But it’s possible to make your business more sustainable with the right approach. Companies like Lego, Patagonia, and Unilever, have managed to successfully integrate sustainability into their businesses, and by studying their strategies, it’s possible to identify three key elements to a successful sustainability implementation.
You’ll need a clear purpose that inspires action, incentives that reinforce values, and governance that ensures consistency over time.
Align With Your Purpose
Policies and commitments gain meaning when they are paired with purpose. Purpose gives direction and meaning to collective work. And so driving real change in an organization means creating a shared mindset rooted in the company’s values, mission, and purpose.
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Bringing purpose into change management demands coherence between what the company communicates and what it actually does.
Strategic choices, innovation processes, and relationships with stakeholders should align with the impact the organization seeks to generate. This alignment strengthens credibility, guides decision making and helps every team understand how their efforts contribute to broader impact.
Patagonia illustrates how purpose can shape practice. In 2022, the company transferred its ownership to two entities created to channel all profits toward environmental conservation. It also offers the Environmental Internship program, allowing employees to work with environmental organizations while maintaining their salary. These initiatives show how purpose can guide decisions, motivate participation, and nurture a culture grounded in impact.
Align Incentives With Purpose
Incentives reveal what truly matters to an organization. A shared purpose and belief is the foundation of change. But belief doesn’t define behavior. What gets measured and rewarded defines behavior.
Integrating environmental and social criteria into performance and compensation systems helps create a culture where sustainability is managed with rigor and consistency. When sustainable results are part of performance evaluation, teams understand that their choices have tangible consequences.
This approach encourages shared accountability, promotes collaboration, and strengthens the link between collective goals and individual contributions. It also ensures sustainability remains central to business priorities rather than confined to specialized departments.
LEGO advanced in this direction by introducing a carbon indicator tied to annual bonuses for salaried employees. This integration embeds emissions reduction into personal objectives and sends a clear signal: improving environmental performance contributes directly to the company’s success. Such measures turn sustainability into a visible, measurable, and motivating commitment.
Maintain Accountability With Governance
While incentives and purpose drive behavioral change, governance provides the third key ingredient: structure.
Governance means defining responsibilities, setting oversight mechanisms, and integrating sustainability in decision-making beyond leadership cycles. Incorporating sustainability into governance strengthens alignment between business goals and the actions needed to achieve them.
A solid framework enhances coordination, facilitates progress tracking, and promotes accountability. It also positions sustainability as a strategic dimension of the business, integrated into long-term planning, risk management, and talent development.
Unilever exemplifies this approach. The company embeds sustainability into decision-making through dedicated committees and regular performance reviews. It also relies on an independent advisory council that brings external perspectives and ensures transparency. This model allows environmental and social objectives to be managed with the same rigor as financial results.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
Update 9/17/24: Deal is back and valid until December 31, 2024.
Update 11/22/23: Deal is back until January 7, 2024. Requires $200 in spend.
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In fashion, the top headlines of 2022 were brimming with excitement and chaos.
Scandals swept Balenciaga and any brand associated with the artist formerly known as Kanye West. Legislation offered a new pathway for sustainability in fashion. A new guard of creatives took the helm at some of the world’s most stories houses, while a recession loomed over the whole industry.
Ever since the pandemic struck in 2020, the years have felt as though they’ve all bled together. That’s certainly true for fashion news — so, we’re recapping the biggest headlines in the industry from 2022, from the biggest controversies to the most notable moments of progress.
Designers Act Amid Russia’s war on Ukraine
Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff/Getty Images
In a major escalation of a longstanding conflict, Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, kicking off an intensified war that hasn’t stopped. The fashion industry responded with letters, donations and posts on social media. Vogue Ukraine called designers to action, while Granary — the fashion education platform founded by Ukrainian Central Saint Martins graduate Olya Kuryshchuk — shared an open letter urging the community to condemn Russia.
Groups like LVMH and Kering donated to aid groups like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), while some brands suspended business in Russia altogether. Meanwhile, designers like Demna took to the runway for messaging against the war (before the brand was embroiled in scandal).
Balenciaga ended the year not with a celebration, but with a series of apologetic statements.
The Kering-owned luxury brand released its Balenciaga Gift Shop campaign on Nov. 16, showing a range of new giftable items from the brand, “staged around children dressed in the Balenciaga Kids line” — however, it soon started trending, with many criticizing the photos showing children next to wine glasses, holding teddy bears in BDSM-reminiscent harnesses.
