At Vegan Fashion Repository, we keep our ears firmly to the ground for every essential development in the vegan and sustainable fashion industry, and celebrate when another milestone is reached. Here’s a brief summary of the highlights from December 2024:
To begin with, we have launched our very own and one-of-a-kind Directory of Certification Schemes, curated for vegan and sustainable fashion brands. This directory features 30+ certification schemes, categorised into vegan and sustainability certifications. With both the “Green Claims Directive” and the “Greenwashing Directive” coming into force in the first half of 2026, alongside other legislations being developed to regulate the European market for products made with at least some sustainability principles, we believe our directory will prove immensely valuable for fashion brands navigating the complexities of certification schemes. Become a Vegan Fashion Repository Member to access the Directory of Certification Schemes at a special price of 1,99 EUR for 90 days of full access.
Cirql Zero is a groundbreaking compostable and biodegradable foam component for the footwear sector, developed by material science company Cirql™. It is produced using a proprietary polymer compound and is manufactured with supercritical foaming (SCF) technology employing inert gases, replacing conventional foams. Ecotextile News
In other material innovation news, Australian recycling company Samsara Eco, in partnership with Lululemon, has successfully developed an enzyme capable of breaking down nylon 6 into its original building blocks. These can be reused repeatedly without losing quality. This breakthrough holds significant promise for scalable recycling of nylon 6, nylon 6.6, polyester, and – most importantly – mixed fibres, including coloured and dyed blends. Blends have long been the bane of recyclers, as they were practically unrecyclable until now. Innovation in Textiles
Repairing is gaining remarkable traction in London, with Reiss (part of the Next group) partnering with repair marvel business SOJO to offer repair and alternations services for their customers. These are now available at Reiss’ Kent House and Long Acre stores in central London. Similarly, Save Your Wardrobe has partnered with Bicester Village to establish a platform for repairing, altering and cleaning of wardrobe items. Green Retail and Save Your Wardrobe’s official announcement
Transport for London (TfL) has introduced new uniforms. Designed in-house and supplied by uniform provider Cooneen, the uniforms feature enhanced visibility (with larger, brighter roundels), sustainability (51% of recycled materials), and inclusivity (belts and shoes made from vegan leather, and new viscose blends for staff with sensitive skin). These new uniforms are part of TfL’s broader sustainable initiative, which also includes the introduction of zero-emission vehicles. Bravo, London! Plant Based News
In other London news, vegan sneakers brand LØCI has opened its first physical store on Oxford Street’s Future Stores. The display, created in partnership with Snapchat, incorporates augmented reality (AR) technology for virtual try-on experiences of footwear and hoodies. Every time a vegan fashion brand expands into a physical presence in one of the world’s fashion capitals is certainly a milestone worth celebrating. The Retail Bulletin
Lastly Joshua Katcher‘s Brave GentleMan, one of world’s first vegan fashion brands, closed its door on 28th December 2024. Since 2010, Brave GentleMan has been both a pioneer and a leading light in the rising vegan fashion industry. Joshua Katcher’s fight for the vegan cause inspired countless others, influenced legislation, and set new standards for transforming the fashion supply chain in favour of animal and environmental welfare. While we will surely miss this bright star on the vegan fashion map, we are holding our breaths for Joshua Katcher’s next endavours. Brave GentleMan’s official announcement