Transformer's Foundation Calls Out Supplier Inequity, Plus Key Climate Updates You Need to Know
Supplier inequity, California's climate laws, and a bold move from Vestiaire Collective—this week’s top stories in sustainable fashion.
Welcome to Week/End—your quick-hit guide to the week’s need-to-know sustainability news at the intersection of fashion, business, and ethics. Every Saturday, we deliver a curated recap of the most important industry updates straight to your inbox. No endless scrolling, no juggling multiple sources—just everything you need, in one simple, streamlined email. Think of us as your shortcut to staying informed and ready to lead the conversation—without the overwhelm.
TL;DR — Here’s what happened in sustainable fashion news this week:
New BoF Report Highlights Key 2025 Fashion Industry Challenges
California Passes First U.S. Textile EPR Law
Vestiaire Collective Launches Influencer Sustainability Campaign
Transformers Foundation Pushes for Supplier Equity in Fashion
Testex Introduces Certification to Tackle Microplastic Pollution
Sustainability jobs from Adidas, Canada Goose, Under Armour, Primark, and more were added to the SFF Job Board.
...more industry news you won’t want to miss! Let’s dive in!
BoF State of Fashion 2025 Report Highlights Industry Challenges
In 2025, fashion executives face a challenging landscape marked by sluggish growth, consumer caution, and shifting market dynamics, according to the latest State of Fashion report by the Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company.
Only 20% of surveyed executives anticipate improvement in the industry, while 70% cite declining consumer confidence as a primary concern. Amid regional shifts and evolving consumer preferences, brands are adapting by localizing strategies, diversifying product offerings, and targeting new consumer segments like the "Silver Generation" (shoppers over 50).
The report highlights ten trends shaping the industry, including the reconfiguration of global trade, the rise of AI-powered product discovery, the growing importance of cost-conscious shopping behaviors, and renewed emphasis on inventory management and sustainable practices.
While sustainability remains vital, it has slipped on executive priority lists, with only 18% identifying it as a top growth risk.
Cascale and Worldly Released Guide to California's New Climate Reporting Laws
Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition) and sustainability data platform Worldly have published a comprehensive guide on California's new climate laws—the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261).
Effective in 2026, these laws mandate that large companies disclose full greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) and assess climate-related financial risks, setting a new precedent for corporate environmental transparency in the U.S.
The guide provides tools and insights for navigating these regulations, including Cascale’s Higg Index and Worldly’s Product Impact Calculator, designed to help companies measure and manage emissions across complex supply chains.
→ Download the policy deep dive
California Product Stewardship Council and Senator Newman's Office to Host Webinar: Unpacking SB 707—What It Is and What It Means
In September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, into law establishing the U.S.’s first Extended Producer Responsibility program for textiles, aiming to reduce waste by requiring producers to take responsibility for their products' entire lifecycle—from creation to recycling and reuse.
Now, the California Product Stewardship Council, in collaboration with Senator Newman's office, is hosting a webinar on December 11th to unpack what this new law means for the textile industry, California residents, and sustainability advocates. The session will cover the journey and impact of SB 707, the structure of the EPR program, and key milestones for implementation.
Transformers Foundation Report Calls for Overhaul of Supplier Inclusion in Fashion’s Sustainability Initiatives
The Transformers Foundation report, “Collective Action Reimagined: A Call for Fair Process and Supplier Inclusion in Fashion’s Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives (MSIs),” examines systemic barriers that hinder supplier engagement in MSIs. The report reveals how structural inequities, high participation costs, and biased decision-making processes perpetuate exclusion, leaving suppliers underrepresented in critical sustainability discussions and strategies.
The report highlights the resource disparities between suppliers and brands, with many smaller suppliers unable to match the capacity of brands’ sustainability teams. It also addresses the emotional toll of bias and inequity faced by suppliers, further compounding disengagement and weakening collective action.
To break this cycle, the report advocates for the adoption of a "Fair Process" model. This framework calls for acknowledgment and reduction of systemic bias, equitable engagement in decision-making, and transparency in governance. Practical steps include amplifying supplier voices, creating inclusive decision-making processes, and establishing clear accountability measures to ensure fairness.
