NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, October 15, 2018

By Stephanie Schmidt

The apparel industry is one of the largest in the world, generating a global value of about $3 trillion (2% of global GDP) and employing some 100 million people. Its unrivaled creativity, diversity and innovation mean that even the smallest stakeholders can find space to pioneer new trends and challenge established norms. Now innovation in the fashion industry is finding new meaning in the 21st century — meaning focused first and foremost on economic development, environmental sustainability, and empowerment of workers.

Long-time industry strategists agree that it’s a moment ripe for invention and new partnerships aimed at shaping the industry’s future and aligning it more closely with human and environmental sustainability — and with the values of new consumers. With this in mind, C&A Foundation and Ashoka launched an alliance based on mutual interest in powering new solutions for systemic industry change. Called Fabric of Change, the three-year effort surfaced some powerful innovators and principles that forecast industry shifts.

Photo courtesy of I Travel Philippines.