At Vegan Fashion Repository, we keep our ears firmly on the ground, collecting and curating news and insights most relevant to the vegan fashion industry—particularly in material innovation, circularity, accountable sustainability, and consumer behaviour—at the end of every month.
Here’re the highlights of April 2026:
Let’s start at the end. Fashion Revolution Week 2026 (22–28 April) closed on what can best be described as a mixed landscape.
On the one hand, a new round of International Accord negotiations on factory safety is on the horizon. Established in 2013 as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, the framework evolved into the International Accord in 2023 and now runs until the end of 2026. The model has also been extended to Pakistan, where 351 factories had been inspected by March this year, and more than 100 brands have signed a renewed Pakistan Accord through to 2029. That’s a good development.
On the other hand, the fact that, 13 years on, the industry is still negotiating the same fundamental issues — while workers continue to fight for safe conditions and fair treatment, including fair pay — remains deeply unsettling.
Source: Ecotextile
Material innovation & industry shifts
At Vegan Fashion Repository, we contributed by co-hosting, together with Fashion Revolution Poland, a first-of-its-kind collaborative panel “Where Are We Now? Market Opportunities for Bio-based Alternatives to Fur, Leather and Wool” exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of bio-based alternative materials, and what it will take to move beyond outdated perceptions of vegan fashion. If you missed the livestream, the recording is available on YouTube.
Kering has announced its “ReconKering” strategy, which includes reducing leather dependency by 30% by 2028, increasing the use of alternative materials to around 40% of its portfolio. We are cautiously optimistic; as a global industry leader, Kering has both the financial resources and the cultural influence to drive tangible change in material use. However, the quality of implementation will be key in determining whether these targets are met, and what their actual impact will be. Nevertheless, the fact that a global player is setting such targets is, in itself, a positive signal.
To date, Kering — notably through Gucci — does have prior experience in this space, having developed Demetra, a material composed of approximately 75% plant-based raw materials in 2021 (used in the Horsebit 1955 and promoted by Billie Eilish).
Alongside this, the group aims to double operating profitability in the mid-term as part of a broader strategic overhaul led by CEO Luca de Meo, following a sustained decline since 2023.
Sources: Kering, Business of Fashion, La Conceria
Pantone has also announced its Colour of the Year 2028: Radiant Earth, described as offering warmth and depth, and aiming to provide “a deeply immersive experience, empowering consumers to find strength in stability.”
Source: WGSN
Ethics, regulation & accountability
Collective Fashion Justice released an investigation into how the conservation status of reptiles, as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — the body responsible for assessing species’ extinction risk and assigning conservation status — may be influenced by fashion industry funding ties (published in March). The findings highlight reported connections between the fashion industry, the wildlife skin trade, and the IUCN.
Collective Fashion Justice has also launched its International Declaration for the Effective and Compassionate Conservation of Wildlife, now endorsed by over 20 founding conservationists, calling for an end to fashion’s wildlife trade.
Sources: Collective Fashion Justice, The Times (UK)
In parallel, Etsy has announced a ban on the sale of fur following sustained pressure from PETA and over 100,000 messages from supporters. While many brands and retailers have already moved away from fur, the significance here lies in marketplace access: brands continuing to use fur will now lose a major sales channel.
Source: PETA
Textile recycling & circularity
It has been a strong period for textile recycling. REJU, a textile-to-textile recycling company, secured €135 million in Dutch funding to support its industrial-scale “Regeneration Hub” in the Netherlands. Swedish recycler SYRE announced a strategic partnership with JEPLAN to develop a polyester recycling plant in Vietnam, with construction expected in 2027. Sulzer has joined Spinnova’s ecosystem to support the scaling of SPINNOVA® fibre, while Recover™ has partnered with Prosperity Textile to develop denim fabrics under the Recover™ Fabrics umbrella, produced in Vietnam.
Sources: Reju, Just-Style, Spinnova, Recover
Similarly, Fashion for Good launched an initiative with Adidas, Bestseller, and Inditex to tackle post-consumer textile sorting — one of the key bottlenecks in making textile waste a viable, competitive raw material.
Source: Fashion For Good
Resale & alternative consumption models
ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report points to a continued shift in ownership behaviour: 57% of sellers now treat their wardrobes as assets, rising to 61% among Gen Z, with the majority actively considering resale value and second-hand alternatives before purchase. At the same time, Business of Fashion highlights persistent friction in user experience that may limit the sector’s scalability. We have also explored this shift in ownership models, alongside potential solutions, in The Business of Resale: The Case of Reloved.
Sources: ThredUp, Business of Fashion, Vegan Fashion Repository.
KPMG’s UK resale report similarly shows that nearly 1 in 10 consumers now primarily buy non-food products via resale platforms, rising to 15% among 18–24-year-olds.
Source: KPMG
Rent the Runway reported strong 2025 results, including a 20% year-on-year increase and record growth in subscription Net Promoter Score. As experience continues to outweigh ownership, rental models may finally be entering a more mature phase of adoption.
Source: Rent the Runway
Industry initiatives & opportunities
Global Fashion Agenda and Visa have announced the 15 winners of the 2026 Recycle the Runway programme (supported by eBay), recognising emerging designers in circular fashion. Five winners will receive €10,000 and the opportunity to present at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen.
Source: Global Fashion Agenda
Applications are also open for the Copenhagen Fashion Week SS27 Official Event & Talk Schedule (3–7 August 2026), with a deadline of 31 July 2026.
Source: Copenhagen Fashion Week
April releases
- ThredUp, 2026 Resale Report
- Business of Fashion, A Survival Guide for Independent Brands
- Kyungeun Sung & Richie Moalosi (eds.), Upcycling Research: Global Perspectives on Product, Fashion and Theory, Bloomsbury, 2026
- Circular Fashion News & Fashion for Good, The State of Textile Recycling: Mapping 50+ Textile-to-Textile Recycling Factories
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At Vegan Fashion Repository, we consult multiple sources and always cite them for transparency and traceability. Some we trust particularly and recommend wholeheartedly. For more sustainability- and circularity-focused fashion news, we strongly encourage you to follow Lydia Brearley (This Is Enkel).
Cheers!
