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LILYSILK Shares 2024 Impact Report on World Environment Day, Underscoring Its Ongoing Sustainability Efforts
LILYSILK Shares 2024 Impact Report on World Environment Day, Underscoring Its Ongoing Sustainability Efforts

Cision Canada

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Cision Canada

LILYSILK Shares 2024 Impact Report on World Environment Day, Underscoring Its Ongoing Sustainability Efforts

NEW YORK, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ -- LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand dedicated to inspiring people to live spectacular, sustainable lives, has released its 2024 Impact Report, marking the third consecutive year the brand has published its sustainability achievements in conjunction with World Environment Day. The report highlights the significant strides LILYSILK has made in advancing sustainability, further solidifying the brand's commitment to responsible production and environmental stewardship. The report spotlights the brand's Zero Waste Movement, built on three pillars: Zero Inventory, Zero Waste, and Zero Scraps. Zero Inventory: LILYSILK's made-to-order model crafts garments within 48 hours and delivers them in 2-3 days, minimizing waste and creating only what's truly needed. Zero Waste: LILYSILK has creatively transformed surplus fabric into 7,323 patchwork pillowcases, 29,048 hair ties, and 15,410 eye masks. Remaining materials—over 5 tons—were shredded and repurposed into sustainable fabrics, including silk-wool blends for future collections. Zero Scraps: Partnering with TerraCycle®, LILYSILK offers customers a recycling program for their silk products. In 2024 alone, the program diverted over 490 pounds of material from landfills. To date, we've recycled more than 2,690 items, helping keep unwearable silk textiles out of landfills and incinerators. The company also continues to improve its packaging practices. In 2024, 99% of LILYSILK's outer packaging was degradable, with a goal of reaching 100% by 2026. Many materials now carry FSC® certification. LILYSILK's dedication extends to supplier partnerships. The company maintains a rigorous evaluation process, requiring partners to hold globally recognized certifications, including GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), RWS (Responsible Wool Standard), GCS (Good Cashmere Standard), and OEKO-TEX. This ensures that raw materials are ethically sourced and meet the highest environmental and social standards. "For World Environment Day 2025, we are proud to share our progress toward a more sustainable future," said David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK. "Our mission to inspire people to Live Spectacularly goes hand in hand with our commitment to sustainability. By reducing waste, improving supply chains, and building partnerships with aligned values, we aim to make a positive impact for our customers and the planet." LILYSILK's 2024 Impact Report reinforces its position as a sustainability leader in the fashion industry, providing customers with high-quality, eco-conscious products and empowering them to make responsible choices.

LILYSILK Shares 2024 Impact Report on World Environment Day, Underscoring Its Ongoing Sustainability Efforts
LILYSILK Shares 2024 Impact Report on World Environment Day, Underscoring Its Ongoing Sustainability Efforts

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

LILYSILK Shares 2024 Impact Report on World Environment Day, Underscoring Its Ongoing Sustainability Efforts

