Blog Post Title One

Rethinking fashion design 

Based on reading The Pulse 2019 Update, by the Global Fashion Agenda, Boston Consulting Group and Sustainable Apparel Coalition,   one of the key sentiments that is sticking with me is "The question is no longer whether it is necessary to improve sustainable business practices, but rather how long it will take before consumers stop buying from brands that do not act responsibly." The report dove into progress tracking in broad strokes, and ultimately was explaining that the progress being made is just being made quite slowly. It was interesting to me to see stages broken down and laid out to further understand the roadmap businesses are on and the personal paths consumers are on within the sphere of making choices with sustainability at the forefront, as we all journey towards this together. In reflection on this journey, I see both opportunities and challenges for sustainability: 

Opportunities for sustainability – 

1.  The Fourth Industrial Revolution: the possibilities it offers for profound societal and economic changes

2.  Collaboration with industry stakeholders for developing and implementing better wage systems and standards for the respect of universal human rights

3.  The younger generations' inclination towards awareness and prioritization of sustainable decision making 

Challenges for sustainability - 

1. The Need for Global Collaboration: being an international issue, cohesiveness of policies and implementing a collective approach 

2.  The Need for Coordinated Action: timelines and incentives to be aligned across the industry

3.  The Need for Faster Paced Progress:  in a race against the damage being done to our climate, etc. quicker progress needs to be made 

I hear from the report "Consumer considerations of sustainable practices are not yet powerful enough to be the most important driver of purchasing behaviour. Quality and aesthetics still dominate decision making." echoing in my head. Since learning of the responsibility we have as consumers to support a more ethical world, it has been important to me that aesthetics and connection to a piece because of its beauty, uniqueness, and style still resonates with an individual. I feel like in the past 'fair trade fashion' hasn't quite felt like 'fashion' much. I'm eager and hopeful to see the industry of sustainable fashion grow in all of the price-point sectors so that the self-expression of fashion is not compromised when choosing ethically made. The report notes that "NGOs and media must continue pushing businesses and consumers to support this transformation strongly by encouraging consumers to find and exercise their voice and urge businesses to supply high-quality sustainable products." This sits with me as I feel the pull to join the work of this urging on through the power of media and visual representation to convey the necessary changes need to move forward into a healthier world.