Articles by Esmee Blaazer
What is the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) legislation? What does it mean for the fashion industry, and what can you do to prepare?
loading... - Background
Good news from Brussel. ‘A victory for people and the environment.’ Lara Wolters on X, tweet from March 15, 2024: “Due Diligence passed in Council! People and planet prevailed over cynicism. Thanks so much to the Belgian Presidency for all its efforts!” On Friday, March 15, the EU voted in favor of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence...
The European Parliament wants EU member states to implement EPR rules more quickly
loading... - Business
The European Parliament has taken another step to tackle the problem of textile waste and food waste within the European Union. The vast majority of the group of people who make EU laws voted in favour of revising waste policy (known as the Waste Framework). This is an important step in the European Union's legislative process. More ambitious...
Comprehensive reporting on sustainability is or will become mandatory: Here's what you need to know about the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
loading... - Background
“Traditionally, financial reports have been the main focus of corporate reporting,” explains fashion professional Melissa Wijngaarden. Many companies compile annual reports that recount their activities over the last year. An integral part of this report is the financial statements, which summarize the company's financial situation. This allows...
Zalando reprimanded by EU regulator: will misleading sustainability claims soon be a thing of the past?
loading... - Business
Primark Netherlands was recently reprimanded for greenwashing. Prior to this, retail chains H&M and Decathlon were also reprimanded by the Dutch regulator ACM for unclear and vague green claims. The Advertising Code Committee ruled in 2023 that certain advertising statements from Primark Netherlands clothing were misleading after a complaint...
Plagiarism in fashion: Why is there so much counterfeiting, and is it even allowed?
loading... - Background
Trends have always traditionally been dedicated by the runway.The apparel industry looks to runway designs, haute couture as well as ready-to-wear,for inspiration. Designs are reinterpreted for a wider audience or diluted and made more accessible while being sold at ever-lower prices. Source: the article ‘Fashion: from catwalk to closet’ Some...
The hidden costs of our purchases: True Pricing and the road to fairer price
loading... - Background
You go to the store for a carton of milk or, if we focus on our industry, a new item of clothing. You pay the market or retail price based on what it costs to produce and sell that item. But did you know that you don't always pay the "true price"? Manufacturers and companies don't usually pass on all the costs to the end consumer. Just think...
From catwalk to console: Swiss start-up Nak3d's digital fashion revolution
loading... - Business | Interview
Nak3d is a Swiss startup that brings together the worlds of fashion, video games and artificial intelligence (AI). The company specialises in turning the latest fashion trends, brands and styles into digital assets that can be used in video games. This is referred to by Nak3d as 'g-commerce' – or game commerce. It allows video game players to...
What exactly is greenwashing?
loading... - Background
In this background piece, FashionUnited lists what greenwashing is, how common it is and what regulations and legislation are in the pipeline. Click on the arrows in the text to find out more Contents • What is greenwashing? How common is it and what are the drawbacks? • How to recognise greenwashing and when is it indeed a case of greenwashing?...
The fashion system: The fashion seasons explained
loading... - Background
Fashion expert José Teunissen was once quoted stating : "What characterises fashion is its urge to innovate. Every six months, fashion presents itself as a moment where the spirit of time is captured in a moment of absolute beauty." *Source: José Teunissen's chapter 'The universe of fashion' in Artez Press' book 'Fashion and imagination on...
Making something new from something existing is 'in': This is upcycling
loading... - Background
Which fashion designers are upcycling? How big is the upcycling movement? And how popular is it actually with the general public, i.e. the consumer? You can find more about upcycling in this background article. As always, we start at the beginning. Click on the icons in the text for more information. Contents • The meaning of upcycling (and how...