Foresight Friday: Simar Deol, foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, foresight analyst Simar Deol discusses the fashion industry’s sustainability and labour violations issues, and how one pop icon has revived a cult-classic brand.

: Even the best PR teams cannot gloss over fashion’s significant sustainability problem. In fact, a new report by Fashion Revolution reveals how few fashion brands – including those labelled as ’sustainable’ – are being accountable and transparent about their carbon emissions and fossil fuel usage. As we discuss in our Global Fashion Summit 2024 coverage, is fashion at its tipping point?

: Fashion’s sustainability problem goes hand in hand with its human rights and labour violations. The Business of Fashion has exposed how Dior, LVMH’s second biggest fashion brand, fell behind on its disclosure requirements, in breach of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. As discussed in our Regulating Clean Fashion Futures feature, more laws are incoming, but will the fashion industry adhere?

: In less disheartening news, iconic Y2K brand Von Dutch, best known for its trucker hats and slogan tees, is experiencing a significant revival thanks to pop icon Charli XCX’s song Von Dutch. As younger consumers continue to seek out nostalgia-driven products and services, noughties pop culture references are once again coming out on top.