click of a button. Take for example Instagram's shopping feature . Now customers can enjoy a seamless mobile-friendly shopping experience by clicking on the item they like and be redirected to the product page - effectively reducing search time. Businesses can provide their customers with a simple way to discover products and shop, all through their handy smartphones.
Virtual/augmented reality (VR)
Mobile and e-commerce technologies brought about the first wave of transformations for the fashion industry. Now, we can look ahead to the next possibilities for retail, more specifically virtual reality technology.

These days, on their mobiles customers can easily browse through the various items and with one click, purchase. However, there have been many occasions where brands have suffered the backlash from customers who received items that didn't match their online equivalents or simply didn't meet expectations.

But, new VR platforms are arising that are changing the game by merging the physical and online worlds of retail .. For example, try-on avatars are becoming a big hit in the fashion world. Apps such as DressingRoom are using augmented reality technology to enable shoppers to try outfits on an avatar - customized to the correct measurements - before purchasing an item. These platforms, change the online shopping experience for the better, as avatars and virtual platforms engage and retain the customers for longer. Now, customers can physically see the product on themselves or in the intended space before purchasing.

Over time, these platforms provide added value to the retailer, as brands can gain valuable insights through regular customer use, which can be leveraged to provide customers with a more personalized experience.
Final note
Overall, digitalization has completely evolved the fashion industry. With the introduction of new technologies such as AI, IoT, VR, and mobile customers can expect to receive a more personalized experience that caters to all their needs and concerns.

Digital transformation is resulting in changes previously unimagined, and we can only expect this change to rapidly advance. Therefore, it's time for retailers to embrace the new fashion landscape or get left behind.

Read next: Square now lets all US CashApp users buy and sell Bitcoin

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How technology is changing the fashion industry

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In recent years, technology has been dabbling in the fashion world. With the shift from brick-and-mortar retail shopping, technology's impact has been difficult to ignore - especially with e-commerce in full force. As in all sectors, tech is revolutionizing how businesses operate, with the use of data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual technology and so ...

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British Fashion Council boss Caroline Rush today hailed the growth of the country's fashion industry, as its value to the UK economy rose to a record £32 billion.

The BFC chief executive said the increase came from online retail and some growth in manufacturing, while UK designers were going "from strength to strength" globally. It comes despite challenging times on the high street.

Ms Rush spoke to the Evening Standard ahead of London Fashion Week, where more than 80 leading designers will present their spring/summer 2019 collections.

It will be the first major fashion week to go fur free when it begins tomorrow, with Victoria Beckham and Alexa Chung making their debuts on the LFW schedule over the weekend. Previously Beckham showed her collection in New York, and Chung has presented her eponymous label off schedule.

Referring to the BFC figures, Ms Rush said: "We are delighted our sector continues to grow. Obviously we see many challenging headlines around retail and the fashion industry, but the stats for last year are still demonstrating growth both in terms of contribution to GDP as well as increases in jobs, which of course is great for the economy.

"We are seeing a little bit of growth in manufacturing, although what you see in the headlines is that retail is challenging. But clearly there are some parts of the sector that continue to grow and employ people. Then our designer businesses are going from strength to strength as they build global businesses.

"I'm sure a lot of that comes from online as that continues to be one of the key drivers for growth. And just the way consumers engage with brands."

Last year the fashion industry contributed £32.3 billion to UK GDP, a 5.4 per cent increase on 2016. The growth is higher than the figure for the UK economy as a whole. Fashion remains a major UK employer, with 890,000 jobs supported across the industry, making it almost as big as the financial sector.

A BFC survey found all the designers involved were happy to shun fur this season.

Ms Rush said it was a "natural cultural change", adding: "I think [other fashion capitals] will probably have had similar changes. Gucci, of course, had previously announced they were fur free. Having brands like Stella McCartney which have always championed that, and of course the biggest British brand Burberry confirming they are fur free is a real signifier of change."

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The UK fashion industry is now worth £32 billion to the UK economy

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British Fashion Council boss Caroline Rush today hailed the growth of the country's fashion industry, as its value to the UK economy rose to a record £32 billion. The BFC chief executive said the increase came from online retail and some growth in manufacturing, while UK designers were going "from strength to strength" globally.

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OutDry Extreme ECO - Earth-Smart Raingear | Columbia®

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Discover the industry's first environmentally-friendly high performance rainwear.

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Clothing companies using recycled plastic in their products. Includes shoes, boots, bags, jackets and even tee shirts. An easy way to reduce your impact now!
I'm so excited to introduce you to 10 clothing companies that are using recycled plastic in their products. If you read my 10 Ways to Reduce Waste & Be More Eco-Conscious post, you know I'm trying to make a conscious effort to be more aware of the impact I'm having on this world!