#BalenciagaGate only got more heat when people turned attention to its Spring 2023 campaign, released just a few days after on Nov. 21. The Joshua Bright-photographed imagery was set in an office, and among a variety of props strewn across a desk, there was a printed copy of the 2008 United States v. Williams decision on child pornography laws. More controversy ensued.
Every era in fashion has had its big names. Now, the industry is moving forward with a new guard of creatives taking seats at the helms of the world’s biggest, most influential houses.
Meanwhile, we’re seeing some of the most powerful names in fashion step back. Riccardo Tisci showed his final Burberry collection in September, and has been replaced by Daniel Lee. Alessandro Michele, who ushered in a new era of extravagance at Gucci, stepped down in November, after seven years at the helm and two decades at the brand. That month, Raf Simons also announced the closure of his eponymous label after 27 years in business.
Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the industry and larger-than-life presence, Talley was creative director and then editor-at-large at Vogue, responsible for some must-read columns that inspired the next generation and becoming one of the first Black editors to reach the top of the masthead.
Raised in the Jim Crow South, Talley detailed his ascension in fashion and the racism he had to work against in his memoir, “The Chiffon Trenches.” He peeled back the curtain with language as entertaining as it is profound, welcoming wonder in a world often guarded by walls. He ushered in a new guard of dreamers, building his audience and developing close ties with educational institutions like SCAD.
As Fashionista reported, size diversity on the runway regressed in 2022, with the number of New York Fashion Week shows featuring non-sample-sized models dwindling from past seasons, after this issue had become such a talking point pre-pandemic. With runways often being in the market of what’s in and what’s cool, the exclusion of different bodies served as a disappointment.
Sustainability’s next frontier
Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The fashion industry is notoriously under-regulated, but a new chapter is on the horizon in the U.S., with legislation presenting a path forward for the conversation around sustainability.
… All the while, Kardashian was laughing her way to the bank, by way of Skims, which reached a $3.2 billion valuation in 2022, thanks to new funding and ever-loving fans.
“This latest round will allow us to focus on bringing more innovations and solutions to our customers and become even more of a trusted resource for them,” Kardashian told Fortune.
Since launching in 2019, Skims has found rapid success in shapewear and loungewear, with the pandemic catapulting its cozier categories. This year, the brand also took home the inaugural CFDA Innovation Award presented by Amazon at the trade organization’s annual ceremony.
Patagonia literally gave itself away as a company in the name of environmental preservation and sustainability: This year, American rock climber-turned-businessman Yvon Chouinard transferred ownership of the brand he founded to a trust and nonprofit. The company said it was “going purpose” instead of “going public,” making Earth its main shareholder — a first-of-its-kind move.
The year of the ‘nepo baby’
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
For the (somehow) uninitiated, “nepo babies” are relatives of successful, famous or otherwise well-connected people who then end up successful, famous or otherwise well-connected. In 2022, they got called out on online and on the front pages of magazines, with the connections that may have helped them reach their heights of career success being called into question.
Of course, fashion has always lovednepo babies, from Hadids to Jenners to Gerbers. And every year, there’s a new class to look out for in campaigns or sitting in the front row at a Miu Miu show.
Rihanna’s maternity style
Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Rihanna has changed any and every new space she’s entered, so it’s no surprise she had the same effect on maternity style as she flaunted her pregnancy in the first half of 2022.
Rather than opting for clothes that covered up her growing bump, the Fenty founder refused to tone down sexiness or her own style. That meant: beaded halter tops, vintage Chanel, diamond belly chains and more. She even got “maternity crop tops” to trend.
Even after their split, Fox continued serving looks, becoming a TikTok star and highlighting emerging designers. She opened LaQuan Smith’s Fall 2022 show and was crowned one of Fashionista’s best dressed celebrities in 2022. She took the cake in ambitious dressing, daring any fan to take it up a notch and dream bigger through their clothes.
When you were growing up, did you ever think there would be a time when you’d emulate your dad’s style? Well, it’s 2022 and anything goes now. In fact, The Cut has declared that “everyone is dressing like a dad now.”
Men and women alike have come together to dress as paternal as possible this year. Think mid-length cutoff jean shorts, puffer vests, sweater vests, basketball shorts, polos. Super high waisted wide leg pants that are borderline grandpa-chic are all the rage right now.
