The "Tomorrow’s Wardrobe" exhibition, opening at London's Design Museum in September, highlights the innovations shaping a more sustainable future for fashion. Curated by George Kafka, the exhibition addresses the alarming waste in the fashion industry, where up to 60 billion garments go unsold annually. It showcases designers and brands that are rethinking fashion’s environmental impact, such as high street brand Nobody’s Child, which is piloting a digital product passport allowing consumers to trace a garment’s life cycle and sustainability. This technology is expected to become mandatory in the EU but isn't yet required in the UK.
Another featured brand, Ahluwalia, has partnered with Microsoft to upcycle used clothes into high-end pieces, challenging traditional perceptions of upcycling. Kafka highlights how such innovations reflect changing design aesthetics and consumer sensibilities in response to the climate emergency.
The exhibition is divided into three sections: raw materials, design, and consumption, emphasizing sustainable practices across the entire supply chain. Projects such as reshoring textile production to the UK and using regenerative fibres, like bulrushes for puffer jackets, are featured alongside AI and robotic tools that could revolutionize fashion production for smaller brands.
Kafka stresses that Fashion Week and the broader fashion industry must prioritize sustainability, given the sector's significant environmental impact. While progress is being made, Kafka believes that greater pressure is needed across brands, legislation, and consumer habits to truly drive change. The exhibition runs until August 2025, offering a year-long exploration of fashion's sustainable future.