EMA’s June Sustainable Fashion Roundup: Berlin Fashion Week, Algae Lingerie, & the Jelly Shoe Trend
This month, we saw substantial sustainability wins at Berlin Fashion Week that will make waves across the industry. Jelly shoes are also trending thanks to Y2K nostalgia and celebrities like Taylor Swift, but at what cost? Plus, algae has made its first foray into lingerie, posing a compelling counter-argument to sustainable fashion critics.
Read on for the top sustainable fashion stories from June!
Photo Credit: Ricowde, GETTY IMAGES
Berlin Fashion Week has joined Copenhagen Fashion Week’s sustainability mandate
Fashion Council Germany has partnered with Copenhagen Fashion Week to adopt a Sustainability Requirements framework to make sustainability a mandatory criterion at Berlin Fashion Week. The Sustainability Requirements were introduced at Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2020. They are currently onboarding and piloting the framework with about 35 brands on the Berlin Fashion Week schedule, and expect to have the requirements in full effect by February 2026.
“Not only does our partnership trigger much needed alignment – it also emphasises fashion weeks’ and councils’ opportunities to be part of transitioning the industry for the better,” said Cecilia Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week. “It’s a big milestone for us to see the Sustainability Requirements gain global recognition and we hope it will inspire more actors to collaborations.”
Jelly shoes are trending but at a cost to our health and our planet
Jelly shoes have been making a comeback after their appearance on The Row’s pre-fall 2024 runway, evoking major Y2K nostalgia. According to Style Analytics, there has been 100% growth in Google searches for jelly shoes over the past month. People have spotted the retro sandals on celebrities like Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, and Jennifer Lawrence, which are undoubtedly a driving factor in their popularity.
Despite their innocuous appearance, most jelly shoes are actually made from PVC, a highly toxic chemical. PVC is made from vinyl chloride, a highly toxic chemical that “is carcinogenic and can damage the nervous system,” according to Sara Brosché, campaign manager at the International Pollutants Elimination Network. Other toxic chemicals such as phthalates, dioxins, and furans are used and released in PVC manufacturing and are linked to hormonal disruption, damage to the nervous system, reproductive and developmental health issues, and cancer.
Low-income communities are impacted most, with PVC production and disposal sites often nearby. In 2023, a freight train that derailed in East Palestine polluted their air, soil, and water with around 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride. Louisiana’s Cancer Alley is also impacted by ethylene dichloride, a byproduct of the chemicals used in PVC.
Algae has made its way into sustainable lingerie
Sustainable clothing brand Organic Basics is partnering with Algaeing to present the world’s first intimate collection using algae-based dye. Compared to traditional dyeing processes, Algadye reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 74% and water usage by 98%.
“By utilizing Algaeing’s technology, we’re not only redefining what’s possible in eco-conscious fashion but also leading the charge towards a cleaner, greener future for the fashion industry as a whole,” said Mads Fibiger Rasmussen, founder and CEO of Organic Basics, in an interview with VegOut Magazine.
The eco-friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free collection includes intimates made from recycled nylon, and everyday wear dyed using Algadye. The result is a collection of versatile garments at an affordable price point, countering the myth that sustainable fashion has to be expensive.
Katy Ho (she/her) is a Chinese Canadian writer, activist, and daughter of refugees who explores the intersections of gender, climate, and pop culture through her work. When she’s not writing about feminism and climate justice, you can find her hosting book club meetings, visiting her local thrift store, and coaching the next generation of climate leaders.
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