Some good news to start the year: a handful of big fashion businesses have moved to ban fur, putting pressure on others to follow in 2026. Elsewhere, Circulose is back, and Nike is finally compensating garment workers. Read our editors’ picks of the sustainable fashion and beauty stories to know this January.
Fashion Brands Rally Behind Circulose’s Next Chapter (Just Style)
Major fashion brands are backing Swedish textile company Circulose as it is resurrected under new leader- and ownership, according to Just Style. The business’s new strategy to scale up production of its recycled cellulosic fibres means securing long-term partnerships, and so far Bestseller, C&A, John Lewis, Filippa K, Reformation, Bobo Choses, Faherty, H&M, Mango, and Zero have all signed up.
French Ban on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Cosmetics, Clothing to Enter Force (Fashion Network)
Fashion Network shares that a new law has entered into force in France from January 1st, which bans the production, import, or sale of any product for which an alternative to harmful “forever chemicals” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) already exists. These include cosmetics, ski wax, and clothing, with the exception of some “essential” industrial chemicals.
CFDA Announces End of Fur at New York Fashion Week (CFDA)
CFDA, the organisation responsible for New York Fashion Week, announced in December that it would ban fur from its runways starting September 2026, with the exception of animal fur “obtained by Indigenous communities through traditional subsistence hunting practices.” It comes after engagement with Humane World for Animals and Collective Fashion Justice, and follows Fashion Weeks in London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and Melbourne in taking action.
Rick Owens Bans Fur From Future Collections (FashionUnited)
Another business to announce a fur ban last month was Rick Owens, whose range is famed for its animal-derived materials, particularly leather. It comes after the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) launched a protest against the brand, reports FashionUnited, noting that mink and beaver fur handbags had already been removed from sale on Rick Owens’ online store.
Hearst Magazines Commits to Prohibiting Promotion of Animal Fur (FashionUnited)
Hearst Magazines, which owns Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, and Town & Country, also committed to a fur ban in December, according to FashionUnited. It means the majority of the world’s biggest fashion publications now prohibit fur from their pages, after Condé Nast issued a ban in October 2025.
Collective Fashion Justice Details Animal Welfare Progress in Impact Report (Collective Fashion Justice)
Collective Fashion Justice, which campaigns for better animal welfare in the fashion industry and consulted on New York Fashion Week’s fur ban, has released its annual impact report detailing progress made in 2025. It makes for a hopeful read as we head into a new year.
Nike Compensates Thai Workers After Five-Year Dispute (SGI Europe)
SGI Europe reports that Nike has agreed to compensate approximately 3,300 workers at Thai supplier factory Hong Seng Knitting, who were allegedly pressured into taking unpaid leave during the Covid 19 pandemic. It’s the result of five years of pressure from organisations including the Clean Clothes Campaign, Fair Labor Association, Worker Rights Consortium, and Partners for Dignity and Rights.
French Court Rejects SHEIN Website Suspension Over Childlike Sex Dolls (BBC)
After France’s consumer watchdog found SHEIN to be selling “sex dolls with a childlike appearance” and weapons, the government moved to have the website suspended. But, as the BBC reports, while a court ordered SHEIN implement age verification for the sale of adult products and noted the severity of the issue, it rejected the request for a three-month suspension, calling it “disproportionate” after the retailer removed the products.
Over 100,000 Bangladeshi Garment Workers Lose Jobs as Factory Closures Rise: Survey (Apparel Resources)
Apparel Resources reports on the findings of a survey by the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) that suggest more than 100,000 garment workers in Bangladesh have lost their jobs following 258 factory closures. The findings, say the report, “highlight growing social and economic risks in the country’s apparel sector amid mounting pressures from technological change, climate impacts and fragile labour conditions.”
‘Good’ and ‘Great’ news
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Bastet Noir Moves to Preorder Production Model
“Great” brand Bastet Noir is transitioning to a new business model where products are made in limited runs according to preorders, only using deadstock fabric—a decision that reflects the brand’s commitment to reducing waste. “This shift allows us to focus on elevated craftsmanship and create garments with greater purpose,” it says.
The Classic T-Shirt Company Introduces GOTS Certified French Terry
US-based, “Good”-rated The Classic T-Shirt Company has introduced to its range sweatpants and shirts in French Terry, made from GOTS certified organic cotton. The brand notes that the California-made garments are designed and manufactured for longevity.
ZEROBARRACENTO Partners With Milanese Sustainable Tailoring Lab
Italian gender-neutral outerwear brand ZEROBARRACENTO (“Good”) has announced a new partnership with sustainable tailoring lab Associazione Spazio 3R Riciclo Ricucio Riuso Impresa Sociale. The lab and social enterprise helps with job placements and collaborations for young designers, practical training for unemployed women, and championing manual crafts. This partnership sees the lab produce lower-waste designs by ZEROBARRACENTO.
