Sustainable Markets Initiative has launched a Manifesto for Regenerative Fashion

The Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets Initiative Fashion Task Force has released a ‘Manifesto for Regenerative Fashion,’ with endorsement from prominent labels such as Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Stella McCartney, and the Selfridges Group.

The manifesto, which was created in collaboration with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), pledges to reduce environmental consequences in the fashion industry by placing it on a more regenerative path.

Task Force members pledge to lead a progressive shift toward ‘Regenerative Fashion,’ which is defined as a circular and bio-based industry that is climate and nature-positive and allows for the creation or restoration of regenerative landscapes as the foundation for circular bioeconomy value chains, as signatories.

Marc Palahi, director of the European Forest Institute and chair of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, described the manifesto as “a unique platform for transformative and sustainable action – connecting the dots between landscapes and closets to transition towards regenerative value chains that support biodiversity and local livelihoods while mitigating climate change.”

The commitment coincides with the announcement of a €1 million investment program to restore wildlife and sustainable farming practices to degraded areas in the Himalayas, in keeping with the manifesto’s ideas and goals.

The Himalayan Regenerative Fashion Living Lab aims to show how regenerative fashion has the capacity to “establish harmony between local communities, nature, and the environment while creating sustainable fashion value chains.” The project will also try to resurrect old textile craft skills in order to mitigate the negative effects of the local cashmere, cotton, and silk industries on the environment.

Federico Marchetti, chair of the Fashion Task Force, said that the Regenerative Fashion Manifesto is another concrete step toward developing a much more sustainable fashion business. The manifesto is more than just words; it also includes a €1 million program to restore ruined Himalayan landscapes. This research will serve as a blueprint for how the fashion industry may move toward a more fair, environmentally friendly future.”

The initiative will begin next month, with Reforest Action and the Balipara Foundation providing on-the-ground support.

The publication of the Regenerative Fashion Manifesto is the Fashion Task Force’s second major initiative, following the successful launch of a Digital IDsystem in October 2021. The Digital ID system, which has been dubbed a “transformational technology,” leverages data to tell clients about the sustainability credentials of their apparel purchases and to make material circularity more accessible at scale.

The EU Commission is now recommending the concepts of the Digital ID format as part of its proposals to implement Digital Product Passports as part of its plans for mandatory disclosure of circularity credentials and environmental consequences across the textiles manufacturing industry.