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5 sustainable trends for fashion in 2025

When talking about sustainable fashion, trends are beyond colours and silhouettes.  From new business models embracing customisation to localism, here 5 trends envisioning sustainability for 2025.


5-sustainable-trends-for-fashion-in-2025


Sustainability itself is not a trend nor an empty word. It might not be a rule in the fashion and luxury system, but it is here to stay and transform. The main sustainable topics to follow in 2025 then are beyond materials, colours, silhouettes and fashion trends. It is now widely understood that sustainability does not lie in materials and resources only but in a holistic approach. 


Of course materials are important and some trends can be discussed for them. Beyond organic materials, there is a particular focus on textiles and accessories with traceability, durability and functionality. Also, more smart textiles will be seen to reduce water consumption and pollution, for example. 


TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC, LISTEN TO OUR THE PODCAST: 3 SUSTAINABLE TRENDS IN FASHION FOR 2025



However, sustainability goes beyond... here 5 topics envisioning sustainability for 2025:


5 sustainable fashion trends for 2025



  1. The main focus of sustainable rhetoric: Renewable Energy and Carbon footprint


For some time the main focus for sustainability in fashion was on the materials. However, the big focus is now on the production processes and its impact. 


Let’s remember that sustainable fashion is not about looks and aesthetics, it is about bringing sustainability into fashion. Thus, many of the engaged practices are because of discussions and events happening in the macro perspective. For instance, during November 2024, one of the major events for sustainability was COP29, which took place this year in Azerbaijan. As stated in this event, the main global goal in sustainability is to stay below the 1.5 °C temperature target of climate change (1).  Actually 2024 was a critical year to assess the real advancement towards this goal, redesigning policies and practices to avoid the negative impacts of global warming (2).


To do so, countries and institutions need a major financial investment towards a transition to green energies. Beyond the critics and controversies around the COP29, this event gives a clear framework for brands and customers in fashion: to have cleaner processes of production and distribution.


There are many ways of how we are going to see this implemented. For instance, there will be a further development of point-of-sales using green or renewable energy. The demand for energy is not going but to grow (3), hence it is essential to look for sustainability in this factor. Not only brands but the customers as well will push the use of renewable energy and limit its overall use (4). Also, we can expect stronger rhetoric around reports and methods to reduce carbon footprint and thus achieve promises of zero impact. However, customers and brands have to be aware that any production process has an impact, so it is about reducing and paying for the carbon footprint. 




  1. Made-to-order products


Sustainability is essentially in the business models. Taking in consideration that a crucial reason of fashion negative impact is the increasing amount of produced and disposed garments (5), it is not a surprise that a major scrutiny is dedicated to reducing the produced pieces. Also, the rise of digitalisation is allowing more customised and automated processes. The technological advancements are allowing to have a closer and more direct connection with the niche (6). Therefore, made-to-order models are a strong trend for 2025… and on. Tailoring and craftsmanship methods and techniques will strongly be considered, but also business models where it can offer non-tailored pieces but still produced only after an order is made. Instead of a ready-to-wear it will be an order-to-wear?


Whilst the global fashion industry crosses a complex face, creating and increasing value for the customer is essential for fashion and luxury brands (7). Made-to-order and customisation are definitely a way to create value for the customer experience while creating positive impact for the environment (8).


  1. Let’s go local


Global transportation is one of the reasons creating a negative impact of the fashion industry in the environment. Some pieces travel thousands of miles around the globe before arriving to consumers (9). Added to this problem, the political situation in the world has increased the economic consequences and capabilities to distribute worldwide. Although it is yet to be seen, new taxation policies might affect the prices and distribution of fashion and luxury goods (10). An evident consequence may be a boom for localism. Made and bought locally will be a strong rhetoric… and option. 


Now, beyond political controversies, engaging the global but enhancing the local is a significant part of sustainability. Models and movements like slow fashion surpass sustainability magnifying the local production, distribution, selling processes and creativity. 



  1. The kingdom of recycling and second-hand


For a few years now, a transition towards a circular economy system has been the main discourse for sustainable outcomes. Reducing the acquisition of new resources and closing the loop at the end of the cycle, while extending life to materials and products is key to reduce disposal and the ecological impact (11). That is why recycling, upcycling, vintage and second-hand processes have been taking pertinent awareness. 


Also, the second-hand clothing sales are significantly increasing and taking a big share of the fashion industry sales (12). Although it might not be a clear business model and a seamless way towards profit (13), recycling and second-hand practices will be more available. From the continuous growth of luxury second-hand marketplaces to even fast-fashion brands embracing second-hand and recycling practices, it can not be denied a relevant attention for these models.


