Waiting for the (Green) Shoe to Drop

Glitz, glam and… green? Decidedly not – at least for now. As Fashion Week concludes in New York City, the latest trends, styles and colors have been the spotlight – and noticeably absent is a focus on environmentally and socially conscious design and production. And although American consumers expect companies to address the full environmental impact of a product’s lifecycle, from manufacturing to end-of-life, the question remains whether the fashion industry will step up to the plate.

Some brands are on the green path already. According to Levi Strauss, the brand has been tackling lifecycle issues from responsible water and materials use, to creating end-of-life instructions on its product "care tags." Timberland* is a prominent advocate for environmental responsibility and social justice, and the brand continues to innovate product design to include recycled, renewable and organic materials.
 

To read more on Cone's What Do You Stand For? blog, please click here.