Create a sustainable fashion brand in Europe
Are you eager to explore the world of sustainable fashion in Europe and learn how to establish your own brand? Dive into the enriching training provided by Slow Innovation Brands, the groundbreaking incubation platform dedicated to sustainable fashion brands. This visionary initiative was founded by Dr. Tatiana Souza, a PhD holder in Sociology of Work from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Unveiling the Dark Side of Fashion
As per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the fashion industry ranks second among the most environmentally damaging sectors globally.
To put things in perspective, producing a single pair of jeans requires a staggering 7,500 liters of water. Astonishingly, this quantity is equivalent to the average water consumption of an adult over seven years.
Let this fact sink in: the jeans hanging in your closet could sustain you with water for seven years!
UNCTAD also reports that the fashion industry consumes approximately 93 billion cubic meters of water each year. This vast amount of water could satisfy the needs of roughly five million people worldwide.
Additionally, with every laundry cycle, minuscule plastic microfibers infiltrate water sources and ultimately end up in our oceans. Consequently, around half a million tons of microfibers, equivalent to 3 million barrels of oil, are discharged into the ocean annually.
For more startling statistics on fashion's resource consumption, delve deeper into the United Nations news portal.
Paving the Way for Sustainable Fashion
To transform the fashion industry into a bastion of sustainability, it is crucial to invest in business models that prioritize sustainability right from the inception of production. Slow Innovation Brands advocates three pivotal pillars that sustainable fashion brands should anchor themselves upon.
1. Environmental Sustainability
Creating an environmentally sustainable business model hinges on meticulous attention to the materials employed in the brand's clothing production. Designers have an array of textiles at their disposal, but it's imperative to scrutinize the composition of these materials for sustainability.
Furthermore, adopting a circular design approach, which minimizes energy consumption during production, is crucial. Designs should minimize waste, prolong product lifecycles, and facilitate material recycling at the end of a product's utility.
Efforts to reduce gas emissions and waste during packaging and product transportation are equally important in this quest for sustainability.
2. Economic Sustainability
For a brand to thrive, it must have a robust financial plan. Profit from product sales should adequately cover production costs, ensuring the brand's long-term viability. Sustainable brands should also champion transparency, sharing production data and profit margins with consumers.
3. Social Sustainability
The fashion industry's most significant impact is often borne by local communities in countries where garments are manufactured. Fast fashion brands often choose the cheapest production locations, which frequently translates to inadequate wages for workers.
Sustainable fashion brands should strive for local production whenever possible. This approach allows brands to monitor factory conditions and the welfare of their workers. Additionally, local production reduces unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance transportation.
The Thriving Ecosystem of Sustainable Fashion in Europe
Europe boasts a burgeoning landscape of sustainable fashion projects, encompassing the efforts of companies, associations, and individuals alike. Slow Innovation Brands' entrepreneurial support programs aim to bridge the gap between these dedicated professionals and the needs of sustainable fashion designers.
What to Expect in this Program
This online program offers a comprehensive learning experience, including:
- 1-year of free access to our online platform, featuring a database of sustainable material suppliers and manufacturers, covering topics such as entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, environmental certifications, finance, ecological materials, circular design, and fair trade manufacturing. Check all that is included in our platform here.
- Access to physical samples of eco-friendly fabrics and knits from Portuguese, European, and global suppliers renowned for innovation and sustainability. (only in the premium subscription - option 2).
- Guidance in developing business, marketing, sales, and production plans through dedicated support from the Slow Innovation Brands team.
- 8 follow-up online mentoring sessions. (only in the premium subscription - option 2)
This edition of the program focuses on the European context, offering access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and connections with local suppliers of organic knitwear and manufacturing. Partnerships with associations dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion in Europe further enrich the program.
Prices:
For more information, please contact slowfashion.innovation@gmail.com. Join us on the path to sustainable fashion in Europe!
