Current Affairs on Sustainable Fashion for NIFT GAT 2026

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Materials & fibre innovation

• Natural/regenerative fibres (hemp, linen, organic cotton) are gaining prominence
• Waste-derived, animal-free or bio-engineered textiles (e.g., pineapple fibre “Piñatex”, lab/leather alternatives) are on the rise.
• Recycled textiles and ocean plastics are being used in fashion.

Circular economy & business model shifts

• Renting, sharing, up-cycling, and repair services are becoming more mainstream.
• Brands and consumers are moving from “buy more” to “buy better / own less”. Quality over quantity.

Technology & transparency

• Blockchain, AI, and digital tools are being leveraged for traceability, smart inventory, and waste reduction.
• More emphasis on supply‐chain transparency (who made it, what’s the environmental footprint?)

India-specific shifts

• Indian homegrown sustainable brands are growing, shifting away from purely global fast-fashion dominance
• Affordability + sustainability: Indian consumers are expecting sustainable fashion that still makes economic sense.
• Reviving traditional textiles, handloom, and indigenous fibres (e.g., native cotton varieties) for sustainability and cultural value.

Challenges & caution

• “Greenwashing” risk: Brands making sustainability claims without substance.
• Supply-chain disruption, climate change impacts (cotton yields, water stress).
• Recycled‐material scaling, textile‐to‐textile recycling still very low globally.

Global Developments

Indian Context

In June 2025, France’s first Slow Fashion Week in Marseille focused entirely on local, recycled, and low-impact fashion rather than the usual high-volume fashion week model.

Investigative article on revival of indigenous cotton varieties (like “kala cotton”, “desi kapaas”) as part of sustainable supply-chains.

In Africa: At Nairobi Fashion Week (2025) sustainability took centre stage — recycled materials, second-hand textiles, and ethics were key.

In Gujarat (India), the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) is collaborating with governments to host events focused on sustainable fashion, AI in textiles, future of the garment industry.

• The London Fashion Week (via the British Fashion Council) announced they will apply minimum sustainability criteria (ESG strategy, diversity policy, preferred materials, eliminate single-use props) to all brands by January 2026.
• Why it matters: High-visibility events are enforcing sustainable credentials, not just luxury or niche brands.

Delhi govt initiative to promote handloom and village industries through a fashion-event blend of culture+sustainability

• According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), globally ~92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated annually; only about 8 % of fibres are from recycled sources.
• Why it matters: Sets the environmental baseline – shows how urgent the challenge is.

• In June 2025, International Fashion Business Exchange Council (IFBEC) launched a “National Mission Committee (NMC)” in India to spearhead the country’s push towards becoming a “Responsible Fashion Business Capital of the World by 2030”.
• Focuses on aligning Indian fashion / textile industry with global sustainability & circular-economy goals.

• A recent report by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) highlights “green technologies” in textiles (from raw materials to end-of-life) as key to the fashion industry. Also, innovators are using plant-based leathers, blockchain for traceability, AI for waste reduction.
• Why it matters: Sustainable fashion isn’t just about “being nice” — it involves cutting-edge tech + materials science + supply-chain redesign.

• In June 2025, the collaboration between Arvind Limited and Fashion for Good announced “Future Forward Factories” in India — a blueprint + physical facility for Tier-2 textile manufacturing with up to 93% reduction in GHG emissions, significantly lower water usage etc.
• Focus on near-net zero operations, water reduction, chemical-use compliance, and just transition for the workforce.

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Global Developments

• UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their link to fashion
• COP climate conferences and textile-related pledges
• Major global collaborations — e.g., Fashion Pact, Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Fashion initiatives
• Sustainable practices by global brands like H&M, Levi’s, Stella McCartney, Patagonia, and Adidas

Indian Context

• Government initiatives: Project SU.RE, Kasturi Cotton, India Handloom Brand, Sustainable Fashion Day at Lakmé Fashion Week
• Sustainable Indian designers: Anita Dongre, Rina Singh (Eka), Rahul Mishra, Abraham & Thakore
• Revival of handlooms, khadi, natural dyes, and artisan clusters

Sustainable Materials and Techniques

• Organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, Tencel, banana fiber
• Upcycling, recycling, slow fashion, zero-waste pattern making
• Innovations like mushroom leather, orange fiber, and 3D printing in textiles

Ethical and Social Dimensions

• Fair trade, ethical labour practices, and transparency in supply chains
• Fashion brands’ environmental reporting
• Consumer movements and green certifications (e.g., GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Fairtrade)