At this point, we probably all know that plastic pollution is a huge, HUGE issue in our environment, specifically in our oceans. Take a second to think about all of the plastic you use or encounter on a daily basis: grocery bags, straws, coffee cup lids, plastic water bottles, food containers, packages at the grocery store, packing items in shipments... the list could go on.

Every year billions of pounds of plastic end up in our oceans and environment. BILLIONS! Isn't that crazy!? I mean this doesn't necessarily mean you're throwing plastic into the ocean necessarily, most pollution starts on land and makes its way to the ocean.
So, three things I want you to take away from this post:

1. Be mindful of your plastic consumption.

2. Try to bring your own reusable cups, mugs, bags, and containers when you can.

3. When you do use plastic, please recycle!

Ready to see what clothing companies are using recycled plastic in their products? Let's do it!

1. Girlfriend Collective

Fun fact: Taiwan used to be known as "Garbage Island". Thankfully the government saw this as an issue and they are now a world leader in recycling. As a community, they gather to sort their waste into recycling, food waste, and garbage. Can we instate this in the U.S.?!

A lot of clothing (especially athletic clothing) is made with polyester which has a lot of the same compounds as plastic. Girlfriend Collective partners with a recycling center in Taiwan that sorts, cleans, and preps plastic to be recycled into their leggings and bras. So cool, huh?
Check out Girlfriend Collective here!
2. Adidas

Adidas has a partnered up with Parley, which is a company that is aiming to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborates on projects that can end their destruction, on a few different styles of shoes. All made from recycled ocean plastic! The shoes repurpose plastic found in oceans and turn them into functional, stylish running and workout shoes. Again, a lot of shoes are made from the same components as plastic so I love when I see companies using recycled plastic instead of new.
Check out Adidas x Parley shoes here!
3. Everlane

I recently discovered Everlane and have got to say, I'm obsessed. They sources every piece of clothing ethically, it's all fully traceable, they only use fair-wage factories and they ship everything without any plastic. To top it all off, they just released a line of clothing that is made from recycled plastic. The line includes fleece pullovers, jackets and more. And they're all super stylish and cute!
Click here to check out Everlane's recycled line!
4. Patagonia Outdoor Clothing

Patagonia seems to be ahead of the trend when it comes to repurposing recycled goods. They started making recycled polyester from plastic bottles back in 1993. The clothing industry is becoming more and more wasteful (fast fashion, I'm looking at you). Patagonia realizes this and uses recycled and unusable goods from the manufacturing industry to make their clothing.

One of the other things that I love about Patagonia is that they now have a buy-back program which enables people to sell their old Patagonia clothing back to the company for a little cash. Patagonia then recycles those clothes and uses them in many of their new products.
Check out Patagonia's recycled line here!
5. Nike

Similar to Adidas, Nike also has a line of shoes that are made from recycled plastic. They aren't with Parley, but they are made from recycled bottles. Just like Adidas, these shoes are super functional, they look great and they're actually super comfortable. If you're a Nike fan, consider replacing your current kicks with these ones! Or at the very least, when you're shopping for a new pair, try these on.
Check out Nike's recycled shoes here!
6. Stella McCartney

Another brand that has partnered with Parley to create a product! Stell McCartney has done a lot of vegan leather products, but this is their first recycled plastic product. It's a backpack called the "Ocean Legend" that has some cute ocean-related graphics on it with the test, "All is love".
Check out the Stella McCartney backpack!
7. Rothy's

Another shoe company that I recently discovered is Rothy's. It's a brand that creates their shoes entirely out of plastic bottles AND they're all washable. They have about 5 different styles and they come in lots of different colors. My friend has a pair of their slip-on sneakers and she loves them. I'm definitely putting one of these on my Christmas list this year!
Check out Rothy's slip-on shoes here!
8. Timberland

As I was doing research for this post, I discovered that Timberland has been using recycled plastic to make some of the soles for their boots for years. I love seeing large consumer companies supporting the environment, even quietly. This isn't something they really focus on in their marketing, but for I definitely have a new found appreciation for their shoes.
Check out Timberland here!
9. DGrade

This isn't really a consumer-based brand, BUT DGrade makes clothing for other companies to brand on their own, and they're all made completely from recycled bottles. Their line includes tees, polos,
Learn more about DGrade here!
10. Sunski Sunglasses

While not technically a clothing company, Sunski is a sunglasses company that is supporting our environment in a couple different ways. They recently launched sunglasses made from recycled plastic (and the styles are super cute I must add...!) AND they donate 1% of sales to environmental non-profits. Their sunglasses also have a forever warranty so if they break they don't end up in the trash.

