We pick up three key themes from McKinsey's State of Fashion 2024 report, analysing AI’s pervasive influence in the industry; the climate emergency and fashion’s future with sustainability; and how brands, retailers and suppliers can prepare for fashion’s economic outlook for the year ahead.
This year is set to be a tipping point for fashion’s supply chains, as brands and suppliers race to comply with incoming legislation and meet 2025 sustainability goals.
The garment industry in Binh Dinh (Viet Name) is actively embracing a green transformation to meet global market demands for eco-friendly production. With 152 companies employing around 35,000 workers, the sector has invested in modern machinery and innovative technologies to enhance productivity and reduce environmental impact. Despite challenges such as high input costs and reliance on import materials, Viet Nam is focusing on improving its competitiveness through shifting towards sustainable production and a diversified product range.
In our section "What's going on in...?" we want to sharpen the view on key garment production centres, and talk to experts about current developments, exciting topics and innovations in these countries. For Bangladesh, we speak with Smita Nimilita, Country Representative for HERproject in Bangladesh.
In our section "What's going on in...?" we want to sharpen the view on key garment production centres, and talk to experts about current developments, exciting topics and innovations in these countries. For Indonesia, we speak with Amalia Falah Alam. Alam is the country manager for Fair Wear in Indonesia, an independent, nonprofit organization that works to improve conditions for garment factory workers.
In our section "What's going on in...?" we want to sharpen the view on key garment production centres, and talk to experts about current developments, exciting topics and innovations in these countries. For Pakistan, we speak with Azizullah Goheer, Secretary General, of the Pakistan Textile Exporter Association (PTEA).
In our new section "What's going on in..." we want to sharpen the view on key garment production centres, and talk to experts about current developments, exciting topics and innovations in these countries. We kick off the series with prominent Labour Researcher Dr. Do Chi Quynh. We speak to her about the evolution of labour rights and working conditions in the Vietnamese garment and textiles industry, what impact the pandemic has had, and what the future has in store for the industry and its workers.
Global supply chains are long, complex, fragmented, continuously evolving and notoriously opaque. The fragmented and opaque information can create the breeding ground of exploitative and unsafe working conditions while obscuring who has the responsibility and power to redress them. To improve due diligence in global supply chains, transparency and traceability regarding social, environmental and economic aspects are vital in the creation of sustainable and resilient supply chains and overall effective corporate governance. To gather information about these aspects, digital tools are used to facilitate this process. However, the introduction of digital tools can pose different challenges for different stakeholders, hindering the usage of digital solutions to increase transparency and traceability. To dig deeper into the challenges faced by different stakeholders, interviews were conducted. Did you know that one major challenge is the training required to use such digital tools, but also pricing negotiations because it's hard for users to understand the value of more transparency and traceability? Find out more in the info graphics attached.
Global supply chains are long, complex, fragmented, continuously evolving and notoriously opaque. The fragmented and opaque information can create the breeding ground of exploitative and unsafe working conditions while obscuring who has the responsibility and power to redress them. To improve due diligence in global supply chains, transparency and traceability regarding social, environmental and economic aspects are vital in the creation of sustainable and resilient supply chains and overall effective corporate governance. To gather information about these aspects, digital tools are used to facilitate this process. However, the introduction of digital tools can pose different challenges for different stakeholders, hindering the usage of digital solutions to increase transparency and traceability. To dig deeper into the challenges faced by different stakeholders, interviews were conducted. Did you know that one major challenge is the training required to use such digital tools, but also pricing negotiations because it's hard for users to understand the value of more transparency and traceability? Find out more in the info graphics attached.
Global supply chains are long, complex, fragmented, continuously evolving and notoriously opaque. The fragmented and opaque information can create the breeding ground of exploitative and unsafe working conditions while obscuring who has the responsibility and power to redress them. To improve due diligence in global supply chains, transparency and traceability regarding social, environmental and economic aspects are vital in the creation of sustainable and resilient supply chains and overall effective corporate governance. To gather information about these aspects, digital tools are used to facilitate this process. However, the introduction of digital tools can pose different challenges for different stakeholders, hindering the usage of digital solutions to increase transparency and traceability. To dig deeper into the challenges faced by different stakeholders, interviews were conducted. Did you know that one major challenge is the training required to use such digital tools, but also pricing negotiations because it's hard for users to understand the value of more transparency and traceability? Find out more in the info graphics attached.
Global supply chains are long, complex, fragmented, continuously evolving and notoriously opaque. The fragmented and opaque information can create the breeding ground of exploitative and unsafe working conditions while obscuring who has the responsibility and power to redress them. To improve due diligence in global supply chains, transparency and traceability regarding social, environmental and economic aspects are vital in the creation of sustainable and resilient supply chains and overall effective corporate governance. To gather information about these aspects, digital tools are used to facilitate this process. However, the introduction of digital tools can pose different challenges for different stakeholders, hindering the usage of digital solutions to increase transparency and traceability. To dig deeper into the challenges faced by different stakeholders, interviews were conducted. Did you know that one major challenge is the training required to use such digital tools, but also pricing negotiations because it's hard for users to understand the value of more transparency and traceability? Find out more in the info graphics attached.
Brands are increasingly turning their attention to their purchasing practices, however, progress towards responsible purchasing practices (RPP) across the sector is being slowed due to a number of repeatedly reported barriers. Our panel will focus on how brands can revise their purchasing practices and the importance of the supplier voice in making these changes. Besides that, our expert speaker will present the necessary steps when embarking on this mission, especially with regards to companies’ human rights due diligence (HRDD) process, and will provide practical examples that can be built on. We will also demonstrate how to overcome the barriers that brands are facing, such as obtaining company-wide buy-in as well as supplier feedback and its involvement in improving a brand’s purchasing practices. We will highlight good practices in tackling these barriers based on our learnings within the Learning and Implementation Community (LIC).
