As part of its November 2022 Innovate Zero Carbon Event,[1] WTIN conducted an interview with Paul Foulkes-Arellano of Circuthon Consulting on the topic of Regenerative Fashion, in which he has a great deal of expertise, and also a positive outlook on a future where the textiles and apparel industry is making significant progress in reducing its impact on the planet. We followed up with Paul to gain more insight into his knowledge and experience in the field of Regenerative Fashion. (Watch Cary Sherburne’s video interview here.)

According to the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, Regenerative Fashion is “a circular biobased industry that is inclusive, climate and nature-positive, using newly created or restored regenerative landscapes as the basis for circular bioeconomy value chains.” The organization published a Regenerative Fashion Manifesto in April of 2022, billed as “another concrete step towards creating a much more sustainable fashion industry. It is not simply empty words; the manifesto comes with a concrete €1 million project for the degraded landscapes of the Himalayas attached. This project will serve as a blueprint for what can be done to shift the fashion industry towards a more equitable, nature-positive future.”

The Manifesto states: “Regenerative Fashion is about holistically addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis while generating equitable and inclusive prosperity along its value chains. At the same time, it sets out to support the local and indigenous communities responsible for creating regenerative landscapes.” It is recommended reading for anyone concerned about fashion’s impact on the environment. In researching this article, I also came across a book worth reading: Regenerative Fashion: A Nature-Based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods and Leadership, by Safia Minney (available on Amazon).