Oh, and did I mention their sunglasses are all polarized AND super affordable? These are the sunglasses I wear daily and love them. They are seriously killing the sunglasses game!
Check out Sunski Sunglasses here!
Do any of these companies speak to you?! Are you already using a similar product but could use an upgrade?

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10 Clothing Companies using Recycled Plastic - Simply Quinoa

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Clothing companies using recycled plastic in their products. Includes shoes, boots, bags, jackets and even tee shirts. An easy way to reduce your impact now! I'm so excited to introduce you to 10 clothing companies that are using recycled plastic in their products.

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Plastic is one of the most celebrated and widely used materials in modern society. But even though it is extremely useful and resilient, it is harming our environment on multiple levels. Not only are most plastics made from fossil fuels, which contribute to our warming climate, we humans also have a hard time keeping them on land. Our oceans are filled with plastic waste and an estimated 8 million tons of it is added every year. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, we might have more plastic than fish in our seas by 2050 if we keep using the big blue as a giant dumpster, which truly is a terrifying forecast.

Right now about five plastic gyres travel our global seas. They are garbage patches of billions of pieces of plastic forming mile-long underwater soups (and not islands, which is a general misconception). Broken down by the tides, UV radiation and chemical decomposition, these small pieces along with bigger chunks end up harassing marine life in all sorts of ways. Just take a look at the horrific video of marine researchers removing an intact plastic straw from a seas turtle's nostril, the haunting photos by Chris Jordan of dead albatrosses with stomachs full of bottle caps and disposable lighters, or the recent study that has found fish eat plastics like teens eat fast food . Evidence of how plastic is poison for life in and around our oceans is abundant -a quick search on the Internet may easily leave you feeling appalled and distressed .

On the positive note, there is also a growing number of entrepreneurs and start-ups working to reduce and recycle plastics in the deep blue. Some of them even make sure the straws, cups and bags drifting in our waters find their ways into the things we wear.

From ocean trash to new fash

The fashion industry is incredibly resource-intensive. Take cotton as an example: it is such a thirsty crop that making a T-shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters and almost triple that amount for a pair of jeans. So why not start digging into some of the plastic trash in our seas to make new materials? Some start-ups and projects already have.

Bionic Yarn , which has musician and producer Pharrell Williams as its creative director, is making durable fabric threads from up to 100% recovered plastic bottles, recently from other ocean plastic waste as well. In three years, the company has turned more than 7 million plastic bottles into new threads which have been sold to its partners G-Star and O'Neill among others. Plastic bottles are particularly well-suited to produce new textiles as they contain the same polymers as polyester . H&M has recently become a fan of the idea too, and has introduced Bionic Yarn in its 2017 Conscious Exclusive collection .

Sports fashion giant adidas has also dug into the plastic masses in our seas. The company collaborated with Parley for the Oceans to make 3D printed running shoes from plastic waste picked off the beaches of the Maldives. Demand for these shoes has been high and they have just released a new collection , in which one pair of shoes contains about 11 plastic bottles. Fashion designer Stella McCartney is also onboard with the idea and has designed adidas' new Parley UltraBOOST X running shoes.

Finally, Aquafil's Econyl Regeneration System is worth mentioning. Nylon can easily be broken down to its original state. Aquafil takes advantage of this as it collects old fishnets and other nylon waste and turns it into a yarn that can be used for textiles, fabric and carpets. With 30,000 tons of waste recycled through the system in just two years, the company limits new production of oil-based nylon and keeps plastics from entering the sea.

A plastic-wrapped warning

For these kinds of solutions, the output is relatively small and the impact limited. However, fashion can help deliver the message that we are too reckless with plastic waste and too ignorant about its impact on our oceans. As Parley for the Ocean's founderCyrill Gutsch explained to Sneakers Magazine , "a product can be the most efficient messenger for a cause. A product made from the very problem we are fighting to fix only amplifies the message." Additionally, with 165 million tons of plastic in our oceans, there is enough for millions of shoes, shirts and skirts, and a growing number of conscious consumers worldwide interested in supporting the cause.

Of course, collecting ocean plastics doesn't quite address the root of the problem. Propylene-derived plastics, which most plastics are, never biodegrade completely , and we therefore need solutions to replace these plastics with more sustainable materials. We also need more solutions to stop plastic from reaching our seas in the first place, as well as solutions to retrieve ocean plastic more efficiently, like the ones presented by the Project and the Ocean Cleanup . However, making clothes and textiles from the plastic trash that is already in our oceans can send a strong message and get us dressed up for a serious fight for plastic-free seas.

