Material Change Index

Incorporating recycled materials into product collections is a good start.

The textile industry has a powerful opportunity to shift the needle in both producer and consumer contexts.

If sheep overgraze, they may degrade soil and cause erosion, which can be exacerbated by an increasingly warming climate. How the animals are raised and sheared are also key animal welfare risk areas.

The key sustainability concerns related to down are around animal welfare.

As a plant-based fiber, man-made cellulosics have the potential to be a more sustainable choice because they are renewable. But the production process can contribute to deforestation.

The first fabric made entirely in a laboratory, nylon is most often found in activewear, swimwear and other technical performance garments because of its durability and useful stretch properties.

The most widely used fiber in the world, polyester accounts for roughly half of the fiber market overall and about 80 percent of all synthetic fibers.

Natural and renewable, it’s a popular choice for brands and consumers looking to make more sustainable fabric choices, but cotton comes with its fair share of social and environmental risks.

Almost any textile you can think of, from cotton to leather to nylon, has social and environmental impacts risks at every level of its supply chain.