nge to the fashion industry, which is constantly seeking new and complex ways to innovate and sell products.
Around the World, Climates are Heating Up and Fashion is Feeling the Heat
From the Atlantic to the Pacific, once comfortable temperate climates are becoming warmer and more humid. And in the summer of 2025, things were hotter than ever. But the question remains, are our clothes equipped to handle the heat?
In 2020, the U.S. National Climate Assessment reclassified New York City from a coastal temperate zone to a humid subtropical climate zone. And now, the city is feeling the effects like never before. In June, a heatwave hit the city, making it the hottest day since July 2012, according to the National Weather Service.
As human activity over the last century has caused the planet to warm at an alarming rate, the fashion industry’s attempts to address the need for temperature regulation have fallen short and even contributed to the crisis. Many brands still rely on fossil fuel-based textiles to produce cooling and moisture-wicking clothing, which not only releases harmful emissions during manufacturing but also sheds microplastics into the ocean over time. While changing our fashion habits may not be the ultimate solution to global warming, it is clear that climate-conscious fashion is necessary on multiple levels. Brands must take responsibility for the environmental impact of their manufacturing processes and also consider the needs of the wearer as the climate continues to shift.
Looking to equatorial climates for inspiration can provide valuable insights. Unlike NYC, which has experienced a rapid temperature rise in just a few decades, historically tropical cultures have adapted to hot climates for thousands of years. In his book “Are Clothes Modern” (1947), renowned design historian Bernard Rudofsky notes that in ancient times, “cloth was clothing itself” and “material and end-product were identical.” He describes a garment that is still worn today in South and Southeast Asia – the sarong, malong, dhoti, or lungi, depending on the region. This simple square or rectangular piece of cloth is wrapped around the body and secured with pins, without the need for cutting or fitting.
Researcher and founder of South Asia Archive, Sanam Sindhi, explains the significance of this garment, “The lungi, which is also known as veshti [Sri Lanka] or mundu [Kerala], depending on which part of South Asia you are in, is such an extraordinary garment because of its sheer simplicity. Like a sari, it’s a single unstitched piece of cloth that, when tied in a specific way, becomes a beautiful, functional garment suitable for literally any occasion.”
This simplicity poses a challenge to the fashion industry, which is constantly seeking new and complex ways to innovate and sell products. But perhaps looking to the past and embracing the “sheer simplicity” of traditional garments can lead to a more sustainable and climate-conscious future for fashion.
