Fashion Sustainability Standard
Below are the questions registered designers will be asked to fill out when they submit designs. If you need help filling it out or have questions, reach out to us at collective@makejusticenormal.org.
We’re setting a minimum standard for sustainability for individual designers, while creating space to see how standards should go up as they start selling their work. Materials and Basic Worker Respect are required. All other topics are optional and simply help the community understand your practice!
If you identify more as a business, we decided to not set a different standard for you this year without understanding more about business dynamics. But we do know that the standards are higher and depend on things like size and profit. Please take that into account when you submit and use your description or other categories to explain how your size and profit affect your choices.
Thoughtfulness matters more than rigid rules: If you think your design includes a sustainable practice we’ve overlooked, choose “Other” and describe it at the end.
We trust you to answer honestly and will not verify your answers. But if we notice inconsistencies or have questions, we will follow up for clarification! We reserve the right to decline designs that don’t align with the spirit of these guidelines.
About
Designer*: Designers must be pre-registered! Designer registration is open through June 26th. Your name will show up as a drop down in this form.
Design Title*: This is the name of your design.
Images*:Upload up to five designs (front, back, angles) of your design on a model.
Description*: Explain your design. Make sure to include why and how you see this as good for the planet and people. Sustainable design is complicated, so use this to explain why you think your design is sustainable and how you think about it. There is no word count: we will publish this for the community to read when they vote, so choose your words with love and brevity, because people will not read it otherwise!
Essential Practices
Materials*: Required: About 80% or more of the material you use are at least one of the following. Designers must use at least one strategy that reduces environmental impact or maximizes existing materials. This applies to garments & accessories.
Basic Worker Respect*: Required: Designers must treat people in their practice with respect. Even those of us making designs all by ourselves rely on people to help us show them, celebrate them, buy materials, and more.
I create a safe, respectful, and non-exploitative collaboration with anyone involved in making the work. This includes safe working conditions and fair wages or mutual aid.
Advanced Practices (Optional)
An “other” option exists under each area.
Design: Strategies that emphasize durability, versatility, and waste reduction.
Reduces waste through efficient pattern design
Adaptable, repairable, modular, or multi-use garments
Durable fabrics and strong construction designed for longevity
Worker Respect Across Systems: Ways to express worker respect in how you organize, buy materials, and more.
Materials sourced from suppliers that maintain fair and safe labor practices
Works with unions, worker cooperatives, or collective structures
Practicing worker ownership, profit-sharing, or cooperative design
Production, Distribution, & Circularity: Practices that reduce overproduction or support circular fashion.
Prioritizes local or community-based distribution (markets, pop-ups, local retail)
Direct-to-consumer or community sales (reduces intermediaries and excess inventory)
Minimizes unsold inventory or overproduction (made-to-order, small batches)
Take-back or repair program for reuse or recycling
Transparency & Accountability: Ways to make practices visible and verifiable. This is especially important as you grow a business.
Certified fair labor practices (eg, Fairtrade)
Publishes evidence of fair labor practices
Shares information about materials, sourcing, or environmental impact
Audits and publishes labor and environmental conditions across supply chain
Political Advocacy: Fighting for industry-wide improvement through policies and regulations.
Participates in petitions, hearings, or campaigns related to fashion sustainability
Supports labor or environmental justice initiatives (through volunteering, collaboration, or promotion)
Donates to or materially supports policy advocacy
Cultural Advocacy: Fighting for industry-wide improvements through culture.
Participates in reuse-focused events (clothing swaps, repair cafes, community workshops)
Teaches or documents repair, styling, or reuse practices
Amplifies sustainable fashion practices through media or community work
Explaining “Other”: If you click “Other” for any of the options above, there is a required catch-all open field to explain why.