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Dressed in waste: How fashion can help clean up our oceans of plastic | Global Opportunity Explorer

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Plastic is one of the most celebrated and widely used materials in modern society. But even though it is extremely useful and resilient, it is harming our environment on multiple levels. Not only are most plastics made from fossil fuels, which contribute to our warming climate, we humans also have a hard time keeping them on land.

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Discover recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas to try.

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Sinterama Corporate - Newlife - a premium yarn

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Newlife™ just got the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) study by ICEA - Istituto per la Certificazione Etica e Ambientale (Institute for Ethic and Environmental Certification) which inspects and certifies firms respectful for the environment, workers' dignity and collective rights.

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All the latest news about Italy economy from the BBC

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1) So, what is Orange Fiber and how do you create it?

The fiber is made through a process we innovated, in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano University. In our pilot plant in Sicily, the (citrus juice by-product) is processed to extract the citrus cellulose, which is then sent to a partner in Spain to be spun into yarn. The yarn then returns to Italy, to our fabric producer in Como, where our exclusive fabrics are ready to be used by the fashion brands worldwide. This process has the potential to transform the 700,000 tonnes of pastazzo produced annually by the Italian citrus processing industry into high quality fabrics.

2) Why are you creating Orange Fiber?

3) What other projects in the sustainable textiles/fashion space you are excited about (done by you or others)?

Today it is easier to be excited about the sustainable fashion, with many incredible projects spread all around the world. Amongst these, we definitely love and admire:

the Global Change Award, an innovation challenge by H&M Foundation, in collaboration with Accenture and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The award catalyses early innovations to help accelerate the shift from a linear to a circular fashion industry. In 2015, its first year, our Orange Fiber was selected out of more than 2,700 projects from 112 different countries, awarding us with a grant of €150,000 and access to a one-year innovation accelerator.

the Future Tech Lab, which is equal parts investment company, multinational accelerator and experimental laboratory. The Lab was founded by prominent fashion entrepreneur, Miroslava Duma to transform the fashion ecosystem, helping new technologies and sustainable innovations connect, collaborate, and create.

the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, that works with businesses, government and academia to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Recently, in collaboration with the fashion designer Stella McCartney, the Foundation launched 'A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion's Future'. This new report presents an ambitious vision for a textile sector based on circular economy principles, that offers benefits to the economy, to society and to the environment. Our Orange Fiber is included alongside other disruptive materials, business models and technologies that could provide solutions in a new textiles economy.

Eco-Age, which helps brands and businesses to grow by creating, implementing and communicating sustainability solutions. Founded by Livia Firth, Eco-Age has developed considerable connections with the world's most influential voices in sustainability, driving global debate and focusing on the positive, social, and environmental impact of fashion. Eco-Age, in collaboration with Camera Nazionale della Moda (CNMI) launched the Green Carpet Fashion Awards Italia 2017, to celebrate sustainable innovation and production in fashion. At the awards ceremony, Orange Fiber received the Technology and Innovation Award, presented by Derek Blasberg and Miroslava Duma, recognising our important contributions in the fashion industry.

4) How do you see the future of fashion?

Green!
Second to oil, fashion is the most polluting industry in the world. Each stage in a garment's life threatens our planet's resources: It can take more than 20,000 litres of water to produce just 1kg of cotton, which is only equivalent to a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. In the process of transforming raw materials into clothes, up to 8,000 different chemicals are used. Fashion needs to adopt a sustainable and ethical business model, where the environmental and human costs are considered as important as profit. The key is to restart the fashion industry to take our world beyond the next season.

5) Anything else you'd like to add/say!?

We're not the only ones excited about Orange Fiber. The first fashion collection created with our fabrics was by the Florentine maison Salvatore Ferragamo. For the 'Ferragamo Orange Fiber Collection', we used a 110 dtex filament thread blended with silk to obtain a silky twill that looks, feels and functions the same as its silk homologue. Lastly, because Orange Fiber is a cellulose fibre, it can be used in much the same way as its man-made counterparts. Thanks to this, Orange Fiber can be dyed, coloured and printed on to create whatever look or feel you want.

What do you think of Orange Fiber? Share your thoughts by tweeting us @Amberoot, or in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you!

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This article is part of series "Future of Fashion Series":

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Future of Fashion: Innovative Fabric - Orange Fibre

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Orange Fiber is the first patented material made from citrus juice by-products. 100% citrus biodegradable food waste textile fabric feels soft, silky and lightweight. It can also be blended with other materials and be opaque or shiny according to the designer's needs. Learn more

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Free movement of goods in Europe - free trade agreement, reporting goods movements, equal treatment for all EU customers

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The tool has been designed to help companies add visibility to their supply chain at the raw material stage.