The “Adam Sandler” has been popularized: bermuda shorts, oversized polo t-shirt – comfy, shapeless, casual. Socks with sandals and baseball caps. Looking like you just rolled out of bed to take out the trash is in.
Dad fashion has slowly adapted into our everyday look. We’ve even seen the revival of the “Dad Shoe,” with New Balance heavily campaigning the slogan. Not far behind is the return of Asics, Crocs, and other father favorites.
New Balance
You once mocked your dad for his favorite pair of cargo shorts, but the rise of both Dad Style and Y2K fashion have proven cargo pants are hot on the market. It turns out your father and your grandfather’s closet is the trendiest place to shop right now.
Dad fashion is effortless. It’s about wearing an oversized zip-up hoodie and, as any dad would say, “not giving a hoot.” Hike your socks up to mid-calf and the world is your runway.
It can be seen in Emily Ratajkowski’s favorite puffer jacket and Harry Styles’ suspenders. Surely the likes of Bella Hadid can make anything look cool while rocking the more extreme version of Dad Fash, but that doesn’t mean we can’t incorporate a more subtle approach into our everyday style.
Verizon Hosts Red Carpet at Madison Square Garden for Knicks Home Opening Game, New York, USA – 21 Oct 2022
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
There’s nothing more refreshing than not having to actively fight your clothes all night long. Your jeans can’t squeeze you to death if they barely touch your body, and your shirt won’t come apart if it’s an oversized tee. How can your feet be sore if you’re in a pair of sturdy New Balances?
If there’s anything that we must do, it’s keep the paternal influence in our style moving into 2023. Here are some pieces that are reminiscent of off-duty golf dads and little league coaches, but equally stylish.
Nothing says “dad’s night out” quite like the fleece vest. I love wearing this over a sweatshirt in the colder months or with a plain turtleneck. It’s versatile and all genders will love it.
What I love about bermuda shorts is the mitigation of chub rub. They don’t ride up whatsoever, and my inner thighs rejoice at the comfort these shorts bring me.
One of the first things to pop up when you Google “Dad Jeans” are these Levi’s. To achieve the dad look, no part of the denim can cling to your body. Your waistband holds you up and that’s it.
When Jason Chen coined the term gorpcore in The Cut back in 2017, he wasn’t discovering a new trend — he simply put a label on an aesthetic we were already familiar with: fashion that leans towards the outdoorsy, informed by what you might see on a hiker or a camper, with an emphasis on the utilitarian. But it occupies a gray area between technical apparel and something a little bit more zeitgeist-y, like normcore.
Gorpcore went mainstream in the mid-2010s when celebrities like A$AP Rocky and Frank Ocean started wearing Adidas Terrex AX3 GTX Men’s Trekking sneakers and Arc’teryx jackets. Demand for these brands skyrocketed, both from consumers and other players in the market: This ushered in a series of collaborations — North Face and Supreme, Columbia and Opening Ceremony, Fjallraven and Acne Studios — that continue to this day. (Just last week, Reformation announced a capsule with Canada Goose.)
Gorpcore has flourished into its own subcategory in the market. And in recent years, it’s evolved to intersect with the luxury world on a whole new level.
Nylon accessories on the Prada Fall 2019 runway.
Photo: Imaxtree
Dior x Birkenstock, Jacquemus hiking boots, Prada’s hit nylon accessories — okay, the latter technically is a re-issue, but still: All of these are a testament to gorpcore’s popularity among shoppers. (The Lyst Index of 10 hottest products for Q3 of 2022 included both the Birkenstock Boston Clog and the Patagonia Better Sweater fleece.)
“Essentially, gorpcore became the new luxury streetwear,” says Lorna Hall, director of fashion intelligence at WGSN. “Its active functionality was truly performative to those buying into it — hence the infamous TikToks demonstrating a jacket’s waterproof credentials [by] standing in a shower or throwing bottles of champagne at it.”
It’s only growing in resale, too: Searches for “gorpcore” have been on the rise on Depop among its loyal customer base of teens and twenty-somethings, according to Augustina Panzoni, the company’s trends and category manager. Brands like Arc’teryx, The North Face and Salomon are driving greater traffic than ever, especially for vests, rain jackets, technical pants and bags. But Panzoni calls out Prada, Dior, Jacquemus and Loewe as luxury brands that have crossed into the space.