NEW YORK, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ -- LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand dedicated to inspiring people to live spectacular, sustainable lives, has released its 2024 Impact Report, marking the third consecutive year the brand has published its sustainability achievements in conjunction with World Environment Day. The report highlights the significant strides LILYSILK has made in advancing sustainability, further solidifying the brand's commitment to responsible production and environmental stewardship. The report spotlights the brand's Zero Waste Movement, built on three pillars: Zero Inventory, Zero Waste, and Zero Scraps. Zero Inventory: LILYSILK's made-to-order model crafts garments within 48 hours and delivers them in 2-3 days, minimizing waste and creating only what's truly needed. Zero Waste: LILYSILK has creatively transformed surplus fabric into 7,323 patchwork pillowcases, 29,048 hair ties, and 15,410 eye masks. Remaining materials—over 5 tons—were shredded and repurposed into sustainable fabrics, including silk-wool blends for future collections. Zero Scraps: Partnering with TerraCycle®, LILYSILK offers customers a recycling program for their silk products. In 2024 alone, the program diverted over 490 pounds of material from landfills. To date, we've recycled more than 2,690 items, helping keep unwearable silk textiles out of landfills and incinerators. The company also continues to improve its packaging practices. In 2024, 99% of LILYSILK's outer packaging was degradable, with a goal of reaching 100% by 2026. Many materials now carry FSC® certification. LILYSILK's dedication extends to supplier partnerships. The company maintains a rigorous evaluation process, requiring partners to hold globally recognized certifications, including GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), RWS (Responsible Wool Standard), GCS (Good Cashmere Standard), and OEKO-TEX. This ensures that raw materials are ethically sourced and meet the highest environmental and social standards. "For World Environment Day 2025, we are proud to share our progress toward a more sustainable future," said David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK. "Our mission to inspire people to Live Spectacularly goes hand in hand with our commitment to sustainability. By reducing waste, improving supply chains, and building partnerships with aligned values, we aim to make a positive impact for our customers and the planet." LILYSILK's 2024 Impact Report reinforces its position as a sustainability leader in the fashion industry, providing customers with high-quality, eco-conscious products and empowering them to make responsible choices. Discover more at or follow LILYSILK on Instagram and Facebook. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE LILYSILK View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio

From volume to value: Bangladesh's garment strategy amid trade turmoil
From volume to value: Bangladesh's garment strategy amid trade turmoil

