The Fashion Act will not be Stopped

Last Thursday, in the final official day of the New York 2024 legislative session, in a historic first, the Fashion Act was put on the agenda and passed through the important Ways and Means Committee in the Assembly. This accomplishment was due to the work of a powerful and rapidly growing coalition of brands, innovation companies, suppliers, NGOs, ambassadors, celebrities, educators, and student groups that has quadrupled in size this past year. 

As with the climate crisis, the takeover of the fashion industry by unscrupulous players is not just a down the road problem, it is having an impact today. During this legislative session, the industry beloved Mara Hoffman , whose company just this year won the CFDA’s award for sustainability, chose to close her namesake label, citing the difficulties of competing. Renewcell, one of the few sustainable innovation companies attempting to scale, went into bankruptcy due to low demand for its sustainable product. Meanwhile, Shein, a relatively new entrant to the space is selling $7 jeans and $12 dresses, reportedly reached over 40 billion in revenue and emits more greenhouse gas emissions than the country of Paraguay.  

The list of harmful impacts this race to the bottom has caused are manifold: rising greenhouse gas emissions, millions of women working for far less than a living wage, micro-plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, toxic chemical exposure, waste, and – from a business perspective – an inability to even begin to do the right thing and compete. 

We are at an inflection point. Will the legacy brands which, while not perfect, have invested considerably in sustainability, join in and see that sustainability is not just the right thing to do ethically, but the best way to protect their corporate futures? Will multi-stakeholder initiatives and sustainable fashion fora, where there is already a complaint of conference fatigue, sit in the sidelines, or will they join and push for the change we all want to see in this sector? And will trade associations side with their members who embrace their social and environmental responsibility, or will they side with the companies who claim to be “sustainable” while resisting needed change?

Notably, the Fashion Act ran out of time. Notwithstanding the progress in the NY Assembly, and growing bi-partisan support, the Act stalled in the Senate in the final day. Because the Legislature took an extra two weeks to produce a budget, precious few weeks were left at the end of the session to review thousands of bills. While disappointed, we remain steadfast. Numerous other states continue to reach out for the language of the bill and we 100% intend to be back in the NY Legislature when the next session opens. Our kids and conscience demand nothing less.

We invite all those who want to be a part of that future to join us. You don’t like the Fashion Act? Tell us (precisely) why, we’re here to listen. I continue to hope to see leadership. You can choose to be a part of this future with us, or move even further from an authentic sustainable future. We want your success, and hope you choose leadership. 

We invite all on board. The movement of brands, fashion innovation companies, educators, NGOs, influencers, celebrities, student leaders and concerned citizens will not be stopped, we are fighting for our collective future. 

Learn more: www.thefashionact.org

Ken Pucker Betina Baumgarten Annie Agle K. Corley Kenna Elizabeth Richman Richard Schrader James Rogers Abrima Erwiah Liv Simpliciano Michelle Gabriel Stacy Flynn Christina Berger Dounia Wone Max Easton Tricia Carey Natasha Franck Livia Giuggioli Firth Vanessa Fajans-Turner Daniel Wilkinson Andrew Williams Dana Davis (she/her) Lisa Diegel Vanessa Barboni Hallik Michael Preysman Lauren Bartley Olivia Morgan Ruth MacGilp Renee Vogelsang Jordan Giaconia Bobbi Wilding Devon Rufo Sofie Johansson Andrea Arria-Devoe Catrina Reingold Meital Peleg Mizrachi Jessica Schreiber Erin Allweiss Sophia Li Amanda Lee McCarty