Considering the rise of attention and sales of thrift shopping and the boost for circularity, it is not a surprise that recycling (14) and second-hand is a growing trend. Now, despite applauding these practices and the good impact of them, customers and brands should be aware of the impact of recycling and second-hand practices. Brands should assess and report the reality behind these practices. If brands are offering recycling, they should really aim for it and not use it as a greenwashing campaign (15).  Finally, next to the vintage and second-hand rise, a revival of the 80s and 90s will still be present in fashion. Again, a reason why this model will be even more implemented.


TO GO DEEPER IN THIS DISCUSSION, LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST: Is recycling the sustainable solution?


  1. People


As stated plenty of times before, sustainable fashion is a holistic approach beyond materials and resources only. Not only brands but consumers are very much aware of this. Adding practices such as craftsmanship or organic materials is not enough for sustainability nor for the customer. Thus, brands have to implement ethical working and development conditions to direct and indirect workers along the entire supply chain.


On one hand, a more humane and conscioius side will be seen in trends such as gender neutrality and diversity. Some trends will engage empathetic practices engaging a wider audience through diversity and inclusivity (16). Also, brands and fashion will go more into gender-fluid approaches, enhancing not only inclusivity but self-expression as well. On the other hand, brands will take in consideration more ethical approaches to work with specific communities. Considering a more demanding and knowledgable consumer, brands will be more aware of practices around cultural appropriation and ethical conditions for workers. This way, two fundamental values of sustainability will be stronger: transparency and traceability.



In short…


Sustainable trends go beyond materials, looks and aesthetics. For this new year, 2025, new business models will be developed such as circular practices and the made-to-order formula. Green energy will be the main rhetoric in the macro perspective while the current political and global panorama will quite probably push brands to look for local approaches both in production and sales. Finally, consumers are more aware of the relevance of who is making their clothes. Beyond trends embracing inclusivity and diversity, ethical practices towards the conditions of employees will be of extreme importance for sustainability.




1 United Nations Climate Change, COP29. (2024). COP29. Available at: https://cop29.az/en/home. (Last Accessed on November 20, 2024)


2 McKinsey & Company. (September 17, 2024). “Global Energy Perspective 2024”.  McKinsey. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/energy-and-materials/our-insights/global-energy-perspective. (Last accessed on November 20, 2024).


3  Ibidem.



5 European Parliament. (21 March 2024). “The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographics)”. European Parliament. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-waste-on-the-environment-infographics. (Last accessed on November 30, 2024).



7 McKinsey & Company. 11 November 2024). “The State of Fashion”. McKinsey. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/state-of-fashion. (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


8 Twentyfairseven. (no date). 2025 Sustainable Fashion Trends: The Rise of Made-to-Order and Customization“. Twentyfairseven. Available at: https://twentyfairseven.com/2025-sustainable-fashion-trends-made-to-order/. (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


9 Northumbria University Newcastle. ( 1 March 2024). “Understanding the Environmental Impact of Fashion “.  Northumbria University Newcastle. Availbable at: https://hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/impactplusnetwork/understanding-the-environmental-impact-of-fashion/#:~:text=Manufacturing%3A,other%20environmental%20and%20social%20impacts. (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


10 Chantal Fernandez. (8 November 2024). “Is Shopping for Clothes About to Get More Expensive Under Trump?”. The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/article/how-will-trumps-tariffs-affect-clothing-prices.html.  (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


11 Northumbria University Newcastle. ( 1 March 2024). “Understanding the Environmental Impact of Fashion “.  Northumbria University Newcastle. Availbable at: https://hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/impactplusnetwork/understanding-the-environmental-impact-of-fashion/#:~:text=Manufacturing%3A,other%20environmental%20and%20social%20impacts.(Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


12 Sarah Butler. (27 March 2024). “Secondhand clothing on track to take 10% of global fashion sales". The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/27/secondhand-clothing-on-track-to-take-10-of-global-fashion-sales. (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


13 Alden Wicker. (4 March 2024). “The trendy second-hand clothing market is huge and still growing – yet nobody is turning a profit“. BBC. Available at. https://www.bbc.co.uk/worklife/article/20240301-international-second-hand-clothing-market-profitable. (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


14 The Sustainable Fashion Forum. (November 16). “Why Can’t We Just Recycle Our Old Clothes?”. The Sustainable Fashion Forum. Available at: https://www.thesustainablefashionforum.com/pages/quick-question-why-cant-clothes-just-be-recycled.  (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).


15 AFP. ( 7 February 2024). “Why fast fashion 'recycling' is not saving the planet”. Fashion United. Available at: https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/why-fast-fashion-recycling-is-not-saving-the-planet/2024020758290. (Last accessed on: November 30, 2024).





*Please note that the image illustrating this article was generated with using Generative AI.

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