The 2022 Roundup
As we enter the new year, we look back at 2022, an eventful year that saw the fashion industry evolve like never before. With sustainability remaining central to conversations, we saw a growing interest in circular fashion, conscious fabric choices and manufacturing processes as brands are now legally bound to prioritise their environmental responsibilities.
The metaverse majorly ramped up as brands shifted from trialling to implementing. 2022 saw huge investment in this sector, bringing endless opportunities for the future of this technology.
Inclusivity took centre stage and brought a breath of fresh air to marketing strategies as Gen-Z continued to lead the way in demanding brands to address social inequalities. Meanwhile, pop-ups grew more immersive and Instagrammable in the physical retail space, providing consumers with unmatched experiences.
Join us as we revisit some of the key news stories and brand strategies from the last year:
CIRCULAR STRATEGIES
The past year saw the resale and rental markets continue to surge, while mindful consumerism also spurred on increased services implementing circular strategies, including brands taking ownership of their product lifecycles.
Uniqlo Clothing Repairs and Remaking
Uniqlo opened a dedicated area for repairing and remaking used clothing in its London Regent Street store. The initiative, titled Re:Uniqlo Studio, aimed to keep Uniqlo items in circulation for a longer lifespan, with alterations and tailoring services available alongside further customisation options, such as resizing, mending and hemming.
eBay Store That Accepts Pre-Owned Luxury as Currency
eBay opened a new store called the Luxury Exchange that accepts pre-owned luxury items as a currency to use in-store. When customers enter the store, their luxury items are assigned a value with which they will then be able to shop the store’s catalogue. Items such as jewellery, handbags and watches from top brands such as Gucci, Rolex, Balenciaga, can be exchanged and shopped.
Flannels Luxury Rental Offering
Flannels launched its own luxury rental offering for women, powered by Hurr. The service features an expansive range of women’s ready-to-wear and accessories from the likes of Area, Coperni and 16Arlington. With an initial focus on occasion-wear, the Flannels edit was initially centred around party season and promises to offer a refresh each season.
PLANET FIRST APPROACH
Throughout 2022, consumers continued to demand more transparency from brands, with two topics in particular becoming the centre of attention; textile recycling and greenwashing. 2022 has shown that the industry can no longer get away with half-hearted efforts and is now also legally liable. Big names dominated the headlines with new innovations and gestures that aim to protect the planet.
Nike's Fabric Innovation
Nike developed a new fabric, Nike Forward, in an all-new material that offers a sustainably minded approach to the future of product. The latest fabric innovation isn’t a material, knit, or weave nor does it use yarn. Instead, the manufacturing process creates fibres from recycled plastic flakes and attaches them together using needle-punching machines mostly found in the automotive and medical industry.
Patagonia Boss Gave Company to Charitable Trust
The billionaire founder of the outdoor fashion retailer Patagonia gave away his company to a charitable trust. Yvon Chouinard said that under a new ownership structure, any profit not reinvested in running the business would go to fighting climate change. Patagonia sells hiking and other outdoor clothing in over 10 countries, with profits amounting to around £87m a year.
Stella McCartney's Mushroom Bag
Stella McCartney unveiled the brand’s first mushroom leather bag made from Mylo by Bolt Threads. The luxury bag was released in 2022 with a limited run of 100, with plans for Mylo to integrate into the brand’s main range of bags from 2023. More companies are experimenting with mycelium, from Lululemon to Hermès, as biomaterials pave the way for a more sustainable fashion industry.