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Fashion brands will be focussing on climate goals, products built for life and cross-industry … [+] collaboration in 2025
Corbis via Getty Images
Sustainability maybe trending downwards in fashion as we hit the middle of the decade, but the work isn’t grinding to a halt.
I asked sustainability managers across the fashion sector, from luxury to mainstream, to share some of the initiatives they’ll be working on this coming year. From education programmes and customer services for product longevity, to the ongoing work towards net zero goals and putting in place better protection for workers in the supply chain, here’s what we can expect from brands in 2025.
Chanel
Luxury fashion house Chanel will be continuing its efforts to be net zero across its value-chain by 2040. The brand is confident it will meet its target to use 100% renewable energy across its owned assets, including stores, offices and manufacturing sites this year, as part of its net zero work. This year, Chanel will be investing in data collection and processes to identify evolving hotspots and drivers of carbon emissions to sharpen and refine its transition plan.
Global chief sustainability officer at Chanel, Kate Wylie, said: “Our goals span restoring nature, protecting climate, investing in circularity and supporting dignity and opportunity for all, particularly the autonomy of women. Working to achieve our net-zero targets, leveraging our people as agents of change and continuing to embed sustainable practices across our value chain, from material sourcing to product creation, are just some areas of focus.”
Last year, Chanel renewed its partnership with Cambridge University for an additional three years to educate its employees on key sustainability topics and prototype sustainable solutions.
Wylie added that the company is also open to new partnerships: “As well as sustainability remaining a key priority for us, we hope to encourage collective action within and beyond our House, working with other organisations and partners to inspire ideas that bring a world where nature, people and business thrive together.”
VF
The owner of Vans, The North Face, Timberland and other active lifestyle brands will be continuing work towards its goals on inclusion, diversity and equity, community, supplier human rights, climate, materials, chemistry and traceability.
One area of focus for 2025 will be on health and safety and gender-based violence prevention among its suppliers. As of VF’s most recent sustainability report, published in November 2023, more than 1,300 factory workers had been reached through its gender-based violence and harassment training pilot in Bangladesh and 35 out of 123 in-scope VF supplier factories graduated from its Life & Building Safety initiative program in FY23. Its goal is to reach all in-scope supplier factories by FY26.
Sara Stefanski, VP global responsible sourcing at VF, said: “These critical programs are implemented in collaboration with on the ground stakeholders including government agencies, NGOs, peers and others in the industry to set exemplary standards. We are always looking for opportunities for continuous improvement on these and our other responsible sourcing initiatives, and we ensure the voice of factory workers are included in that enhancement process. More updates will be shared in our next sustainability report.”
A seamstress repairing a Barbour quilted jacket
Paul Flannigan Photography
Barbour
British brand Barbour, famous for its waxed jackets, has been working on services to help its customers extend the life of their products and this year it will be rolling these out in additional markets.
A spokesperson said: “Following the success of Wax for Life [Barbour’s long-time jacket rewaxing service], in October 2024, Barbour introduced a new Quilt for Life scheme enabling cleaning and repairs to be carried out on Barbour quilted jackets. Our skilled factory team in South Shields [in the UK] can repair rips and tears and replace zips and studs helping customers to extend the life of their well-worn quilted favorites. Quilt for Life is currently available in the UK with future plans to extend this repair service to additional global markets.”
PANGAIA
PANGAIA, a materials innovation company which tests out solutions on its own clothing range, became a cult hit during the pandemic for its colorful sweat suits. Earlier this month, its chief global engagement officer, Eva Kruse, the founder of non-profit Global Fashion Agenda, announced she had stepped down from the brand after four years marking a time of transition for the brand’s leadership.
Despite the upheaval, the coming year is full of new launches for the brand. Chelsea Franklin, head of advanced concept design, said: “Our efforts center on our Responsible Innovation pillars: transitioning away from fossil fuel-derived materials, protecting biodiversity, sourcing ethically, preserving water health, and reducing waste through circularity. Our upcoming PLNT Nylon capsule collection exemplifies this approach. A groundbreaking 100% bio-based alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-derived nylon. Made from castor seed biomass, this innovation showcases how renewable inputs can replace non-renewable ones without compromising quality or performance.”
Franklin added that PANGAIA is also working in a new material category that will be announced later in the year.
Prada Group
All eyes in luxury have been on Prada Group recently, who posted strong financial results in 2024, despite a slowdown across the market. In its sustainability efforts, the Prada brand has just launched a new campaign for its recycled nylon collection to kick off the year, accompanies by a four-part documentary with National Geographic. Episode one is out now, with the other episodes released up until March. A spokesperson for the group said 2025 plans will also include its ocean conservation educational program SEA BEYOND with new events programmed for April and June.
The spokesperson said: “Throughout 2025, the partnership between the Prada Group and UNESCO will continue to develop the SEA BEYOND program with new initiatives in Venice and in Nice on the occasion of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference. Two new projects funded by SEA BEYOND will be announced shortly, involving scientific research on glaciers and corals.”
Prada’s 2025 Re-Nylon campaign starring Benedict Cumberbatch
Prada
Patagonia
Patagonia is on course to reach a milestone this spring, after over a decade of research into cleaner solutions for waterproofing materials which are also functional, 100% of its products will be free of intentionally added PFAs. It intends to share this innovation with the industry to create wider impact.
Nina Hajikhanian, general manager, EMEA at Patagonia, said: “Our commitment to reducing emissions and supply chain responsibility goes beyond our own operations—it’s about improving conditions and conditions at a systemic level. We share our learnings and solutions, partner with other businesses and organizations, and advocate for effective and ambitious policies. We know the scale of the challenge ahead, and we also know that meaningful change is possible when we work together.”
In ongoing work for the outdoor apparel brand this year, it will continue working with United Repair Centre to make progress on its goal to repair 100,000 items annually in Europe by 2028. It will also be focusing on its 2030 climate goals, with a view to becoming net zero across its value chain by 2040.
The Holdfast Collective, the primary owner of Patagonia which donates all profits not reinvested back into the company to organizations and initiatives which help restore and regenerate the planet has donated $1.7 million to The Redford Centre and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in 2025.
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