The H&M Foundation has committed $15.4 million to support the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Fashion ReModel initiative, a project aimed at advancing commercially viable alternatives to traditional garment production. This collaboration seeks to reduce the fashion industry’s dependence on new resource consumption by promoting circular business models such as rental, repair, resale, and remaking. Over the next three years, the H&M Foundation will act as a philanthropic partner, facilitating the expansion of these efforts.
Launched at the 2024 Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, Fashion ReModel unites leading brands to address industry challenges, develop innovative solutions, and scale circular practices. The initiative’s overarching goal is to decouple revenue growth from the production of new garments and resource use, fostering a more sustainable fashion economy.
Christiane Dolva, Head of Research & Demonstration at the H&M Foundation, underscored the urgency of this shift: “Revenue must be decoupled from the production of new garments and the use of natural resources. Embracing circular business models is essential—there’s simply no credible path to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets without transforming the way business is done.”
Jules Lennon, Fashion Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, highlighted the need for systemic transformation: “For a circular economy for fashion to become the norm, we must accelerate efforts that not only redesign the products of the future but also the services and business models that deliver them and keep them in use. We welcome business-led action towards a world where, instead of being worn once and discarded, clothes can be used many times—threaded through the lives of many people.”
By scaling circular solutions, Fashion ReModel has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move the industry beyond the current disposable fashion paradigm. Participating brands and retailers have pledged to increase the proportion of revenue generated through circular models over the next three years, with annual progress reports submitted to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The Fashion ReModel initiative represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and resilient fashion industry. By prioritising circularity, the project not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also paves the way for a future where economic growth aligns with planetary boundaries. As brands and retailers embrace these transformative models, the fashion industry has the opportunity to redefine its role in creating a more sustainable world.
