The growing effects of climate change are making environmental concerns harder to ignore. The fashion industry, as one of the most resource-intensive and polluting sectors of the economy, still requires significant reforms in sustainability. That makes it all the more encouraging to see major fashion events actively pushing for change.
A major development in 2025 has been the introduction of sustainability requirements for participants in London Fashion Week. The British Fashion Council has adopted a framework developed by Copenhagen Fashion Week, which will come into full effect by January 2026. These requirements include an officially approved sustainability strategy for brands, a ban on destroying unsold clothing and samples, the use of at least 60% certified or recycled materials, and the elimination of real fur and exotic skins. Another notable event, the Fashion District Festival, recently held in East London, was almost entirely dedicated to sustainable and circular fashion.
Emerging countries, where environmental issues are especially pressing due to large production clusters, are using fashion weeks to promote sustainable fashion. This spring, the Shanghai Fashion Week hosted the Sustasia Fashion Prize 2025 — the first award in Asia entirely devoted to sustainable design. Eight finalists from across Asia showcased pieces made from eco-friendly materials and traditional craftsmanship. The winner was Chinese designer Ruohan (Zho Han).
At Moscow Fashion Week, which brought together designers from 13 countries, sustainability was also a strong theme. The impressive international event featured brands from rapidly developing countries — Brazil, India, South Africa, China, Turkey — as well as designers from Europe and the US, including Spain and Italy, each presenting their own vision of sustainable fashion.
The brand Journey Clothes, aiming to be as sustainable as possible, showcased a collection heavily using ReLiveTex materials — secondary fabrics created from recycled unused textiles — which made up more than 30% of the collection. Saidova presented a striking mix of new and recycled materials, where entire garments were reconstructed into new forms. KATLER is a Siberian brand that showcases how sustainable practices can be successfully incorporated into the fashion industry. Their focus is on upcycling, breathing new life into old items and transforming them into stylish, modern wardrobe pieces.
All these initiatives at the world’s leading fashion events show that, although fast fashion still dominates, sustainability is steadily changing the rules of contemporary fashion. Moscow Fashion Week’s strong commitment to sustainability further underscores the industry’s growing focus on environmentally conscious practices. Not only production processes, but also the mindset of the industry and consumers, are evolving. New standards and technologies are supporting a shift from the traditional linear model to a circular economy, emphasizing recycling, long-term use of materials, and ethical production.