Fashion United

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Fashion United

From volume to value: Bangladesh's garment strategy amid trade turmoil

Bangladesh's garment industry seeks to shed its low-cost, large quantity image as it aims to capture higher-value business. At Best of Bangladesh, a fair and conference in the heart of Amsterdam, manufacturers and government officials advertised the world's second largest garment producer's transition, hoping to gain more business amid global trade turmoil. Beyond basics It looked like a typical sourcing fair at first glance: Exhibitors waited for buyers in small booths separated by white walls that were lined with garments. Yet, the exhibition floor wasn't hectic. Soft, jazzy music created a lounge feeling amidst the old-world allure of the historic red-brick walls of Amsterdam's former stock exchange. The choice of the elegant venue for 'Best of Bangladesh' at the beginning of April and the talks held at the event sought to convey a feeling of progress. Bangladesh, traditionally focused on basic apparel like knits, shirts, and denim, is currently aiming to level up its textile industry and expand beyond these simpler garments. A textbook example of these ambitions is Centro Ltd, which had its stand right at the entrance to the exhibition. The apparel manufacturer, based in the capital city of Dhaka, was founded in 2006 and started with knitwear and later wovens before expanding its offering to outerwear, activewear and footwear, Sohel Samim, head of design and product development at Centro, said in an interview. The newer categories represent roughly 12 percent of the offering, according to Centro. Bangladesh's textile industry wants to portray the country at its best. Credits: FashionUnited The company generates 70 percent of its 220-million-dollar revenue from Europe, selling ten million garments per month to fashion companies such as River Island, Primark and Peek & Cloppenburg. Centro has sourcing offices in Hong Kong and the UK, operates three factories with 3,000 workers in Bangladesh and sources from 50 partner factories. In Amsterdam, the focus is to showcase newer product categories such as wool coats, leather jackets and sneakers. Centro further highlights that 70 percent of its sourced fabrics are either sustainably produced or recycled, bearing certifications such as Global Organic Textile Standard or Recycled 100. 'Our main aim is to show our strength, not only Centro's, but our Bangladeshi strength,' said Samim, who considers Centro as one of the leading apparel companies from its home country. 'We are representing the Best of Bangladesh.' 100 billion dollar goal The garment sector remains a cornerstone of the South-East Asian country's economy, with exports of 38,5 billion US dollars in 2024 accounting for more than 80 percent of the country's overall exports, data by Bangladesh's Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) shows. The industry organisation even announced a goal some years ago to more than double its exports to 100 billion US dollars by 2030. Bangladesh has a long-standing tradition of producing cotton garments, but manufacturing apparel from man-made fibers, such as activewear and outerwear, could help the country achieve its ambitious export targets, said Abdullah Hil Rakib, managing director of Dhaka-based Team Group, during a panel discussion. Garment companies also need to improve their environmental and social governance while tackling inefficiencies with data-driven decision making, for example on the production floor and in their management systems, he added. 'Chapter One was about volume, chapter Two is about value,' said Rakib about ways to increase the country's competitiveness as Bangladesh is facing a graduation from its status as 'Least Developed Country' by the United Nations on 24 November 2026. The country enjoys a favorable tariff regime under its current classification, such as duty-free and quota-free access to the EU which will likely end in 2029 after a transition period of three years. Trade turmoil Bangladesh's garment industry has profited from rising production costs in China over the past decade as clothing brands looked for lower-priced alternatives. Many garment industry executives believe that the country might benefit from a likely continuation of trade tensions between China and the US. US President Donald Trump has escalated the trade conflict with China by increasing tariffs on imports from China to the US to 145 percent before reducing them to 30 percent in May. While the reductions will be in place for at least 90 days while negotiations take place, it remains to be seen how the relationship between the two countries will develop as Trump seeks to reduce its trade deficit with China. 'There's hundreds of billions of dollars of business that will have to move out of China,' Pallak Seth, executive vice chairman of PDS Limited said in an interview before the reduction of US-China tariffs in May. The Mumbai-listed sourcing and trading company generates a revenue of more than 1.2 billion dollars by supplying apparel and other consumer products to about 300 retailers and brands worldwide. PDS sources from major apparel manufacturing destinations across the world with 40 percent of volumes coming from Bangladesh. The company's second biggest sourcing market is China but business there is bound for Europe more so than the US, according to Seth. While some of the business from China might move to Central America or Africa, the South Asian country with 'a large capacity and ability to expand fast is Bangladesh', Seth added. 