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Regenerative Fashion

Regeneration embodies practices that give back to people and planet. Examples include cultivating bioregional materials using crop rotation and intercropping to improve soil health. Another example is creating product-services that embody indigenous or ancestral knowledge (such as ways of making, materiality, and land management practices) directly with people from those communities, providing meaningful work.

VET: How do you make clothing that makes another system better?

HEI: What does your system look like from ground to wardrobe and back again?


Regenerative fashion represents a paradigm shift in the fashion industry, focusing on practices that restore and regenerate ecosystems and communities, rather than merely sustaining them. This approach goes beyond minimizing harm and actively seeks to improve the health of the planet and the well-being of people through the entire lifecycle of fashion products. At the core of regenerative fashion is the use of bioregional materials cultivated through practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and agroforestry, which enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, and capture carbon. These methods contribute to the regeneration of the land, making the production of raw materials not just sustainable but beneficial to the environment. By sourcing materials locally and adopting regenerative agricultural practices, fashion brands can play a vital role in reversing the environmental degradation typically associated with conventional fashion production. Another key aspect of regenerative fashion is the integration of indigenous and ancestral knowledge into the design and production processes. This involves collaborating with indigenous communities to incorporate traditional ways of making, material usage, and land management into modern fashion practices. Such collaborations ensure that these communities benefit directly from their contributions, providing meaningful work and preserving cultural heritage. These product-service systems embody a deep respect for the wisdom of indigenous practices and demonstrate a commitment to social equity and cultural preservation. Regenerative fashion also encourages a circular approach, where garments are designed not just for use, but for eventual return to the earth or reintegration into the production cycle. This means considering the entire lifecycle of clothing—from the cultivation of materials to the disposal or recycling of garments—ensuring that every step contributes positively to the environment and society.

Case Studies

Case Studies

Fibershed
Fibershed is a non-profit organization that focuses on developing regional and regenerative fiber systems. By working with local farmers, artisans, and designers, Fibershed promotes the use of local fibers, natural dyes, and regenerative agricultural practices. Their initiatives support environmentally sustainable clothing production while connecting fashion to local ecosystems and cultures. Fibershed serves as a leading example of regenerative fashion through their focus on soil health, carbon farming, and regional textile production.
Read more about Fibershed

INDIGENOUS
INDIGENOUS is a fashion brand that collaborates directly with artisan communities in South America, blending traditional knowledge and practices with sustainable development. By ensuring fair wages and using natural materials, INDIGENOUS integrates cultural preservation into its fashion lines. The brand’s approach promotes a regenerative system by valuing both environmental stewardship and the empowerment of local communities.
Read more about INDIGENOUS

PANGAIA
PANGAIA emphasizes regenerative fashion by creating garments that benefit the environment throughout their lifecycle. The brand uses biodegradable materials like FLWRDWN™ and organic cotton, designed to compost back into the earth after use. PANGAIA’s regenerative approach ensures that their clothing positively impacts the environment, embodying the principles of restoring natural systems through fashion.
Read more about PANGAIA

References

  • Braga, M., & Rodrigues, M. (2020). Indigenous knowledge in sustainable fashion: Integrating traditional practices in modern design. Journal of Fashion and Textiles, 8(2), 145-162.

  • De Brito, M. P., Carbone, V., & Blanquart, C. M. (2020). Environmental and social sustainability in fashion: A case study analysis of luxury and mass-market brands.

  • Fletcher, K. (2021). Regenerative Fashion: A Path Forward for the Apparel Industry. Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture, 25(3), 467-481.

  • Hatcher, C. (2021). The role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable fashion: A case study analysis. Sustainability in Fashion and Textiles, 14(1), 109-125.

  • Laestadius, L. I., & Hawken, P. (2020). Regenerative agriculture and fashion: Practices that restore the land. Ecological Applications, 30(1), e02031.

  • McKinney, E., & Pellegrin, R. (2020). Indigenous knowledge and fashion sustainability: A new approach to design and production. Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture, 24(5), 649-667.

  • Rodale Institute. (2020). The Regenerative Organic Certification and Its Impact on Fashion. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 33(4), 513-531.

  • Zengler, C., & Clark, S. (2021). Biodegradable and compostable materials in fashion: The PANGAIA model. Journal of Sustainable Textiles and Apparel, 25(2), 213-229.