It uses data analytics and machine learning on Google Cloud to give brands a more comprehensive view into their supply chain, particularly concerning cotton and viscose production.

The project was announced at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit this week, and is set to launch early next year.

In a post on Instagram, chief innovation officer at Current Global, Rachel Arthur, said: "Currently, there exists little to no visibility of this tier, while simultaneously it is responsible for the largest amount of environmental damage most items of clothing hold.

"With this tool, fashion brands will be able to better understand the cost to nature of their raw materials by measuring key factors such as air pollution, water scarcity, greenhouse gas emissions and more in near time."

She added: "Our ultimate aim is to create an open industry-wide tool by working with fashion brands, NGOs and industry bodies."

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Google launches fashion supply chain tool

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The tool has been designed to help companies add visibility to their supply chain at the raw material stage. It uses data analytics and machine learning on Google Cloud to give brands a more comprehensive view into their supply chain, particularly concerning cotton and viscose production.

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Luxury lifestyle brand Paul & Shark is continuing its positive momentum in 2019 following continued listings success in Europe and beyond.
Paul & Shark Worldwide Travel Retail Director Catherine Bonelli said: "We are pleased to report that Paul & Shark has seen another extremely successful year.

"The most consolidated markets are Europe, China and Russia where we are investing to support a continuous retail expansion.

"In Travel retail we are proud to announce the opening of two stores in the new Istanbul Airport. One is a monobrand boutique located in zone 1 and one is a corner in the fashion garden of zone 6.
TFWA APAC RETURN
"We have also been able to consolidate our presence in countries where we have already domestic stores like the Philippines: one store in the new Luxe Duty Free Downtown Mall in Manila and one airport corner in the highly touristic destination of Cebu."

The company returns to TFWA Singapore this year to showcase its latest collections combining high-quality materials, contemporary design and technological innovation.

Typhoon 2000 protects against the elements with waterproof and windproof protection for all weather conditions, preventing water from penetrating the fabric while maximising breathability and comfort.

Functionality and technology lies at the core of the range, with Lite, Twill and Micro versions available.

Always draws on the Italian brand's DNA and unique expertise to produce 'timeless' garments that can be reordered whenever necessary. Items are selected based on their heritage and quality that endure through time.

One example is the Travel Capsule, featuring clean lines and urban character and possessing extreme lightness with high cold resistance and heat retention, with a special anti-wrinkle fabric.

Meanwhile, a tie-up with Loro Piana (Storm System from Loro Piana) blends natural and luxury materials such as cashmere with advanced technology in a marriage of style and functionality.

Storm System consists of a double barrier, a water repellant treatment and exclusive hydrophilic membrane that ensures breathability and resistance to water.

Additionally, Paul & Shark will showcase special capsule collections in collaboration with Nick Wooster and LQQK Studio to appeal to fashion-conscious consumers.
NICK WOOSTER X IN ASIA
In separate but related news, Paul & Shark recently spotlighted its Nick Wooster X Spring/Summer 2019 collection in Asia at the Shin Kong Place shopping centre in downtown Beijing.

Paul & Shark has introduced a pop-up store at the impressive 180,000sq m shopping venue located in Beijing CBD Huamao Business Circle, home to more than 900 brands.

The appearance at Shin Kong Place is part of Paul & Shark's strategy of increasing brand awareness among Chinese travellers. This has achieved a positive knock-on effect to its travel retail business.

Bonelli said: "This pop-up shop at Shin Kong Place is part of our strategy to target Chinese consumers, and grow awareness of our brand in the travel retail channel.

"This great collection from Nick Wooster has been well received and we expect its appearance will help boost sales of our products in duty free stores."
Paul & Shark can be found exhibiting at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, Stand D11, Basement Level 2.

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Paul & Shark reports 'extremely successful year' | Travel Retail Business

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Luxury lifestyle brand Paul & Shark is continuing its positive momentum in 2019 following continued listings success in Europe and beyond. Paul & Shark Worldwide Travel Retail Director Catherine Bonelli said: "We are pleased to report that Paul & Shark has seen another extremely successful year.

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Seasonal Range Plan Stores New (version 1).xlsb

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Ralph Lauren UK | Luxury Clothing and Home Collection

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Welcome to the world of Ralph Lauren. Discover timeless and authentic designer clothing for men, women, children and babies, as well as luxury homeware. Ralph Lauren