The fashion, apparel, and textile industry has long been dominated by the linear “take-make-waste” business model, which has resulted in unchecked resource consumption, leading to significant environmental and social impacts. To address this issue, the report “Reimagining the Growth Landscape” published on December 2, 2024, aims to reshape the industry’s understanding of growth.
The report highlights that the current growth model of the industry is insufficient to achieve critical goals related to climate change, nature, and human rights. It stresses the need to move beyond the existing production and consumption-based systems to create a future aligned with sustainable goals.
Sustainable Growth: Regenerative Economy and Post-Growth Approaches
The report calls for a shift away from traditional growth models toward a new model based on “regenerative economy” and “post-growth” principles. This transformation is essential not only to align with the planet’s resource limits but also to mitigate risks arising from the industry’s reliance on finite resources and supply chain dependencies.
Goal: Sustainable Raw Materials and Circular Business Models
Textile Exchange emphasizes the importance of using sustainably sourced renewable materials and protecting ecosystems in the production of natural fibers. The rapid phase-out of fossil-based virgin synthetic materials and the promotion of circular business models (such as repair, rental, resale, etc.) are key components of the report, as is the design and production of durable, sustainable products.
Collective Effort Needed to Transform the System
One of the report’s key messages is that transformation cannot be achieved by individual brands alone; the entire industry must collaborate. No single brand has the capacity to transform the industry on its own; the entire sector must adopt this change and follow a common strategy throughout the transformation process.
Need for New Policies
The report stresses the need for strong government policies to support this transition and for companies to take collective action to accelerate the shift to a post-growth model. Additionally, ensuring human rights and a just transition for all workers across the value chain is crucial for the success of this transformation.
Time to Rethink Our Growth Understanding
The report clearly states that the future growth model in the textile and fashion industry should be based on environmental, social, and economic sustainability, rather than traditional growth metrics. This transformation represents an opportunity not only for the industry but for the world as a whole.