CLIMATE ACTION WEEK: Do we need to reimagine growth in apparel? Textile Exchange makes the case.

A few years ago Professor Jason Hickel was invited to speak during an annual Textile Exchange conference. Why was that invitation noteworthy? Because Jason is an advocate for degrowth in fashion. Fast forward to 2024 and Textile Exchange released the report Reimagining Growth Landscape Analysis. Perhaps Jason’s intervention struck a chord? In this conversation, Michael speaks with Beth Jensen from Textile Exchange and Rachel Arthur, the report’s lead author, to explore the reasoning behind and the conclusions drawn in the report. In short, the report concludes that the industry’s current trajectory is incompatible with achieving key climate, nature, and human rights goals, because impacts will only increase while growth remains a business imperative. Michael, Beth and Rachel explore what an alternative approach could look like, including the challenging concepts and terminology needed to frame the discussion, whether apparel business leaders are or can ever be receptive to this analysis, and what possible pathways they see for moving this agenda forward.

“Focusing on business as usual is not really an option. If we don't address this, we won't meet our sustainability goals or the Paris Agreement.”

“Today’s CEOs have a fiduciary duty to report growth—that’s the reality we’re working within. It’s why this conversation is both sensitive and necessary.”

“Green growth hasn’t yet been proven possible — not in the short timeframe we have, and not on a continuous basis.”

For more information about this podcast and our guest experts, or to listen to other Climate Action Week 2025 podcast conversations, please visit: https://sustainablefashionacademy.org/stica/climate-action-week-2025/