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 the summary of the highlights of November 2025:
Following up on October’s highlights, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and the Bezos Earth Fund have launched “The Next Thread Initiative” — a US$6.25 million partnership to support the growth and visibility of independent designers and emerging talent via designer awards, student scholarships, and storytelling programmes that facilitate sustainability, circularity, and low-impact modus operandi in fashion. Source: Fashion Network
Now, onto Sustainability & Climate Updates
Straight from the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, resilience, adaptation, and a just transition were key themes, and the Baku–Belém Political Package has been announced to support nations in strengthening and achieving their commitments towards the 1.5°C goal. However, according to Business of Fashion’s Sarah Kent and Shayeza Walid, these acknowledgements and announcements do little to drive tangible change in the fashion industry, where quick return on investment (ROI) remains the main operative objective, while climate impact has now expanded to involve both human and corporate risks. Sources: United Nations University, Business of Fashion
Patagonia — an outerwear brand known for its environmentally conscious modus operandi — has released its first-ever impact report. According to the report, successes such as the estimated US$14.7 million it donates annually to 1% for the Planet, increasing its share of Regenerative Organic Certified cotton from 0% in 2019 to 17% today, and saving 174,799 items from waste through its repair service in FY25 are highlighted. However, the report also notes a 1% increase in carbon emissions in FY2025 rather than the targeted 10% reduction aligned with its 2040 net-zero goal, missing the 2025 target of using 100% preferred materials (currently at 84.1%), and that only 39% of its factories are paying a living wage. The striking transparency is set to trigger difficult conversations that will hopefully result in more tangible progress beyond ticking off publicity-driven sustainability checkboxes. Sources: Forbes, Patagonia
Remake — a non-profit organisation for human rights and climate justice in the clothing industry — has released a statement that their global community has prevented over 2.9 million kilograms of CO₂ emissions from entering the atmosphere. Through the #NoNewClothes challenge, thousands of changemakers paused purchases, reset their relationship with fashion, and saved 86,000 kilograms of textile waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfills, predominantly in the Global South. Source: The Remake Times
Circularity & Innovative Materials
In circular textile news, Ambercycle has announced a three-year partnership with Rei to scale the use of its regenerated polyester; H&M has announced the adoption of Circ® fibres and an increased use of recycled materials from Recover in its upcoming collections; and Lululemon and Samsara Eco have confirmed a ten-year offtake agreement to source recycled raw materials. Sources: Ambercycle, Circ®, Lululemon
Meanwhile, Nike has announced a multi-year partnership with Syre, a Swedish textile-to-textile recycling firm, for recycled polyester, and Australian start-up Uluu has secured US$10.5 million in funding to scale up the production of biodegradable and compostable plastics made from seaweed biomass. Source: TexSpace Today, Green Queen
Similarly, UK-based Roberts Recycling Ltd has partnered with FAB Materials — an established UK textile recycler and innovative start-up — to replace wood fibre with textile waste in the manufacture of products such as MDF, providing a solution that addresses both deforestation and the growing problem of textile waste. Source: Roberts Recycling
Business & Market Developments
The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company have published their 10th annual report, The State of Fashion 2026. Notably, sustainability appears to have slipped from the industry’s priority list, giving way to new AI-powered tools and objectives, shifting customer behaviour patterns, and the current operating climate of economic and geopolitical volatility. We have also highlighted how the vegan and sustainable fashion sector can relate to — and capitalise on — the defining themes set out in the report. Sources: Business of Fashion, Vegan Fashion Repository
In fashion resale news — one of the leading themes in The State of Fashion 2026 — Vinted has been reported as the UK’s “most popular side hustle”, with searches for “selling on Vinted UK” on Google up 18%. Vinted is also testing a UK–US connection to potentially expand into the US. The UK is reportedly leading the global second-hand shopping trend, according to eBay’s ‘Recommerce Report 2025′. Sources: The Industry.Fashion, eBay
In market news, Africa’s fashion industry has received another significant boost as Afreximbank — a bank, nonetheless — announced its investment in textile mills and garment factories in Nigeria, Benin, and other countries, and is operating a US$2 billion creative industries fund supporting export-focused initiatives that increase global participation and visibility of fashion designers from Kenya, Ghana, and beyond — including at Paris Fashion Week and the Met Gala. Source: Africa Reimagined
Last but not least, congratulations to Copenhagen Fashion Week on its 20th anniversary! CPHFW will celebrate with a series of international projects to be unveiled throughout 2026. For now, CPHFW has announced the full line-up for the upcoming January AW26 edition, recipients of CPHFW NEWTALENT, the Homecoming Slot, and the Zalando Visionary Award 2026 finalists. Stay tuned! Source: CPHFW