Gender Equality - The Key to a More Sustainable Fashion Industry
Photo by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-with-smiling-face-8837365/
The fashion industry is built on the hands of women. Around 80% of garment workers worldwide are women, many of whom work in unsafe conditions for poverty wages. Yet, at the same time, women drive 60-75% of fashion purchases globally, making us not just part of the problem - but the solution.
This International Women’s Day, as we celebrate the theme Accelerate Action, it’s time to push harder for a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry - one that uplifts the women who make our clothes, empowers the women who wear them, and supports the women leading change.
Women at the Heart of Fashion’s Sustainability Crisis
From Bangladesh to Vietnam, the majority of garment workers are women, yet they remain underpaid and undervalued. The fast fashion cycle keeps them trapped in exploitative conditions, producing cheap clothes at a rate that’s destroying our planet. In 2023, the global fashion industry was responsible for 10% of annual carbon emissions, and garment workers bear the brunt of its environmental and social damage.
Meanwhile, as consumers, women are responsible for the bulk of fashion spending. Fast fashion brands aggressively target us with trends, fuelling overconsumption. But here’s the good news: studies show women are also leading the shift toward more sustainable choices, from shopping second-hand to demanding transparency from brands.
Women Driving Change
At Our Fashion Fix, we recognize the significant impact of women collaborating. Jo and I established Our Fashion Fix with the objective of advocating for a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry. We take pride in partnering with the remarkable all-female team at Brand Conscience, where mutual support, challenging industry standards, and fostering meaningful change are our core values. For us, sustainability encompasses not only environmental protection but also the empowerment of individuals.
Women are leading the charge in ethical fashion, from designers pioneering circular fashion to activists fighting for garment worker rights. The rise of clothing rental, resale, and repair services - often led by women - is reshaping the industry for the better.
How We Can Accelerate Action:
👗 Support Ethical Brands – Choose brands that prioritise fair wages and sustainable materials.
♻️ Buy Less, Choose Better – Embrace slow fashion, second-hand shopping, clothes swapping, and repair.
🛠 Advocate for Worker Rights – Follow and support responsible brands ensuring fair wages and conditions.
💡 Champion Women Leaders – Celebrate and support female entrepreneurs driving sustainable solutions.
From revolutionizing fashion rental to driving policy change, these are just a few of the women we’d like to celebrate for reshaping the industry for the better. Josephine Philips (Sojo) and Layla Sargent (The Seam) are making clothing repair and alterations more accessible, extending the life of garments. Eshita Kabra-Davies (By Rotation) is bringing luxury fashion rental into the mainstream, while Milda Mitkute (Vinted) has built one of the largest platforms for second-hand fashion. Fanny Moizant (Vestiaire Collective) not only co-founded a leading resale marketplace but also actively campaigns for legislation to hold fashion brands accountable. Lydia Brearley (Enkl) is educating the next generation through her sustainable fashion school, while Camille Le Gal and Laure Betsch (Fairly Made) are driving transparency in fashion’s supply chain. Daisy Harvey (Loom) is focused on redesigning your clothes, and Clover Hogan is empowering young people to take action on climate change. Kat Graham (Scout & Swan) is championing sustainability in digital tech, Tiffanie Darke is using her platform to champion sustainable storytelling in fashion media, and Amy Powney (formerly Mother of Pearl, now AKYN) continues to redefine what luxury fashion looks like in a conscious world. And, of course, Stella McCartney—a pioneer who has spent decades proving that ethical fashion and high-end design can go hand in hand. Together, these women, are leading the charge toward a more sustainable future in fashion.
Let’s not forget that real change starts with us. As mothers, daughters, friends, and consumers, the choices we make every day - what we buy, what we wear, what we pass on - shape the future of fashion. As mothers of daughters, we are profoundly proud of our girls and the quiet education they share; through their conscious choices, their conversations, and the example they set for their friends and peers. Positive change doesn’t always come in grand gestures; often, it begins in these everyday moments, shaping the way people think about fashion and its impact.
Fashion has the power to be a force for good - when women come together, we can turn whispers of change into a movement. What starts as ripples can build into waves - and waves can reshape entire industries. As we look to 2025, let’s accelerate action, not just for a more sustainable fashion industry, but for a future that is fairer, greener, and more conscious for all.