'Bangladesh will be a net beneficiary, not only for apparel, but for general merchandise, home, electronics, pharmaceuticals and many other things.' PDS will continue to invest in Bangladesh, with Seth estimating that the company could source as much as 2.5 billion dollars in goods from the region in the next five years. Looking to Europe The relatively young country is also still in its own trade talks with the US after increased tariffs of 37 percent were put on hold during a 90-day negotiation period. As a sign of goodwill, interim head of government Muhammed Yunus had already pledged to increase imports of products such as soybeans or cotton from the US to Bangladesh. The initial impact of raised tariffs could be felt immediately in the textile sector as some Bangladeshi manufacturers reported halts on orders requested by US buyers. Dhaka-based garment supplier Knit Asia Ltd temporarily halted production on behalf of clients after the announcement of additional US tariffs, said its director Amer Salim in an interview. Now, after the suspension of tariffs, manufacturers are rushing to finish orders destined for the US within the three-month window as uncertainties over the outcome of the negotiations between the two countries remain, he added. The surprise tariffs have also prompted some apparel manufacturers to look for ways to increase their business in Europe. 'I think everyone is de-risking. Everyone's seen that [the US] is not a reliable partner, to be honest,' said Seth, adding that even US focused companies are now looking to increase their share of the European market. The continent has traditionally been their most important export destination. About half of Bangladesh's garments are exported to the European Union and 11.6 percent to the UK, while the US accounted for 18 percent, as figures by trade organization BGMEA show. Most of the woven factories in Bangladesh, producing items like shirts, or jackets, have more customers from North America while manufacturers of knits, such as t-shirts or flat-knit sweaters, generally have more European customers, said Salim. His company generates 40 percent of its revenue from the US but now he is looking to expand in Europe due to risks related to the US market. The big picture Bangladesh's textile sector's future is intertwined with global dynamics, particularly its ability to draw foreign investment during its current political changes. Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus is leading an interim government after his long-term predecessor Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country amid protests in August. The transformation of Bangladesh is advertised right at the entrance. Credits: FashionUnited The interim government is now using their temporary mandate to push for political and economical reforms before calling for elections, for which no date has yet been set. The government has to boost the flailing economy and improve infrastructure as high inflation and persistent income inequality lead to discontent and unrest in the population. 'We have a generational moonshot to change Bangladesh for the better,' Ashik Chowdhury said in Amsterdam, describing the ambitions of an interim government 'made of technocrats and geeks'. The banker turned government official, has been heading Bangladesh's Investment Development Authority and the Economic Zones Authority for six months. Chowdhury admitted that Bangladesh is not yet a perfect place to do business and that the government tries to improve the investment climate before calling for elections. 'The ambition is to convert Bangladesh into a global manufacturing hub' like a mini China, connecting West and East, he added. Attracting foreign investment is essential for fulfilling these goals. The government intends to attract such investment through initiatives like green channels, designed as a one-stop-service within the government to help businesses. Another goal is triple port capacity within five years, according to Chowdhury. He also promoted his country as young and dynamic, in line with the message of the event, in front of an audience which also included investors, Dutch government officials and NGO workers. The country's manufacturing industry is still facing transportation bottlenecks and power outages. Rising energy prices worldwide contributed to spiraling inflation and have put a strain on power supply amid slowing economic growth over the past years. Upskilling Foreign investment is also welcomed in the garment sector to create a more complete supply chain. Bangladeshi garment manufacturers are still importing ingredients like certain yarns and fabrics from countries such as China. Investments introducing technology and expertise, such as for producing these ingredients, would allow apparel producers to "offer much better things," said Salim in an interview. His company Knit Asia Ltd works with brands such as Ralph Lauren or Gymshark and generates close to half a billion of US dollars in revenue. The company, which currently employs 23,000 people at its 13 units in Bangladesh, has also heavily invested in newer machinery in the past decade. Previously, producing 10,000 sweaters required 3,000 workers, of which 2,000 operated the manual knitting machines, said Salim. With increasing automation, only 1,100 workers are currently needed to produce the same amount. Despite some remaining simple, manual jobs, the latest machinery doesn't only require less but higher-qualified employees who might even need academic credentials. Salim offers employees continuing education and recruits talent at universities in order to be prepared for the coming digital transformation. 'You need to attract new skills,' he said. 