Fashion News: Q3 2025
Published on 7 October 2025
July
1. H&M Commits to Recycled Viscose via Circulose Partnership 🇸🇪
H&M Group has entered a multi-year partnership with Circulose, a Swedish innovator turning old textiles into new fibers. The deal will significantly scale the use of recycled viscose across H&M’s collections, replacing a large share of its virgin materials. By embracing next-generation recycling technology, the company aims to make circular materials a core part of its supply chain and move closer to its goal of a net-positive impact on the planet.
Source: Fashion Dive
2. Fast-Fashion Shipping Emissions Surge 🇨🇳
SHEIN’s latest sustainability report revealed a 13.7% rise in shipping emissions over the past year, despite public commitments to environmental progress. The increase reflects the high carbon cost of global fast-fashion logistics and highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing affordability with sustainability. Industry observers see this as a wake-up call for more transparent and measurable environmental targets within ultra-fast retail models.
Source: Good On You
3. Kering & Marie Claire Host “Fashion Our Future” in Shanghai 🇨🇳
Luxury group Kering and Marie Claire China co-hosted “Fashion Our Future,” a forward-looking event that gathered designers, students, and activists to discuss sustainability in fashion. The summit explored topics like emotional wardrobes, water-positive design, and the power of conscious creativity. By centering sustainability as both an art form and a responsibility, the event encouraged the next generation of designers to lead change from the sketchbook up.
Source: Marie Claire
August
4. Japan Launches National Sustainable Fashion Strategy 🇯🇵
Japan’s Sustainable Fashion Alliance unveiled an ambitious set of policy recommendations to accelerate fiber-to-fiber recycling and mandate CO₂ emission disclosures for textile producers. The proposals also include eco-design standards aimed at extending garment life and improving material traceability. This move places Japan among the countries building comprehensive frameworks for a circular fashion economy.
Source: Good On You
5. Copenhagen Fashion Week Faces Greenwashing Scrutiny 🇩🇰
Copenhagen Fashion Week, often seen as a global leader in sustainable fashion, faced increased scrutiny this season over claims of greenwashing and designer departures. Critics questioned how effectively its sustainability requirements are enforced, while supporters defended its role in driving industry change. The discussion underscored the growing tension between ambition and accountability in fashion’s sustainability movement
Source: Forbes
6. Shein Fined €1 Million for Misleading Environmental Claims 🇮🇹
Italy’s competition authority fined fast-fashion giant SHEIN €1 million after ruling that the brand made vague or exaggerated sustainability claims. The decision marks one of the first major legal actions in Europe targeting greenwashing in the apparel sector. Regulators hope this will set a precedent for stricter standards around transparency and consumer communication in fashion marketing.
Source: The Guardian
September
7. EU Approves Textile Waste Regulations 🇪🇺
The European Union officially passed new legislation requiring clothing brands and retailers to fund the collection, sorting, and recycling of discarded textiles. Known as “extended producer responsibility,” the policy shifts waste management costs from consumers to producers, holding companies accountable for the end-of-life impact of their products. This represents one of the EU’s boldest steps yet toward a circular fashion system.
Source: European Parliament News
8. Chloé’s Chief Sustainability Officer Steps Down 🇫🇷
Aude Vergne, who helped Chloé earn its B Corp certification and championed ethical supply chains, announced her departure from the brand. Her exit comes at a time when sustainability leadership is increasingly central to luxury fashion strategy. While Chloé remains committed to its social and environmental mission, the change raises questions about continuity in corporate sustainability roles across the industry.
Source: Business of Fashion
9. Stella McCartney Introduces 98% Sustainable Collection in Paris 🇫🇷
At Paris Fashion Week, Stella McCartney presented one of her most sustainable collections to date—crafted with 98% responsible materials. The lineup featured “Fevvers,” a new plant-based alternative to feathers, alongside recycled metals and organic cotton. McCartney described the show as both a celebration of innovation and a statement against cruelty in fashion, reinforcing her position as a pioneer of eco-luxury design.
Source: AP News
10. “Beyond the Claim 2025” at Milan Fashion Week Showcases Low-Impact Brands 🇮🇹
During Milan Fashion Week, Beyond the Claim featured 13 designers certified by Friend of the Earth. The collections were rooted in recycling, upcycling, organic materials, and social responsibility. It offered a clear example of how creativity and rigorous sustainability certification are increasingly defining fashion’s future.