WHEN FASHION SLOWS DOWN: HOW CAN BRANDS COMMUNICATE SUSTAINABILITY WITHOUT OVERUSING WORDS LIKE ‘ECO’ AND ‘GREEN’

25. 7. 2025 Slow fashion is no longer just a manufacturing philosophy – it is becoming a new language of fashion communication. Whereas seasonal trends once dominated advertising, today more and more brands are leaning towards a calmer, more thoughtful narrative. Instead of products, they present stories; instead of sales, they show manufacturing processes. Campaigns feature documentary aesthetics, quiet activism and artistic installations. Sustainability is not just a theme here, but also a form of expression – based on authenticity, a relationship with clothing and respect for time. This is where the inspiration for marketers lies: that less can mean more if a brand decides to speak clearly, honestly and with confidence in the intelligence of its audience. H&M – Conscious Collection (2011) Swedish clothing company H&M is considered one of the leaders in the global fast fashion scene, so it comes as no surprise that, like other companies in a similar position, it faced growing criticism for its negative environmental footprint with the arrival of the new century. The long-term Conscious Collection campaign, first launched in 2011, thus fulfils two key objectives: firstly, it responds to the criticism, and secondly, it seeks to appeal to new generations of customers who think fundamentally differently about sustainability than their predecessors. As part of this campaign, H&M launches a collection made from sustainable materials every year, seeking to demonstrate that even fast fashion can be conscious. Visually, the campaign draws on the aesthetics of high fashion editorials and haute couture: the spots are dominated by detailed shots of textures, slow-motion images of the production process and natural motifs that contrast with the modern cut of the clothing. Over time, the basic collection has been complemented by the premium Conscious Exclusive line, which relies on short fashion films featuring leading international models such as Giedrė Dukauskaitė and Rianne Van Rompaey for its promotion. H&M clothing is commonly perceived as an affordable alternative, and with these campaigns, the company is trying to show that it can offer something more.

RETHINKING SOME SUSTAINABLE STEREOTYPES

13. 3. 2024 While European consumers can be divided into four broad groups when thinking about the environment, their behaviours differ from one country to the next, often in unexpected ways, finds a new study.

GREEN TV ADS NO MORE ENGAGING THAN AVERAGE

27. 12. 2023 Television adverts with an environmental message are no more emotionally engaging than the average commercial, according to an analysis by System1.