The fashion industry is now under the spotlight as a large polluter, mainly because of the way our clothes are manufactured. The clothing industry is a major consumer of water, creating textile wastee and it can be linked to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.

Source: Flickr (Josephzohn)

With that in mind, Sweden’s recent decision shouldn’t come as a shock. The Swedish Fashion Council recently decided to cancel Stockholm Fashion Week for the foreseeable future. The event, which was usually scheduled twice a year, was set to take place on August 27 to 29.

The aim will be to develop a new format, in line with a more sustainable standard for the fashion industry. Until then, designers will have to wait to show their products in Stockholm.

“Stepping away from the conventional fashion week model has been a difficult, but much considered, decision. We need to put the past to rest and to stimulate the development of a platform that is relevant for today’s fashion industry,” said Jennie Rosén, CEO of the Swedish Fashion Council.

Rosén said that the council is now focusing on creating tools and platforms that are more relevant to the industry’s current needs, such as formats that generate revenue streams and encourage cross-sector collaboration.

“The Swedish fashion industry is extensive and growing, so it is crucial to support brands in their development of next-generation fashion experiences. By doing this we can adapt to new demands, reach sustainability goals and be able to set new standards for fashion,” she added.

Sweden takes its sustainability very seriously. The country has a long trajectory as a leading eco-friendly country due to its initiatives in many sectors such as recycling, aviation, green technology, and renewable energy. It’s no coincidence that the country is the birthplace inspirational climate change activist, Greta Thunberg.

Yet again, Sweden showed that it’s not afraid to take action to promote sustainability. The country is now seeking to make a difference also on the fashion industry, inspired by the new and improved methods of clothing production that are kicking in and the growing knowledge of the impact of the fashion industry on the environment.

About 20% of water industrial pollution comes from textile treatment and dying. The fashion industry uses 1.5 trillion liters of water per year and it releases 190.000 tons of textile microplastic fibers in the oceans every year. More than 20% of the world’s chemicals are used for the textile industry.