Testex Launched Microplastic Label and Joined Microfibre Consortium
Testex has introduced the Microplastic label, certifying textiles that meet stringent standards to minimize microplastic emissions during washing and production. Using advanced Laser Direct Infrared Imaging Systems, the certification evaluates the quantity, type, and size of microplastic particles. It complies with ISO 4484-1:2023 and ISO 4484-2:2023, supporting manufacturers in meeting environmental regulations and reducing microplastic pollution, while providing actionable data to improve textile sustainability.
To further its commitment, TESTEX has joined The Microfibre Consortium, collaborating on industry-wide efforts to mitigate microfibre pollution and advance sustainability in textile production.
💬 What’s your take on this week’s news? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and we might feature your response in next week’s newsletter!
Vestiaire Collective Launched Six-Month Influencer Campaign to Combat Fast Fashion and Drive Sustainable Consumer Behavior
Resale platform Vestiaire Collective announced a six-month program aimed at reshaping consumer behavior through the power of influencer marketing. The campaign partners with five influencers, known for their "haul" videos and collectively reaching over two million followers, to explore sustainable fashion alternatives and educate their audiences on the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion.
The initiative includes masterclasses with industry experts, such as psychologists and sustainable fashion advocates, and a visit to a clothing waste site to highlight the global impact of overproduction. Vestiaire Collective’s goal is to encourage influencers and their audiences to embrace quality over quantity, promoting long-lasting, conscious fashion choices.
Building on previous efforts—like banning over 60 fast fashion brands from its platform and campaigns spotlighting fashion waste—this initiative aligns with Vestiaire Collective’s advocacy for stronger regulations, including France’s Anti-Fast Fashion Bill. This legislation proposes advertising bans for fast fashion brands and influencers, reinforcing the company’s mission to shift consumer behavior and reshape the fashion industry.
In an exclusive interview for Green Behavior, our Founder Brittany Sierra spoke with Dounia Wone, Vestiaire Collective’s Chief Impact Officer, about the psychology driving the campaign and the challenges of transitioning influencers toward sustainability.
Excerpt from the interview:
Brittany Sierra: Why did you choose to focus on influencers for this campaign? What makes them the right channel to drive meaningful change?
Dounia Wone: Studies show social media is one of the most influential sources of sustainability information for consumers. Seventy-five percent of people are more likely to adopt eco-friendly behaviors after watching sustainability content, and 83% consider TikTok and Instagram valuable platforms for sustainable living advice. Given this influence—and how fast fashion brands often rely on influencers, fueling overproduction—we saw an opportunity to use social media to disrupt this cycle.
We chose one influencer per key market to ensure our message resonates with the right audience. Each selected influencer has high engagement, a predominantly female audience aged 25–35, and represents a distinct shopper category. Some work with both fast fashion and luxury brands, while others focus on affordable finds, thrifting, or vintage. This diversity helps us connect with a broad spectrum of consumer habits.
These influencers have built strong trust within their communities, whose younger followers often don’t fully understand the consequences of fast fashion. Through this six-month program, we aim to equip both influencers and their audiences with the knowledge and tools to make more sustainable fashion choices. It’s also about encouraging influencers to recognize their responsibility and the impact—positive or negative—they have on their communities.
Brittany Sierra: How does this campaign address the fact that so many influencers rely on fast fashion or mainstream “hauls” for income? Are there incentives beyond just environmental awareness to encourage them to prioritize sustainable options, especially when financial stability is a concern?
Dounia Wone: This campaign is a first step toward educating influencers so they can make their own decision in the future with full awareness of the devastating consequences of fast fashion. We will share an educational one page guide to all the existing and future influencers we work with, explaining the social and environmental impact of fast fashion. This is just the first step of our long term vision, we hope to make influencers understand the responsibility they have and their ability to make positive changes in the fashion community. Partnering with sustainable brands allows them to still have financial security.
The purpose of this campaign is not to tell them to stop partnering with fast fashion brands but to be more conscious of those partnerships and opportunities. They are now able to link to Vestiaire Collective using affiliate links to make money.
