Sustainable fashion and its new consumption formulas are transforming the textile sector. At a considerable pace. New projects and trends are emerging, both in garment rentals and in the return to local production and the use of innovative materials, with proposals that seek to address the industry's environmental challenges.
In recent years, sustainability has ceased to be just a buzzword and has become a real determinant of business strategies and models. From brands, designers, manufacturers, and consumers alike. From rental platforms, innovative brick-and-mortar stores, local fairs, and initiatives that focus on regenerative value chains, there are many paths being taken by players in this sector.
The rise of clothing rentals: less shopping, more circularity
The sector of Clothing rental continues to grow stronglyAccording to recent data, the global market is already worth around $1.770 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach $2.470 billion in 2029, with annual growth of nearly 7%. Proposals such as the Trent platform, created in Barcelona in 2022 by Alejandro Assens and Laia Cusco, stand out. It combines the visibility of new designers with a circular and sustainable fashion model.
The Trent model was born from an international experience in Bogotá and landed in Barcelona as a way to connect emerging designers with an audience seeking unique and sustainable garments. Initially digital, the platform quickly recognized the need to provide a physical space where garments could be tried on and fashion experienced firsthand, and thus a unique store with event areas and a carefully curated collection was born.
The success of the store has been notable. It showcases streetwear, genderless tailoring, and accessories that are unusual in the Barcelona market. The audience is diverse, from stylists who dress renowned artists to young women seeking sustainable alternatives for special occasions, travel, or even everyday wear. Rentals are designed as a transition between purchase and temporary use, allowing garments to rotate and reduce their environmental impact.
The phenomenon of renting clothes It is progressing more slowly in Spain than in other European countries. For cultural reasons, but Trent's managers are confident that the mentality will change. They believe that circularity and fast fashion will coexist for quite some time, but that the balance between buying and renting will be key in the transformation toward responsible consumption. The consolidation of the model in cities like Madrid or a possible international expansion are on the table once the concept becomes established.
Trade fairs and events: sustainable fashion on display to the public
Sustainable fashion meetings and fairs are gaining ground. in different parts of Spain. An example of this is the "Fiando Vida" initiative, promoted in Agolada by the Agolada Viva collective, which seeks to present real alternatives to traditional textile consumption and production.
In this type of fairs We are committed to fashion with roots, traditional fabrics and knowledge, and we give prominence to second-hand and sustainable design proposals.More than sixty stalls, creative recycling and botanical printing workshops, roundtable discussions on conscious textiles, fashion shows, musical performances, and exhibition spaces for Galician textiles showcase a comprehensive view of what sustainable fashion can look like from a local perspective.
The fair is not only a showcase, but also a call to collective action. Those who participate and attend share the message that it is possible to build a different textile future: fairer, more respectful of the environment, and more connected to the territory and cultural identity.
Materials innovation: from natural dyes to regenerative fabrics
The development of innovative materials and processes is another of the major bets to reduce the environmental impact of clothing. A good example is found in projects like Tintoremus, which has revived indigo cultivation in Cáceres to produce 100% natural pigments and supply both its own brands and other textile companies. They control the entire value chain, from planting to final dyeing, avoiding chemicals and closing the loop through waste reuse.
The road is not easy and requires investment in multidisciplinary equipment and collaboration with research centers, but the results are starting to show: environmental certifications, its own collections of naturally dyed denim, and dyeing services for pre-owned garments in-store. In addition, Tintoremus is exploring avenues such as subleasing land to other brands for experimental crops or presenting its products at specialized international fairs.
Major industrial groups, such as Altri, dedicated to the production of sustainable cellulose fibers, are also taking important steps toward textile restructuring. Altri has acquired a majority stake in the Swiss firm AeoniQ, a developer of biodegradable yarns with a lower carbon footprint, and plans to build the first industrial plant of its kind in Portugal. It is also promoting investments focused on recycling and the integration of agricultural waste into its processes, seeking real alternatives to conventional polyester and nylon.
Social and local impact: cooperatives and local production
Sustainability is not measured solely in environmental terms. Social impact and local production are also part of the changeInitiatives like the Idaria cooperative, with its Coosir sewing line, combine the creation of decent employment in vulnerable areas with the responsible production of sportswear. Migrant women receive training and access to work-life balance positions, while minimizing their carbon footprint thanks to proximity and a community-based approach.
In this way, the transition to more sustainable fashion opens doors to new forms of organization and collective empowerment, with the support of public entities, European funds, and collaborations with local businesses and associations.
The technological revolution and regenerative fashion
The use of advanced technology is accelerating the transformation in the textile sector. Tools such as artificial intelligence, 3D design, and blockchain are changing the way garments are designed, produced, and marketed. Platforms like Onversed allow brands and designers to test virtual collections before producing them, optimizing resources, reducing physical prototypes, and facilitating product traceability.
In parallel, Regenerative fashion emerges as a key trendIts goal is not only to minimize negative impacts, but also to restore ecosystems, revive agricultural traditions, and strengthen the social fabric. International initiatives such as Fibershed, which promotes local value chains and certifications for regenerative agriculture practices, or Spanish projects that focus on native wool and rural revitalization, pave the way for a textile sector capable of actively contributing to regional development.
Increasingly, sustainable clothing is synonymous with diverse offerings, innovation, social impact, and environmental commitment. The future of fashion is built by combining efforts: from renting a garment in an urban store to cultivating pigments in the countryside or designing fabrics with the most advanced technologies.
