{"id":20019,"date":"2019-07-27T12:57:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-27T20:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/can-fast-fashion-and-sustainability-be-stitched-together\/"},"modified":"2019-07-27T12:57:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-27T20:57:00","slug":"can-fast-fashion-and-sustainability-be-stitched-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/can-fast-fashion-and-sustainability-be-stitched-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Fast Fashion And Sustainability Be Stitched Together?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Emma Bowman<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n Zara’s parent company Inditex announced new sustainability goals this month. But can a fast-fashion brand built on growth truly become sustainable?<\/p>\n

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Marcos del Mazo\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Marcos del Mazo\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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As a fashion brand, Zara has made a name for itself by democratizing the latest clothing styles for consumers at an affordable price. But the rapid pace of that trend-driven business model, known as “fast fashion,” can come at high environmental and social costs.<\/p>\n

Last week, Zara’s parent company, Inditex, announced its plans <\/a>to grow more sustainable. <\/p>\n

The fast-fashion giant pledged that by 2025, all of its eight brands will only use cotton, linen and polyester that’s organic, sustainable or recycled, which is 90% of the raw materials its uses. CEO and executive chairman Pablo Isla said that renewable sources will power 80% of the energy consumed by the conglomerate’s distribution centers, offices and stores. It also plans to transition to zero landfill waste.<\/p>\n

It’s a significant step for a company that churns out 500 new designs<\/a> per week, says Elizabeth L. Cline, the author of two books on the impact of fast fashion.<\/p>\n

“What they’re doing is they’re sourcing materials that do have a better environmental profile,” she says. “These are materials that use less water, less energy, less chemicals to produce.”<\/p>\n