Here's a roundup of the latest news and developments in ethical fashion, social enterprise and environmental issues.

Why Materials Matter in Sustainable Product Design (Triple Pundit) In the incredible excitement of realizing their new product will save the environment, solve world hunger or cure all our economic problems, many entrepreneurs forget to look closely at the materials in their products. 

Banned Speedo Suit Reborn in Fashion (The Coolist) The famed Speedo LZR swim suit broke 91 world records before being banned from competitive use.  The fashionable students at the London College of Fashion recycled the suit for a collection of designs that pay homage to the suit’s short history.

H&M Changing the Gameplay of Ethical Fashion (Natural Child World) In hopes of becoming a leader in water stewardship, H&M continues to pave the way in ethical fashion on a global scale. Extensive plans, impressive policies, and commitments for a cleaner future are currently in effect.

Amy Congdon’s “Biological Atelier” Explores Lab-Grown Bespoke Textiles (Ecouterre) The London-based designer has just embarked on a three-month residency at SymbioticA in Perth, Australia, where she'll explore the role biotechnology can play in ushering a new breed of luxury, renewable materials.

The 10-Year Hoodie: Designing Planned Obsolescence Out of Clothing (GOOD) The most "sustainable" piece of clothing isn't made from organic or recycled fabric, or sewed with a solar-powered sewing machine. Not to say that better materials and manufacturing don't matter—they do—but if you can reach into your closet to wear something you already own, rather than buying something new, that's an automatic environmental win.

"Fatal Fashion" analyses fires in garment factories (Fashion United) The Dutch Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) have published a new report titled “Fatal Fashion” that analysed the recent fatal fires at garment factories in Bangladesh and Pakistan. It questions the blind faith that western buyers placed into local audits after more than 400 textile workers lost their lives.

EDUN Collaborates with Ryan McGinley for T-Shirt Celebrating the African Elephant (Fashion Gone Rogue) The African elephant is in danger of becoming extinct due to illegal ivory trading. Proceeds of these t-shirt sales will be donated via WildAid.org.

How to Succeed as a Sustainable Small Business in a Global World (HeartSleeves) The scenario appears bleak, but there are changes happening below the surface; changes for the better. Companies selling cheap clothes are becoming more accountable for what they sell and how their clothes are made. A slow revolution in consumer awareness might also be on the way as a media backlash against cheap fashion seems to be on the horizon.

Fairtrade Q&A: Anna Loucah, Annaloucah (Professional Jeweller) Anna Loucah, a fine ethical designer that has worked with Vogue and Oxfam, describes consumer reaction, the need to change attitudes and how silver and platinum will reinforce the Fairtrade message.

Caryn Franklin collects MBE in eco style (Telegraph) Fashion writer, TV presenter and champion of broader body image ideals in the fashion industry, Caryn Franklin, was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace today by the Princess Royal.

Going beyond fair trade: the benefits and challenges of direct trade (The Guardian) Is the fair trade model the grandest of them all? While the benefits are strong, allowing farmers' co-operatives to attain higher prices and retain access to markets, drawbacks do exist.

Update on Sustainability in Retail (Triple Pundit) Retail Sustainability Report is not just a summary of the retail industry’s progress towards the industry’s evolving sustainability objectives, but is also a great guide for CSR professionals. Its main value derives from identifying a class of top-performing retailers and comparing their characteristics with those of all retailers.

Street art meets conservation (Brandflakes for Breakfast) Louis “Masai” Michel spent the last few weeks in South Africa painting his way around the streets of Cape Town. The London-based painter delivers a series of new pieces depicting various critically endangered animal species.