<p> This thesis addresses the inherent tensions in discourses of sustainable fashion and explores how several individuals in the fashion industry attempt to reconcile these issues. In addition, it looks at the role of discourse in the socialization of ethical perspectives. The study draws on theoretical and methodological perspectives from linguistic and cultural anthropology, sociology, as well as fashion theory to analyze how fashion industry professionals discursively negotiate notions of sustainability and the tensions that emerge between ideals and practices. Data collection for this thesis included semi-structured interviews with fashion professionals in Southern California, along with participant observation within a university-level fashion textile course. Documenting socialization practices and noting the varying discourses of sustainable fashion in use by industry professionals highlight the challenges designers face in bridging eco-sensibilities with design aesthetics, and the complexity of individual agency in being able to participate in the culture of sustainability. The theoretical framework of this thesis demonstrates how linguistic anthropology can contribute to studies of sustainability in fashion design, and, in particular, how language use can be analyzed to better understand the ways in which a new generation can be socialized to new or changing ideas and perspectives.</p>