Fashion + The Inclusivity Movement!
- Jul 8, 2025
- 3 min read
Fast fashion—characterized by rapid trend turnovers, cheap price points, and disposable garments—has recently strongly defined modern apparel consumption and misuse. The sheer scale of waste—now nearly 92 million tons of textile waste per year—has spurred an industry pivot towards sustainability.
Change however, I am proud to say, is in the making. Europe now leads the way with “Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation,” which has been in effect since July 2024, and now prohibits the destruction of sold and unsold clothing and mandates design for durability and recyclability. Major fast-fashion brands must now fund waste collection and recycling via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Upcoming trials in Spain this year, involving Zara, H&M, and Primark, are piloting textile collection drop-boxes ahead of mandatory EU rules. The U.S seems to have some work to do, but we're already on it! Upcycling has become a blowout trend inspiring creativity while also cracking down on waste, and thrifting/ flea market ventures remain at an all time high.
Inclusive fashion isn’t only about diverse models (though I've loved every bit of the expansion on the runway)—it’s about preserving the planet so amongst other important topics like battling climate change and pollution, we can also continue to dress and style ourselves and the world.
Furthermore on the models, runways are finally embracing size diversity, with more LGBTQ+ and plus-size models strutting major fashion weeks. While much work remains, high-visibility representation sends a powerful message that fashion is for every identity and silhouette—reinforcing that intentional wardrobes should reflect real bodies. It appears that designers are beginning to rethink the industry’s long-held ideals, shifting from exclusion to expression. Bigger doesn't mean less healthy or beautiful, and hiding realities like these doesn't make them go away. Casting is no longer just about aesthetics—it’s about storytelling, agency, and authenticity. When audiences see themselves reflected on the runway, fashion becomes a language of belonging rather than aspiration alone. These shifts also challenge brands to consider accessibility in sizing, marketing, and garment construction. It’s not just a trend—it’s a cultural recalibration, one that honors both individuality and collective progress. The hope is that inclusivity becomes not the exception, but the baseline for creativity and respect in fashion.
Enter Aiyana Ishmael (@aiyanaish), Teen Vogue Associate Editor and creative force behind the “CTRL +C” series, which I've been tapped into for a couple years now. She recreates celebrity outfits on her plus‑size frame—testing the accessibility of high‑fashion trends . Highlights include Rihanna, Lori Harvey, Zendaya, and Hailey Bieber looks. This editorial experiment spotlights integrating size inclusion in mainstream design, and helps push brands to rethink pattern grading and inclusive marketing. Truly genius.
New Yorker Leandra McCohen (@leandramcohen) goes by "Professional Dresser" and her newsletter is called The Cereal Aisle with her secondary blog featuring her garment (and wine) picks being named Cafe Leandra. While not all selections are financially fit for the teens and early 20's, she teaches us how to blend luxury items with the accessible, and infuse our own sense of personality into it, whether its a blingy toe ring and eclectic bucket hat. What sets her apart is the invitation to dress with intention, not excess—where style isn’t about constant acquisition, but about building a wardrobe that reflects who you are and evolves with you. Sometimes you feel like a $1,500 kafthan dress, other's, you feel like a $20 ballet flat. This ethos naturally aligns with a more sustainable and inclusive fashion future, one that values longevity, personal narrative, and the idea that great style isn’t reserved for a select few—it’s something everyone can build and shape for themselves.
Fashion is at its most powerful when it mirrors both our values and our realities—when it celebrates who we are while pushing us toward who we want to become. From policy shifts in Europe to creative grassroots movements stateside, there’s momentum behind making fashion not just more inclusive, but more responsible. That means fewer throwaway trends and more thoughtful wardrobes built on expression, not excess. It means centering people—of all sizes, identities, and budgets—instead of sidelining them. And it means understanding that style isn’t separate from sustainability or selfhood—it’s all deeply connected. The future of fashion is already here; now it’s up to all of us to keep shaping it.
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