Biocouture is gaining ground in the Netherlands as farmers in Eindhoven partner with a fashion designer to turn cow waste into clothing. Although met with some initial skepticism, the practice is already receiving accolades for innovation.

Making fashion sustainable requires a shift in the culture of the industry. Several brands and organizations are already working to change the unethical and unsustainable practices in fashion. From mobilizing hashtags to pressure brands into increasing transparency, to inventing new fibers that are less water intensive, these ethical approaches to fashion promote alternatives to the wasteful norms of the prevailing consumer culture.

A former costume designer and a farmer in Pennsylvania are partnering together to grow flax to produce their own linen. Since the fashion and textiles industries produce a lot of waste, the duo are reviving the crop that was traditionally grown in the area to raise awareness on the importance of a strong local textile supply chain. While harvesting the crop can be labor intensive and they don’t plan on making a profit from it this year, they hope to show that growing flax could be a staple crop in urban agriculture.

For some in the UK, ending their own accumulation of new clothes is one of the more important ways they can help the environment. Through thrift and secondhand shops, apps, and clothing exchanges, individuals are creating a more sustainable clothing network to make the shift away from new clothing easier.

To reduce food waste ending up in landfills, the startup Circular Systems has created a way to turn leftover food scraps like pineapple leaves and banana peels into fibers that can be used in clothing production.

Fashion has long been known as a major contributor to climate change, but brands (from fast fashion to luxury houses alike) are taking steps to address their carbon footprint. This article lists several initiatives working on reducing fabric waste, such as FabScrap, a NY organization that collects and resells 6,000 pounds of discarded fabric weekly.