Sustainable fashion can also cut costs

With UK bodies continuously trying to address the issues of eco friendly fashion and gain a voice amongst big, mainstream retailers, there also seems to be cost benefits to those who think in terms of sustainability. Finding ways to cut costs internally

has also become increasingly important for fashion companies as the cost of commodities like cotton rises and labour costs increase—many are eager to find ways that will allow them to avoid passing these costs onto the consumer.

Macy’s announced last week that starting in fall 2011 the company will begin using environmentally friendly matte black hangers in their stores (replacing the clear hangers that have hung in Macy’s for years). Macy’s Chief Administrative Officer Thomas Cole says, “Our company has embraced the principles of sustainability, and we continue to take actions that are tangible, measurable and meaningful in reducing our use of scarce resources and improving the efficiency of our business.” According to Macy’s the store uses 300 million hangers a year, so the cost savings will be measurable.

PPR, the parent company of luxury brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, is also investing in green strategies, hoping for a long-term payoff. The company created a sustainability lab this year to research ways to introduce sustainability into business practices. Francois- Henri Pinault, CEO of PPR said “My deep conviction that sustainability creates value.” In other words, going green for PPR has just as much to do with figures as it does with the environment.

It seems to be working at all levels as fast fashion, discount retailer, H&M is also finding ways to cut costs alongside its eco research. For instance certain washes of jeans don’t have to be washed so often as others, which saves water consumption and ultimately cost.

Other interesting processes fashion insiders are looking at include AirDye technologies – whereby dying methods don’t use water and thus the process does not discard the waste water created by traditional water based dyes – and since the dying process here is precise it allows fashion designers to control exact fabric quantity and thus again cut fabric waste.