'Things that I cannot do, maybe a talented young kid can do, which I can't even think of right now. So I need to have him or her in my pool.' The technological transition that is already underway also highlights the need for the upskilling of the country's garment industry which is employing more than 4.5 million workers. Workers are losing their jobs because of automation but there are only a few initiatives for workers to get training, said Kalpona Akter, founder of the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity. They also lack understanding of the industry transition that is happening to realize which greener or sector-specific jobs they could move to and need to be included to participate in the transition, she added during a panel. Due diligence points 'Bangladesh's unique selling point cannot be to produce large quantities at low prices,' said Alexander Kohnstamm, executive director of Fair Wear Foundation during a panel. 'Skilling up your workers and equipping your factories through higher margin business, that is really what needs to be done.' More than 12 years after the collapse of the Rana Plaza building, killing at least 1138 people, NGOs such as Fair Wear agree that working conditions have generally improved in Bangladesh's garment sector. NGOs, textile bosses from Bangladesh and a sustainability manager from Bestseller talk about upskilling and workers' rights. Credits: FashionUnited Almost 90 percent of all the safety hazards identified have been remediated, but there is still a lot that needs to be done in the remaining 10 percent, according to Joris Oldenziel, the executive director of the International Accord. During a panel discussion, he noted that only 60 percent of the 1,600 factories under the Accord have a completely operational certified fire alarm and protection system. The Amsterdam-based organisation is the successor of the Bangladesh Accord, which was set up in 2013 by apparel brands, unions and manufacturers to improve working conditions in the immediate aftermath of the Rana Plaza tragedy. Health and safety conditions have improved significantly over the years but not the wages, said Paul Roeland, an activist from the Clean Clothes Campaign in an interview. The NGO is still supporting demands for a minimum wage of 23.000 Taka (188.42 US dollars) as the last adjustment of the minimum wage wasn't sufficient given the inflation last year. People still have to work overtime, some as much as 80 hours, to sustain themselves, Roeland added. He further demanded that dialogue with workers needs to be included in the minimum wage settings. Workers should also receive better guarantees for freedom of association, said the activist. Another increasing area of concern is the impact of climate change on workers who have become more prone to suffering from floods blocking their way to the work place or the impact of heat stress at work and in the home, added Akter. Next generation The legacy of Rana Plaza and stricter legislation about sustainability and human rights violations in the supply chain have prompted fashion companies to keep a closer eye on their suppliers. Frequent compliance audits have helped to improve working conditions and raise consciousness for more sustainable production methods. However, factories complain about the rise of repetitive audits in a short period of time which put a strain on human and financial resources. 'There is no sharing of audit results or recognition of other independent programmes that emerge shortly thereafter, as such factories that work with multiple buyers and data undergo multiple audits, each pretty much the same as the other,' said Sohel Sadat, chairman of garment maker Shin Shin Group during a panel. He estimated that his company spends more than 100,000 dollars on audits, certifications and traceability. While there is acknowledgement from brands and NGOs that the overlap of audits should be reduced, no single solution is in sight yet. Facing stricter future sustainable legislation, especially as part of the Green Deal by the EU, the question remains who will foot the bill for a greener future. 'Here we need financial support, policy support and of course our own commitments,' Abdullah Hil Rakib, managing director of Team Group said. Many also hope that attracting higher-margin business will provide more room to pay workers better and to be more responsible to the environment. Therefore, the garment industry also needs to shed its current image. 'We're kind of stuck in this loop where the consumers, the retailers, the buyers are so used to getting inexpensive things from Bangladesh,' said Mustafain Munir, the director of Cyclo Fibers based in Dhaka. 'People should stop having that negative association that because it's made in Bangladesh, it's made with forced labour or bad environmental practices.' 'The practices were not good before,' admits the second-generation textile entrepreneur. But progress has been made in terms of safety, health and the environment, especially in the last ten years. His company in particular is one that is making people rethink their image of garments from Bangladesh. Back in 2009, even before circularity became a buzzword in the fashion industry, he and his father had the foresight to buy a bankrupt Spanish company and to bring its mechanical recycling machine to Bangladesh. After years of research, Cyclo Fibers has achieved a breakthrough, developing an in-house process to manufacture recycled fibers at a lower cost than virgin fibers. Hardly anyone in the fashion industry is currently able to do so. From this perspective, Cyclo offers a pioneering example of the possibilities of the local industry. 'So everything is better, at the same price,' said Munir. 'It's a tough challenge but we're doing it.'

