How can the Fashion Industry Mitigate its Harm

The fashion industry has a problem. From textile dyeing that poisons rivers to supply chains that send a single T-shirt around the world before it lands in your closet, fashion’s environmental impact is undeniable, but various tools can be employed to fight it.

The Power of Regulation

Until recently, the fashion industry operated without regulation. But the tide is turning. New York’s recently passed Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (Fashion Act) is an example of how governments can step in to force change. The act requires major fashion brands to disclose their environmental and social impact, including carbon footprints and labor practices. More importantly, it mandates that they actually reduce their emissions. If they fail to comply, they face financial penalties.

This is a wake-up call. If more governments follow suit, regulation could force brands to move beyond greenwashing—those feel-good marketing campaigns that promise sustainability but deliver little—and take real responsibility for their impact.

Fixing the Supply Chain Mess

The fashion supply chain is a tangled web of inefficiencies. A single pair of jeans may start as cotton grown in India, be spun into fabric in China, assembled in Bangladesh, and finally sold in the U.S. The emissions from transporting materials across thousands of miles are staggering.

One solution? Localized production. Brands can cut their carbon footprints by crafting garments closer to where they’ll be sold. Investing in regional manufacturing hubs and sustainable materials sourced within local markets could transform an industry that currently values low-cost, high-volume production over planetary health.

Auditing Reports

Brands love to tout their sustainability credentials, but without proper auditing, those claims are about as reliable as a knockoff designer bag. Companies need stricter third-party auditing to verify environmental impact, labor conditions, and carbon reduction efforts. Improved transparency tools—such as blockchain tracking of materials and real-time emissions reporting—could hold brands accountable and give consumers real data to make informed choices.

Incentivizing Sustainable Choices

The government isn’t the only one with a role to play. Policy incentives—such as tax breaks for brands that use sustainable fabrics, grants for factories transitioning to renewable energy, and tariffs on high-pollution manufacturing processes—could nudge companies toward better practices. Consumers, too, hold power. Supporting brands that prioritize sustainability over speed can send a clear message: the demand for ethical fashion is real.