Sustainability is commonly defined as “….development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. An evaluation of the current ‘pulse of the planet’ which consists of nature’s core business of creating diversity, abundance and continuance yields a bleak future. It suggests limited supplies of natural resources that pose an obstacle to future world economic growth. In this context, the work makes an assessment of a sustainable future for textiles and apparel industries based on economic, social, and environmental dimensions along the major emergent patterns highlighted in 8 critical sustainability frameworks (viz. ecological footprint, natural step, natural capitalism, industrial ecology, cradle-to-cradle, bio-mimetic, ZERI, and planetary boundaries). A fundamental mind-shift in these industries by identifying various components of non-sustainability is suggested. Such deeper insights and collective changes will not provide solutions to ensure success but rather provide a holistic and integrated systems perspective to give rise to this major transformation.