SUSTAINABILITY
When Angelina Jolie launched her eponymous fashion label Atelier Jolie last year, the actor and activist described how she wanted to “start conversations about workforce exploitation, pollution and waste” via her purpose-driven brand. Now, staying true to her word, Jolie is backing the Fashion Act, a piece of legislation being put forward in New York that’s designed to make the fashion industry more sustainable.
“Everyone is aware, I think, of the waste of natural resources, overconsumption and overproduction, and labour rights violations that currently take place in the industry and society as a whole,” Jolie tells Vogue. “These are some of the ills many of us want to see corrected, and without legislation and the momentum of a movement to rein in these practices, progress won’t be possible.”
Under the proposed bill, brands with a global revenue of $100 million or more will have to map out their entire supply chain, undertake mandatory due diligence, and commit to Science-Based Targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These requirements would not only affect companies based in New York, but also those selling in the fashion capital, meaning that every major global brand would be affected.
People within the fashion industry who are working to try to do things the right way – being transparent about supply chains and paying workers a fair wage – are up against companies that often do the opposite,” Jolie says of the bill’s importance. “This piece of legislation would require transparency. [Brands should] be transparent about supply chains so consumers can be empowered to decide where to direct their resources and support.”
Beyond supporting legislation for a more sustainable fashion industry, Jolie is keenly focused on bringing craftsmanship back to the fore. “For us at the Atelier, it is also about a return to honouring the artistry of those who create garments,” she says.