While brands in the Global North take their foot off the pedal, suppliers across the Global South are pushing on with decarbonisation. But without funding and collaboration, efforts are likely to stall.

Fashion’s climate commitments are faltering. According to advocacy group Stand.earth’s latest report, 40 per cent of brands increased their emissions last year. The sector’s overall emissions jumped 7.5 per cent in the same period, per the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii). If fashion’s momentum to tackle the climate crisis wasn’t already questionable, the political climate is slowing things further, as US tariffs drive up costs and regulators move to weaken sustainability legislation in the EU.