The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) recently announced its proposed resolutions for 2019. This year’s resolution are focused on sustainability in all sectors of fashion taking environment, gender, racial and body issues into account.

The CFDA represents all of the major fashion and accessory designers in the US. It creates resolutions every year in January. Last year’s resolutions were based on mindfulness, inclusivity, exposure, well-being and growth.

This year the American fashion industry will focus on four pressing issues.

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainability was much talked about topic in 2018 and many brands made headlines with their safe and ethical approach towards sustainable fashion and moving away from fast and cheap trends in fashion.

“We have programs guided by sustainability, among them the CFDA + Lexus Fashion Initiative and Elaine Gold Launch Pad. Now, we’re ready to add another facet toward a more sustainable fashion industry,” the CFDA explained. “This month, we’re launching a comprehensive guide to sustainability for people in fashion, which will include a materials index, sustainability directory and toolkit.” CFDA said the toolkit will be available in short order.

Diversity and Inclusion

The fashion industry has always faced backlash and criticism due to the lack of diversity. But in 2018, fashion industry saw a spurt in people from different races, genders, cultures, age groups, ethnicity and more. CFDA aims to push it forward.

“American fashion and the global industry have been slow to embrace diversity but this is the time to create meaningful change. The CFDA is committed to diversity and inclusion and we will work on programs to implement more paths for all people – regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and more.”

Body Positivity

Body positivity is finally having its moment in fashion, with more brands adopting inclusive sizing as there has been a growing demand for it.

“We are beginning to see signs of fashion moving in the right direction. Designers such as Michael Kors and Christian Siriano are casting models that defy tradition, from Paloma Elsesser and Ashley Graham to Candice Huffine (our Facebook Live red carpet host for the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards),” CFDA said.

Equality

Equality, as CFDA puts it, means giving space to those who may not have had any over the history of the fashion industry.

“Fashion has a reputation of being an exclusive field to which many aspire but few succeed,” CFDA’s fourth resolution for 2019 read. “As we look to more diversity and inclusion, we also wish for more equity and equality so that everyone who loves fashion has a chance in 2019.”

We all know from personal experiences that resolutions are easy to make but are difficult to stick to. All we can do is hope that this year will be a good one for fashion.