Maxine Bédat – founder of the New Standard Institute (NSI) – a non-profit organisation in the US committed to reforming the fashion industry (also former lawyer and fashion entrepreneur) aims at reforming the fashion industry’s social and environmental impact.
In her book ‘Unraveled’ she follows the life of a pair of jeans around the world. From the farms where their cotton is grown, the factories where they are made and finally to their disposal. It shows the ways in which the apparel industry is shaping the world. But she didn’t stop there. Together with a pair of New York State lawmakers, NSI developed a law that would force large footwear and apparel companies to outline at least half of their supply chains and disclose where their biggest social and environmental impacts are. The aim is to reduce their emissions to be in line with the Paris Agreement.
If passed next year – this Fashion Act would present New York with a leading role in creating a much-needed accountability in the fashion industry. In the meantime, lawmakers from other states have reached out to NSI to explore how similar legislation might work in their states.
