Madewell Doubles Down On Its Commitment To Sustainability

The fashion industry is responsible for ten percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and 20 percent of global wastewater. It uses more energy than the aviation and shipping sectors combined. All this to produce clothes that, in 20 percent of cases according to one survey, are never worn.

As a large-scale apparel retailer with 150 brick-and-mortar stores, Madewell recently doubled down on its commitment to sustainability. Taking to heart the urgent need to address the climate crisis, in 2021 the fashion brand launched Madewell Forever, an online resale destination powered by thredUP. It also opened its first secondhand shop, A Circular Store, in Brooklyn. Since launching these initiatives, nearly 1000 pairs of jeans have been collected every day to be reused or recycled.

As part of its continued commitment to transparency, the brand recently released its third annual “Do Well” Report, which analyzes Madewell’s positive impact on environmental goals. According to this report, Madewell has reached 60% of fibers sourced sustainably, 100% of cashmere certified by the Good Cashmere Standard, 52% of denim Fair Trade Certified, and 70% of leather recycled or sourced from tanneries audited against the Leather Working Group standard.

Furthermore, Madewell has partnered with FABSCRAP to end commercial textile waste through fabric recycling, which last year saved 5.7 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Finally, Madewell launched a series of regenerative farming pilot programs around the world, pioneering support for U.S. cotton farmers who want to transition to regenerative agriculture.

Liz Hershfield serves as the senior vice president and head of sustainability at J.Crew Group and the SVP of sourcing at Madewell. “It’s such an honor to get to come into work every day and help develop product that incorporates sustainability in such a major way,” she says.

Working in retail during her high school and college years, Hershfield developed a passion for fashion. After graduating college, she found a job in the industry, where she found herself enjoying the combination of creativity coupled with international business. Twenty-eight years later, she is still going strong and loving what she does. “So much goes into considering where we source our product, who the people are making our product, and how we’re making it,” she says.

Hershfield feels incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to dive into sustainability. She first started learning about the negative impact of the fashion industry on the environment eight years ago. Since then, she has been working to build Madewell’s ‘Do Well’ initiatives, which, she says, are supported all the way up to the CEO and board level of the umbrella J.Crew organization.

The Covid-19 pandemic proved a challenge for retail on many fronts, especially given the supply chain disruptions. As a sourcing professional, Hershfield’s job is to evaluate problems and come up with creative solutions. She guided Madewell to double down on its sustainability efforts. “It became much more imperative for us to accelerate the work we were doing for the people and planet,” she says.

How can other young people tap into their life purpose? “Ask yourself what you are passionate about and what are you willing to compromise to go into that new direction,” recommends Hershfield. “There are often compromises you need to make in order to follow your passion, but my advice is to do that because ultimately being inspired and passionate about your work is so important. Say yes to everything! Well not everything, but jump at all opportunities that align with the direction you want to go in. Even the ones that don’t work out exactly the way you planned are always great learning experiences.”