Authored by
Adriana Pereira
Date Published
August 21, 2025

Sustainable fashion is the one that doesn't get produced.

Massive piles of discarded fast fashion in Chile's Atacama Desert are now so large they are visible from space. This satellite image captures the staggering scale of textile waste, a result of the global fashion industry's overproduction and overconsumption. Learn about the environmental crisis and the growing problem of textile trash heaps in developing nations. #FastFashion #TextileWaste #AtacamaDesert #Sustainability #EnvironmentalCrisis #FashionIndustry
Fashion dump in Chile Atacama desert as seen from space. Source - https://scienceworld.scholastic.com/issues/2023-24/112023/fast-fashion-graveyard.html?language=english

Why is Fashion is the third most polluting industry in the world? Because it produces more than what we consume. And in doing so, it extracts materials, utilizes water and dies in excess. 

Back in my times, as CMO of a large fashion brand, I remember celebrating 70% sell-through (% sales vs stock) as great sales results ... .That means 30% of what was not sold goes to waste, ending up in landfills or incineration! 

In the age of social media, where street savvy kids are dictating what is hot. Trend predictions and analysis cannot keep up with Hailey Bieber’s latest look. Combine it with unpredictable weather conditions due to global warming and the old fashion formula does not work anymore. 

So what is the way out?

Digitalization. Yes, I'm sure you heard that before. At The Fabricant, we have been promoting it since 2018. In our early years, we were doubling down on 3D technology to drive the change. Seven years down the road, 3D has only been adopted by 10% of the industry and the issues have only increased.

White headless mannequin wearing striped tank top and striped shirt tied around waist. Colorful abstract wavy background in shades of orange, blue, navy, and cream. Fashion photography. Sustainable fashion. Recycled materials. Napapijri working with The Fabricant for their SS21 collection
Still image from an interactive presentation project by The Fabricant for the brand Napapijri in 2019 presenting their SS21 collection fully in 3D

But there is hope. AI is changing the game. It is bringing the promise of digitalization to mass adoption. What used to take days, it is now done in seconds, at a fraction of the costs and materials consumed. And most importantly, it can significantly change the way we create and produce fashion. 

I know you might be tired of hearing about AI…I invite you not to listen, but to try it out. 

Create your collection, produce amazing product and campaign images, upload on your website,  inform your supplier, and wait until the orders come in before you produce.

This is already possible. 

The benefit? Less costs of inventory, product shots, marketing materials. Faster timelines. No waste. It is business worth, it is planet worth. What are you waiting for to give it a try? app.thefabricant.com

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