It is widely known that contracts are frequently used tools for carrying out human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD). Frequency of use is not tantamount to effective use, however, and the two should not be confused. The new HREDD laws coming from Europe have raised concern precisely because they appear to rely on contracts as proxies for—not merely components of—HREDD. Otherwise put, the concern is that the new laws will establish a contract-based due diligence regime oriented toward compliance (“tick-box”), rather than an HREDD regime that is supported by due diligence-aligned contracts and oriented toward achieving better HRE outcomes in global supply chains. This side-session will invite legal and business and human rights experts to address the following questions: How are contracts typically used in HREDD? Does contracting-as-usual support effective HREDD -why/why not? What do the new laws say about contracts and the role they should play in HREDD?
In this session we are putting the spotlight on the tools that we have at our disposal now and in the future to make commercial compliance measurable at an industry level. This discussion encompasses therefore the definition of commercial compliance and its components as introduced by STTI, the infrastructure and collaboration needed in the industry to create a globally aligned and effective approach to measurement and, finally, how we can collaborate across the industry to share data and discuss the actions we need to take to drive progress. The session will also explore key learnings from the measurements that are already being carried out. To this end, the Better Buying Institute and STTI will share findings of their data collection. Based on the data they will share what purchasing practice improvements suppliers want brands to prioritize. They will explain how data can show real purchasing practice progress in the form of true partnerships. And they will put the collection of data on commercial compliance/purchasing practices in a legislative context, making the link with mandatory due diligence. by Better Buying Institute and Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative
This is Transform Trade's (under its former name Traidcraft Exchange) submission to the UK Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee.
The RBH is a service help desk for local businesses. It provides tailor-made, free of charge information and advisory services around sustainability and due diligence risk management which will ultimately link the gap between the national and international level actors in the global supply chain of export sectors in Cambodia.
The Best of Bangladesh will open the doors to international buyers, business partners, politicians, the art cognoscenti, press and the local community in Amsterdam, showcasing the best of what the Bangladesh industries and the Bangla culture have to offer, with a focus on traceability and transparency that has now made Bangladesh one of the world’s most responsible sourcing destinations rooted in a rich folklore history. The Bangladesh nation branding initiative is designed to portray a positive narrative of Bangladesh and change perceptions in Europe, thereby maximising the growth potential of Bangladesh’s industries, demonstrating innovation in production and manufacturing - solidifying its position as world’s number 1 sourcing destination.
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour & Employment and Employers' Associations in Bangladesh, including BGMEA, BKMEA, and BEF, is working to establish effective Enterprise Clinics within factories. CMED Health as a knowledge partner has developed a handbook with checklist to guide employers in creating and maintaining model enterprise clinics. This handbook provides guidelines for implementing Enterprise Clinics in factories.
These Guidelines are based on the existing Government Regulations, i.e., Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015 and the stakeholder perspectives for establishing Model Enterprise Clinics in RMG factories. In following sections all important elements for Model Enteprise Clinics – as per size of factory – are identified along with the reference to the relevant regulatory provisions. In some cases, the elements identified by key stakeholders are also mentioned to improve quality of services and make Enterprise Clinics aligned with standards.
This video features highlights from the webinar "How is COVID 19 changing the Digital Landscape for the Textile Industry", which is jointly organized by GIZ FABRIC and ILO’s Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia project. In this webinar you will hear about two digital solutions, one related to workplace training and the other to chemical management, as well as from a manufacturer on how they use digital tools. What has changed in times of COVID-19, and how can companies best manage the fast acceleration of those changes?
This guidance note is intended to support the design of effective grievance mechanisms in response to gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the world of work. A grievance mechanism is a predictable and structured way to address and resolve complaints.
This guidance note is intended to support workplaces in designing a policy to address gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace. It covers: • Principles • Content • Harmonisation with other workplace policies
This note is intended to support companies undertaking training of their workforce. The note may support companies in identifying suitable high-quality training to provide in the workplace. The note gives guidance on the following questions: Why do we need specific trainings on gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH)? What do we need to cover in our trainings? Who should be a trainer on this topic? When and where should these trainings take place? How should these trainings be conducted?
Having a zero-tolerance policy in relation to gender based violence and harassment (GBVH), in principle, is a good idea. However, how that policy is expressed and put into operation can have different outcomes and potentially lead to unintended consequences for victims and survivors. This discussion has been had on similar issues such as child labour in the supply chain. This note is provided to help companies in considering the application of a zero-tolerance approach to GBVH. The guidance should support all companies in deciding whether and what type of zero tolerance policy it should have.
This video features highlights from the webinar "Getting through the crisis together" - an online seminar series by GIZ FABRIC, which is jointly organized by GIZ FABRIC and ILO’s Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia project. The webinar will focus on social dialogue as a key component of strong industrial relations.
This note provides a framework for undertaking risk assessments on gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) and can be implemented by companies as part of human resource management, procurement, purchasing, and sourcing, supply chain management, client and customer management, and subsidiary management. The risk assessment conducted in this area should be integrated into existing risk management frameworks, for instance, in occupational health and safety risk assessments or environmental, social, and governance risks assessments. This risk assessment can also be utilized as a response to incidents of GBVH to uncover its root causes.
What is disclosure in the context of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH)? Why do we need to be sensitive in cases of GBVH disclosures? What does a disclosure look like? How do we respond to disclosures? What can I do? What can I not do?