We believe in the power of education, collaboration, and innovative compensation models to bridge this gap. By giving influencers the tools to advocate for sustainability, we can help them grow their platforms around sustainable values. With a rising trend of consumers actively seeking sustainable alternatives, this also presents influencers with a unique opportunity to grow their communities and position themselves as stand-out voices in the industry. This is about fostering a long-term narrative shift where sustainability becomes the future of fashion and influencer engagement
Brittany Sierra: I always use Vestiaire Collective as an example on Green Behavior because you do such a great job of leveraging consumer psychology to shift behavior. Why is consumer psychology such a big focus for you, and how does it shape your campaigns?
Dounia Wone: Consumer psychology lies at the heart of the overconsumption crisis, with brands exploiting our desire for novelty and the joy fashion brings to drive excessive shopping. At Vestiaire Collective, our mission and our marketing campaigns have always been about showing consumers how they can still embrace trends and style in a more sustainable manner, and to offer them an alternative to overconsumption.
In the full article, Dounia dives into the psychological barriers that keep consumers from choosing sustainable options, the metrics used to measure the success of their campaign, and more.
→ Read the full interview on Green Behavior
→ Learn more about the campaign
🤖 UK-based startup Fleek has raised $20.4 million to expand its AI-powered resale marketplace connecting global wholesale suppliers with secondhand retailers, streamlining sourcing with predictive analytics and tapping into the growing demand for sustainable fashion.
♻️ Revalyu Resources is investing $100 million to expand its Nashik, India, facility, making it the world’s largest PET recycling site. The expansion will include a second recycling plant, capable of processing 620,000 pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) per day, with operations set to begin in Q3 2025. The company plans to expand globally, targeting a U.S. facility by 2027 and aiming for a production capacity of 2.2 million pounds of recycled PET per day by 2030.
🏙️ A new report by the Zero Waste Europe initiative explores how European cities are stepping up to tackle the impacts of fast fashion locally, addressing the gap left by limited government action. → Read the report
🎯 ThredUp is bringing on Danielle Vermeer as its first head of social commerce, starting in January, signaling a strategic push into AI-driven tools and social engagement to enhance the resale experience. Vermeer, cofounder of peer-to-peer resale app Teleport and a former Amazon product leader, will lead efforts to make resale more engaging and accessible, particularly targeting younger consumers.
👔 Circulose announced the Helena Helmersson, former CEO of H&M Group, as Chairman of the Board, and Jonatan Janmark, previously a Partner at McKinsey & Company, as CEO, effective December 1, 2024.
👛 Sophie Brocart, former CEO of Patou and mentor for the LVMH Prize, is leaving LVMH to take on a new circularity-focused role at Chanel. While details about her responsibilities remain forthcoming, her appointment underscores the luxury sector's increasing focus on circularity to address environmental impact and evolving consumer demand—a significant shift for Chanel, which has historically opposed resale.
🌱 Natural Fiber Welding (NFW), an Illinois-based producer of plant-based, plastic-free materials like Mirum and Clarus, is restructuring amid financial difficulties. Founder and CEO Luke Haverhals stepped down in late October but will remain on the board. The company recently furloughed a significant portion of its workforce, citing delays in customer contracting that impeded the closing of a planned bridge funding round. Steve Zika, previously NFW’s president, has taken over as CEO.
Hiring for roles in sustainability, social impact, DEI, or other positions at a purpose-driven organization?
Kind World Collective specializes in recruiting purpose-driven talent for organizations like yours. Email us at hello@kindworldcollective.com for a free consultation and a special discount on our recruiting services when you mention the Sustainable Fashion Forum!
Under Armour | Lead, Sustainability
Baltimore, MD | Hybrid・Full-Time・Mid-Senior Level
$103.5K/yr - $142.3K/yr
→ Apply hereThe TJX Companies, Inc. | Project Manager, Sustainability
Mississauga, ON | Full-Time・Mid-Senior Level
→ Apply here
Canada Goose | Sr. Manager, Traceability
Toronto, ON | Full-Time・Mid-Senior Level
→ Apply here
Adidas | Manager LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) and Sustainability
Herzogenaurach, Germany | On-Site・Full-Time
→ Apply here
Primark | Circular Products Coordinator
Reading, England, United Kingdom | Hybrid・Contract・Associate
→ Apply here
📋 Not sustainability-specific but sustainable fashion-related, Global Fashion Agenda has several Denmark-based internships available for those who want to gain hands-on experience and contribute to global sustainable fashion initiatives.
→ Learn more & apply here
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