H&M's $1m recycling prize is clever but no solution to fast fashion

H&M, one of the world’s largest fast fashion brands, has launched a €1m ($1.16m) recycling prize in an effort to engage innovators, technologists, scientists and entrepreneurs to find a solution to a growing problem in the clothing industry: waste and pollution. The Swedish brand’s foundation, the H&M Conscious Foundation, announced the Global Challenge Award to “catalyse green, truly groundbreaking ideas” that will “protect the earth’s natural resources by closing the loop for fashion”. It’s a clever move from the fashion giant. The challenge has public appeal (it’s open to anyone with an early stage idea) and it will bring attention to an important issue for the fashion industry. But critics question whether the company is side stepping the knottier issues of overproduction and worker rights by emphasising materials innovation and technology – especially when recycling the mixed fibres so common in fast fashion is proving tricky.

From Sustainable Luxury to Luxurious Sustainability | Misha Pinkhasov At the 1.618 Sustainable Luxury conference in Paris, major players marked a turning point in the future of high-end commerce. It is a rare luxury to feel that you have been part of a moment; a subtle but profound tipping point after which nothing will ever seem the same. The 1.618 Sustainable Luxury conference in Paris on April 2 was one such moment. Dedicated to the theme of Sustainable Sourcing and Responsible Value Chains, it was clear that the discussion of sustainable luxury has finally moved on from creating feel-good initiatives to recognizing the potential for creating business value. The first indication came during the roundtable on cosmetics, provided by Anne Cabotin, VP of both sales and sustainability for Symrise, creator of fragrances and flavors for the perfume, cosmetics and food industries. She explained her unusual combination of roles as a reflection of the company's intent to "integrate rather than isolate sustainability" in the value chain.

Nike and Adidas show cautious support for eco-friendly dye technology | Guardian Sustainable Business It has been a significant step forward for the textile sector. Up until now the effluent from dye houses that can often be seen in rivers flowing through the textile manufacturing areas of India, China and elsewhere is a result of unabsorbed dyes, chemicals and heavy salts that are used during the dyeing process. A number of companies, DyeCoo, ColorZen and AirDye have set out to address this pollution by designing waterless dye technology. Major brands including Nike and Adidas have been integrating waterless dye technologies into their product lines, but costs and limitations have experts in the textile industry worried that the support will not last. “Right now there is very low uptake of use of these technologies,” says Andrew Filarowski, technical director at Society of Dyers and Colourists. The technology “Cotton is actually fairly difficult to dye and there is a lot of associated pollution,” says Michael Harari, president and co-founder at ColorZen. The price tag The limitations

Wear Your Clothes Inside Out: The Fashion Statement That Shows You Care On Fashion Revolution Day Social media has been swamped with images of people wearing their clothes inside out - and no they didn't all get dressed in the dark this morning. Nor is it the latest wacky hipster trend. People are purposefully showing their labels to make a worthwhile fashion statement - to call for a more ethical clothing supply chain on Fashion Revolution Day. Stella McCartney, showed her support for the campaign by sharing an Instagram photo of her wearing a jacket from her own collection inside out and back to front, with the label prominently displayed. She captioned the image: "Show your label and ask #whomademyclothes for Fashion Revolution Day!" Model Lily Cole, showed her support in a different way by sharing a photo of herself holding the campaign's logo: Fashion Revolution Day marks the date two years ago when a garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring another 2,500. Scroll down to see more photos shared on Fashion Revolution Day 2015: Close

Fashion against fur idea: