The 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge launches with more than 60 founding brands

2020 Circular Fashion Pledge Launches With Over 60 Founding Brand Signatories

Fashion Brands Strengthen Their Commitment to Sustainability Even Given COVID-19

Worldwide: Today, during this Fashion Revolution Week – and just after the 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day – over 60 fashion brands from six continents have pledged to implement more sustainable business practices through circularity initiatives in 2020. Collectively, they are on a mission to change the industry and prove that the sustainable fashion movement is still strong even in the middle of the human tragedy of COVID-19.

The fashion industry is a significant contributor to climate change, toxic waterways and ocean pollutants, land use, and waste. These have adverse implications for our health, economy, and planet.

However, dynamic and innovative, small- and medium-sized fashion brands are stepping up to improve the industry’s impacts. Each brand has committed to taking a specific action in 2020 to lead the industry toward a more circular model. Collectively, they are addressing the U.N. Sustainable Develop Goal (SDG) 12.5, to substantially reduce waste generation by 2030.

Fashion brands can pledge their commitment to at least one of the three below circular actions:

1.  Enable take-back or resale: By the end of 2020, launch at least one method or partnership to enable their customers to send-back or resell their used items.

2.  Increase recycled content: By the end of 2020, increase the total percentage of certified recycled content or scrap fabric by 10 percent in their top 5 selling items.

3.  Design for durability: By the end of 2020, increase the use of non-blended materials, and/or modularity and repairability in their top 5 selling items.

“Other brands can still join; we are aiming for 1,000 brand signatories this year. Asian brands are also welcome and encouraged to join the pledge,” said Adam Siegel, Founder, 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge.

Together, we are the path toward a cleaner, more dynamic, creative, and quality-driven fashion industry.

Service providers that offer technology or services can also pledge their support for helping brands achieve their sustainability goals. Additionally, consumers who care about sustainable fashion can stay updated and learn about new and dynamic brands that are working to be more sustainable.

"Saqhoute is an accessible luxury ready-to-wear brand for professional women. We have had a longstanding commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, while maintaining an Egyptian cultural aesthetic," said Norhan El Sakkout, Founder & Creative Director of Saqhoute, located in Egypt. "Given the global importance of building a circular fashion industry, we are honored to commit to the 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge."

"We founded The Extra Smile to be a force for good in the fashion industry -- to make fashionable clothes for kids in a way that is fair to people and kind to our planet," said Heleen Devos, Co-Founder of The Extra Smile, with locations in Asia and Europe. "Our objective is to create more decent jobs for Asian apparel workers by selling stylish and organic children's fashion to consumers in Europe. Responsible production and consumption of apparel is very important for the future of our planet, so we are beyond excited to see many amazing brands in the 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge."

"To me, it’s not just about making a piece of jewelry but in each piece, I am trying to tell a story using artistic and sustainable products," said Maria Jose Cordovez, designer and owner of MJ Cordovez Jewelry located in Quito, Ecuador. "The 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge is another way I can show my customers the importance of sustainable fashion."

The Pledge will provide signatories with resources, guidance, connections, and support to help them achieve their commitment.

About the 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge: The 2020 Circular Fashion Pledge brings together fashion brands that are on a mission to change the industry. We recognize fashion’s significant contribution to climate change, toxic waterways and ocean pollutants, land use, and more. We know that the culture of low-cost, short-lasting clothing is contributing to tremendous waste all along the supply chain – and in consumers’ closets.

To solve these problems, each brand signatory has committed to taking specific actions in 2020 to lead the industry toward a more circular model.