Do you know where your clothes come from and the materials used in them? Fashion has long since used clothing labels to share important information about the product—information that usually just helps to decide whether to throw it in the wash or send it to a dry cleaner. But for environmentally-conscious shoppers, the materials listed on the label tell a much more important story.

For the conscious consumer, exercising the right to choose and purchase more environmentally-friendly clothes holds a lot of significance. However, the fashion industry has historically been less than transparent in regard to social and environmental policies.

What is Fashion Transparency?

Foremost, transparency and sustainability are not interrelated. Fashion transparency ensures that the public is made aware of how, where, and who makes a product from start to finish. When fashion brands and retailers disclose their production practices, customers know exactly what they’re buying. This, in turn, can contribute to achieving a positive sustainable change as fashion brands are held accountable for their practices.

Enter The Impact Index

The Responsible Business Coalition, Accenture, and Vogue teamed up to create a digital logo known as The Impact Index. This industry-wide product label will classify clothes produced under sustainable practices.

Major fashion brands and retailers, among them Ralph Lauren, participated in the development of these transparency metrics in an effort to accurately exhibit brand efforts and improve sustainability progress. Third-party organizations were instrumental in creating the standards for determining fashion sustainability practices.

“We think it's going to be a game-changer. We hope, as consumers understand the value, that they'll start supporting value, rather than the cheapest price,” says LaRhea Pepper, CEO of Textile Exchange, one of the independent nonprofits participating in the Impact Index.

The Impact Index is not meant to support one brand over another or act as a shopping list, but to encourage more brands to map their supply chain for better consumer awareness.

Where Can I Find The Impact Index?

Any retailer or business that earns the label by meeting the standards approved by The Impact Index can display the digital logo on their website.

By clicking on the logo, consumers can browse the applicable environmental and ethical criteria of the clothing.

The core categories powering the label include raw materials, animal welfare, chemical usage, and education & empowerment. It’s expected that these categories will continue to develop in the coming years, but for now, they manage the top concerns related to the fashion industry’s footprint.

All in all, the increasingly interested consumer wants to shop for and consider products that align with their values. Fashion companies benefit from participating in The Impact Index because it builds client trust, perpetuates informed buying decisions, and encourages greater accountability toward a greener future.

At Golden Arrow, we pride ourselves on fashioning truly sustainable products with our zero-waste mission in mind. At every level of production, we aim to lessen our environmental footprint to make the world a greener place. Talk to an industry professional today to find out more about our green packaging solutions that fit your company’s goals and clients.