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Slowing Fast Fashion? COVID-19’s Impacts on the Fast Fashion Industry.

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The coronavirus pandemic is causing far-reaching effects on businesses globally, and the fashion industry is no exception. The impact of COVID-19 on the fashion industry has seen effects across areas from production to consumption. With the growth of online retailers, and an overall decrease in non-essential spending, could this mark the end of fast fashion and pave the way towards a more sustainable future for fashion? Online is the new high street. The closure of physical stores had its greatest effect on Primark, whose lack of online presence saw its revenue drop by 75% between 1 March and 20 June. For many retailers, online purchases grew to reflect the ‘stay at home’ guidelines produced by the government. Online purchases saw a growth from 30% to 77% over a 12 week period leading to 10th August 2020. However, spending on fashion as a whole has seen a decline, as it becomes less of a priority.  The fashion industry in the UK saw a massive sales  decline of 40% in the 12 weeks le
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Thought for food, food for thought; how sustainability fed its way into the food and drink industry, and why single-use plastic is becoming a thing of the past.

The food and drink industry is constantly under scrutiny for its practices, from groups such as animal rights activists for meat and dairy farming to the rise in criticism for single-use plastics and cups. To combat these criticisms, the food and drink industry is adapting to provide options that are better for us, better for the people who grow our food, and better for the environment.   Why now?   As the demand for sustainable practices grows, it is no surprise the food and drink industry has seen an influx of sustainability-focused options. Demand for an increase of vegan and vegetarian options, organic and responsibly sourced produce, and a decrease in single-use plastics and disposable cups have influenced the ways in which we consume produce. As a result, providers of food and drink products have changed the ways in which they operate and the options they provide to meet this demand. Studies have proven that the industries behind the food and drink we consume cause considerable e
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It pays to be green; How Gucci is paving the way for sustainability in luxury brands.

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(Gucci, 2020) .   When you think of luxury brands, sustainability is not one of the first things to come to mind. Luxury brands are often criticized as being ‘unsustainable’, associated with a lifestyle of  overconsumption, excess, and waste . A shift reflecting the concerns of consumers of all social classes towards social and environmental issues, and a preference towards buying ethical and environmentally friendly products has brought sustainability concerns to the forefront of luxury brand’s production and marketing.  Collective Responsibility.   Arguably one of the most important steps towards the fashion industries adoption of ethically considerable and sustainable practices was the signing of the  Fashion Pact in August 2019 , by luxury brands such as Chanel, Ralph Lauren, and Prada, alongside high street brands such as H&M Group and Zara, and other brands often associated with ‘fast fashion’. The pact outlined agreements to combat greenhouse gasses and place a greater empha
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