8 Things to Know in Sustainable Fashion and Beauty This January – Good On You

Every month the Good On You team scours the internet to bring you the sustainable fashion and beauty news that matters. Here’s what you need to know in January 2025.

Massive Cleanup Under Way in Ghana After Fire Destroys One of World’s Biggest Secondhand Markets (The Guardian)

As much as two-thirds of the Kantamanto second-hand clothing market has been destroyed by a fire that began on 1st January. The market in Ghana’s capital, Accra, receives around 15m clothes from the global north every week, and is a vital employment source for thousands of people in the region. Daniel Mawuli Quist, creative director of circularity campaigner The Or Foundation, told The Guardian that: “This is a critical moment for the global fashion ecosystem to show solidarity.”

Influencers to Beauty Brands: Stop Sending Us So Much Stuff! (Business of Fashion)

In a report for Business of Fashion, Jordan McClendon writes that beauty influencers and editors are becoming fed up of excessive, opulent, and often unsolicited PR gifts from beauty brands. McClendon finds that brands are “beginning to rethink their gifting strategies to improve efficiency, decrease waste and maximise their chances of getting coverage of their products.”

New Report Suggests 33 Sustainable Targets for a Just Fashion System (FashionUnited)

The Swiss-based global justice organisation Public Eye has released One-Earth Fashion, a new report that identifies 33 concrete targets not for achieving small changes in the industry, but for overhauling it and creating “a new operating system for fashion”. The targets include ensuring that at least 75% of workers in the global fashion system have social protection in line with ILO minimum standards (ILO C102), and eradicating deforestation or other land-use change for fibre crops or leather.

Models Gain Muscle: Fashion Workers Act Becomes a Law in New York (WWD)

Late in December 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the long-awaited Fashion Workers Act into law. It’ll come into effect in June 2025, giving more protections to models, content creators and more freelancers by regulating management agencies. “The aim is to ensure workers receive contracts, payment within 45 days and that they are protected from harassment, discrimination and unsafe working conditions,” reports WWD.

Nike Told to Compensate Workers in High-Profile Labour Controversy (Business of Fashion)

Human rights monitoring organisation the Fair Labour Association has recommended that Nike compensate around $140,000 to garment workers in Thailand who were furloughed without pay by a supplier during the pandemic. Business of Fashion explains that: “Though the companies acted within the bounds of the law, the high-profile dispute was worsened in part because the sportswear giant failed to live up to its own labour standards.”

‘Ridiculous’ Ban on Exotic Animal Skins at London Fashion Week Criticised by Experts (The Guardian)

From 2025, skins from alligators, snakes and other animals will be banned at London Fashion Week, and this report from The Guardian highlights the ongoing debate between conservationists, sustainability advocates, and animal welfare activists on the right approach.

Walmart Pushes Back Climate Change Targets (Financial Times)

In late 2023, Walmart—the world’s largest company by sales—warned it expected to miss its GHG reduction targets for 2025, but that it was still on track for its 2030 goals. Now though, the retail giant expects to miss both targets, the Financial Times reports. It is questionable how Walmart will hit future emissions reduction targets as it continues to scale up and open more stores.

‘Good’ and ‘Great’ news

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Spell Debuts Artisanal Collaborative Collection With PROJECTHRIVE

“Good” brand Spell has partnered with PROJECHRIVE to provide women artisans employment by producing the block prints in its latest collection, titled Fable. “Through this collaboration, we’ve contributed to both an income opportunity and access to global trade for these talented artisans,” said Angie Menghini, sustainability manager at Spell.