Patagonia Fashion Week?
Photo: Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images
Gorpcore gives these younger consumers the opportunity to mix and match different aesthetics together and express themselves. They tend not to be loyal to a single brand, nor can they necessarily afford an entire luxury wardrobe. By jumping (and cashing) in on this aesthetic, luxury brands have provided more aspirational options to those able to afford them; but it’s an aesthetic that’s still attainable on a budget.
TikTok has also helped. Panzoni points to the viral trend of people wearing Arc’teryx’s Gore-tex jacket in the shower while listening to “Arc’teryx” by YG; searches for Arc’teryx rose almost 200% in the last quarter on Depop.
Meanwhile, for the brands that originated gorpcore, this recent trend is an opportunity to expand their clientele and stay relevant.
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In 2021, The North Face teamed up with Gucci on a collaboration of groovy backpacks, colorblocked coats, Gucci-North Face monogramed puffers and heavy-duty boots. Launchmetrics reported that in just four months, the collection accumulated a whopping $15.3M in Media Impact Value. That same year, Arc’teryx partnered up with Jil Sander on a line of jackets, bibbed trousers and one-pieces that marry aesthetics and utility. More recently, on Sandy Liang‘s Spring 2023 runway, models walked out in ballet-inspired outfits paired with Salomon hiking shoes, creating an interesting juxtaposition between the designer’s über-feminine style and tougher footwear.
Sandy Liang Spring 2023.
Sandy Liang Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Teva has seen a similar resurgence in the age of gorpcore, embraced by everyone from Kendall Jenner to Chloe Sevigny — and it’s only kept growing since the pandemic.
“We carved out this unique space for ourselves in the fashion market with our statement sandals, and now with our lifestyle boots, but we really saw an acceleration of comfy-casual trends winning during the pandemic” says Julia Feldman, associate product line manager at Teva. (The brand alluded to a luxury collaboration on the horizon.)
Also on the footwear front, Collina Strada — a beloved New York label that’s often inspired by nature and driven by sustainability — introduced a collaboration with Melissa that’s generated a lot of buzz. Their Puff Sandal is futuristic-style hiking shoe that’s both funky and sporty, inspired by founder Hillary Taymour’s own lifestyle.
When it came to designing the shoe, it was equal parts about the aesthetic and functionality. “We made it so you could literally hike up rocks and jump into an ocean — it’s the coolest water-functioning shoe I have ever seen,” Taymour says. “Wear it with a pair of socks in the fall, with cargo pants or a dress, and it’s still a statement shoe. I feel like anything that’s multi-functional and can be worn for different types of outings is very much the Collina way.”
Collina Strada Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
So what’s behind this new wave of gorpcore — one that toys with luxury — surging years after the trend first emerged? To a certain extent, it’s a reflection of our sociopolitical climate.
“In streetwear, the mood and mentality always fits the times, and there’s a very definite element emerging of ‘harderwear for hard times,’ which aligns the aesthetic and performance to the dark geopolitical and economic mood music” says WGSN’s Hall. “The narrative is less about outdoor pursuits and weather functionality, more about survivalism.”
As for what’s to come, some predict the next step for gorpcore is to go digital.
“Streetwear is also starting to respond to the meta economy, where we see performance streetwear increasingly being influenced by metaverse/gaming and fantasy aesthetics,” says Hall. “The question is: Should they lean into these shift, or is it a step too far from their true extreme/outdoor DNA and therefore too big a risk?” Only time will tell.
When the sun starts setting far too early, you might find yourself reaching for creature comforts to help you cope. That could be a cozy robe, cozy socks, a cozy blanket… See a theme here?
The out-of-home equivalent, of course, is the fleece jacket, which, over time — first with normcore and more recently with gorpcore — has expanded beyond the shelves of outdoor retailers and into pretty much every corner of fashion. Patagonia and The North Face may be tried and true, but designers like Sandy Liang, Donni, Tory Burch and more have put their own spin on the staple and incorporated it into their mainstay assortments. There’s also more variety in silhouette, from zip-ups to pullovers to proper jackets to vests. And from classic cream to prints you can’t look away from, there’s a fleece flavor for everyone.
Shop some of our favorite fleeces for fun cold-weather dressing in the gallery below.
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