Positive Change: Two Sustainability Acts Emerging Within the Fashion Industry

As of early this year, many publications, including the Business of Fashion and the Fashion & Law Journal, have reported that two essential acts to promote sustainability and ethical practices are back on lawmakers' agendas. The New York Fashion Act and The Fashion Workers Act would allow shoppers to understand better the negative environmental impacts of their favorite brands on today's climate and protect workers within these industries from exploitative conditions (Park et al.). 

Some brands, such as Patagonia and Everlane, support these acts as they align with their identities and morals. Additionally, many celebrities, such as Zooey Deschanel, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Megan Boone (The Fashion Act), have publicly endorsed these bills. 

However, these acts are quite controversial within the fashion industry because they would revolutionize sustainability practices while hurting production and profits. For decades, the industry as a whole has been one of the largest polluting industries, as well as allowing for exploitative labor practices, especially with children. According to The Fashion Act, retailers are responsible for 4-8.6% of CO2 emissions, while the US produces around 11% of the world's total contributions. Both acts aim to regulate and minimize these impacts as sectors such as fast fashion take over the retail industry. The New York Fashion Act would force retailers to be transparent with their materials, CO2 contributions, and traceability (Pucker). There is considerable pushback against these proposed acts because brands see them as impractical in today's industry and claim they cannot uphold all of these proposed regulations. 

These Acts raise many questions regarding sustainability and ethical practices within the industry and whether or not governments should be involved. Is it the government's place to enact these regulations? Should retailers be forced to be transparent with their consumers? How will these acts impact the industry both domestically and abroad? 

While we are still determining whether these acts will pass, they highlight important strategic and practical issues regarding the direction the industry is taking and the need for viable long-term sustainability solutions.

References

        Park, Seoryung, et al. “New York, It’s Time to Act: The New York Fashion Act and Fashion Workers Act.” Fashion Law Journal, 8 Feb. 2024, fashionlawjournal.com/new-york-its-time-to-act-the-new-york-fashion-act-and-fashion-workers-act/. 

        Pucker, Kenneth. “Why Big Brands Are Pushing Back against Sustainability Regulations.” The Business of Fashion, The Business of Fashion, 7 Feb. 2024, www.businessoffashion.com/opinions/sustainability/why-big-brands-are-pushing-back-against-sustainability-regulations/. 

        The Fashion Act, The Fashion Act, www.thefashionact.org/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024.