Fashion giant Ralph Lauren Corp, whose designs are sashayed on Hollywood's red carpets, has unveiled plans to trace wood pulp used in its clothes to avoid buying from regions destroying forests or violating human rights.

Earlier this month, online retailer Nasty Gal shocked fans by filing for bankruptcy. The e-commerce darling, which sold original designs, vintage pieces and items from other brands, became a social media hit thanks to innovative branding. Fellow millennial favorite American Apparel’s demise was not quite so surprising, having long been simmering in the pot despite the brand’s popularity. While both companies cited a number of reasons including legal troubles and mismanagement for their financial crashes, a major, troubling factor was also key—they kept most of their manufacturing within the United States.

Companies like Nike have invested too much in Asia to consider moving factories, even if tariffs rise and push up costs for American consumers, analysts say.

Designer Eileen Fisher made an eight-year commitment to sustainable fashion four years ago, after having “an epiphany about the earth” and her responsibility as the owner of her own company. In the years since, the brand has been vocal about these efforts.

Transparency is trending in fashion.
Mass retailers like H&M, Zara, UK-based Marks & Spencer, Belgium-based CNA and Gap Inc., which owns Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, have begun sharing the names of the factories they work with in an effort to improve working and environmental conditions, streamline cluttered supply chains, and get on the right side of the mindful consumer. This is a departure from traditionally standard retail practices, which saw companies keeping their factory names closely held in order to protect themselves from competition.

Chief sustainability officer Hannah Jones talks to BoF about Nike's journey from sweatshop scandals to embracing sustainability as a tool for business innovation.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says a Chinese manufacturer that makes apparel under the Adidas, Reebok and Armani brands will open a factory in Arkansas.

Robotics can help fashion companies drive business efficiencies in their factories, warehouses and stores.

With first access to Kering’s 2016 sustainability report, BoF speaks to chief sustainability officer Marie-Claire Daveu to unpick the data and what it reveals about luxury supply chains.

Some of the world's most popular clothing brands, including Forever 21 and Michael Kors, have been slammed by a new report for not being upfront with customers about their supply chains.
And high-end, expensive clothing companies including Prada, Fendi and Hermes are among the worst offenders, with Chanel coming in dead last, according to the report that ranks clothing brands on transparency.

When Europe's top online-only fashion retailer Zalando decided to overhaul its app to exploit mobile sales, it reaped the benefits of a new management philosophy that gives tech staff much more autonomy.

After a long and strong wave of offshoring in the fashion industry in low cost countries such as China, limits to that model have emerged: hidden costs in logistics, in quality and in coordination; counterfeiting; a negative impact on the environment; poor working conditions; and an inability to address the acceleration of fashion trend changes. A study by the Boston Consulting Group predicts a wave of backshoring to the United States following a reduction in the gap between manufacturing costs in China and in the United States.