EXCLUSIVE: Sustainable Couture Label ArdAzAei Taps Ulrik Garde Due as CEO
EXCLUSIVE: Sustainable Couture Label ArdAzAei Taps Ulrik Garde Due as CEO

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

EXCLUSIVE: Sustainable Couture Label ArdAzAei Taps Ulrik Garde Due as CEO

PARIS — Sustainable couture house ArdAzAei is ramping up for its next step of development, with the nomination of Ulrik Garde Due as chief executive officer. 'Ulrik is a seasoned executive with a deep understanding of how to translate creative excellence into market opportunity,' says Johannes Falk, cofounder of ArdAzAei. 'This marks a pivotal evolution for our maison. His leadership will allow us to balance our uncompromising artistic standards with the operational strength required for growth.' More from WWD Balenciaga, Maison Margiela Among Highlights of Provisional Paris Couture Schedule StockX Taps Frequent Nike, LeBron James Collaborator Daniel De Jesus Krueger as Head of Creative EXCLUSIVE: Kizik Names Former Nike Exec Gareth Hosford as Its New CEO A trained gemologist, Iranian Swedish cofounder and creative director Bahareh Ardakani came to couture while taking a technical look at the supply chain combined with an old-world French craftsmanship. She and Falk founded the brand in 2018 in Stockholm and established it in Paris in 2022, with an off-schedule couture show followed by the opening of a showroom and atelier on Rue Saint-Florentin in the 1st arrondissement. From the start, the goal was to build a house complete with couture, ready-to-wear, accessories and high jewelry, all while making it sustainable. For her first Paris show, Ardakani told WWD her ready-to-wear would 'eschew trend-based consumption' — tackling the overconsumption problem of multiple 'must-have' collections a year — and be released in small, in-season drops. ArdAzAei became a guest member of the couture federation starting with the fall 2024 couture season. Its fall 2024 ready-to-wear was its first fully Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified collection. For Garde Due, who has served as strategic advisor to ArdAzAei since 2024, the company is 'building something truly exceptional.' 'ArdAzAei is answering a global demand for fashion that carries meaning — crafted with precision, driven by purpose,' the veteran executive declared. 'We're entering a chapter where emotionally intelligent design must meet commercial scale, and I'm excited to bring this vision to the global consumer.' On his roadmap is the brand's expansion into a 'complete wardrobe of ready-to-wear,' slated to be unveiled during October's Paris Fashion Week. Garde Due has extensive experience in the fashion and luxury space, most recently as operational chairman of the board of Cecilie Bahnsen, a position he has held for over nine years. He is also chairman of the board at sustainability reporting and consulting firm Positive Luxury. Previously, the executive served stints as president and CEO of American leather goods brand Mark Cross; president of the living division of Fiskars Corp., which operates Wedgewood, Waterford and Royal Doulton and other home labels; CEO of Temperley London, and president and CEO of Georg Jensen. Earlier in his career, he served as senior vice president of Burberry; global director of marketing and sales at Cerruti, and vice president of North America at Celine. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maje Names Charlotte Tasset Ferrec CEO Nadja Swarovski Exits Family Company Amid Ongoing Corporate Shakeup Aeffe MD Exits Fashion Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

ESG Outlook: GOTS' Claudia Kersten on Catalyzing Systemic Change
ESG Outlook: GOTS' Claudia Kersten on Catalyzing Systemic Change

Yahoo

time22-05-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

ESG Outlook: GOTS' Claudia Kersten on Catalyzing Systemic Change

ESG Outlook is Sourcing Journal's discussion series with industry executives to get their take on their company's latest environmental, social and governance initiatives and their own personal efforts toward sustainability. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the leading worldwide standard for the processing of organic fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile value chain. As a Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) setter, GOTS defines what sustainability should look like in practice and provides a framework others can follow. The company sets stringent, but achievable, environmental and social criteria that drive meaningful change. Here, Claudia Kersten, manager director of GOTS, discusses the organization's role to make sure that claims of sustainability are credible, consistent and grounded in third-party verification. More from Sourcing Journal ESG Outlook: Reistor's Mehma Singh on Democratizing Conscious Fashion Catherine Chiu of Crystal Int'l Group on Unlocking Potential for Female Employees ESG Outlook: Rachel Molina of Another Tomorrow on Farm-Level Data and Digital IDs Name: Claudia KerstenTitle: Managing DirectorCompany: Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) What do you consider your company's best ESG-related achievement over the last 5 years? Strengthening the integrity and influence of sustainable textile production globally. As an organization that sets VSS, we help others achieve their ESG goals through a robust standard that covers environmental protection, human rights and responsible business practices along the entire value chain. We achieve this by continuously strengthening our resources and regularly revising our standard to stay aligned with evolving science and policy. This gives companies the assurance that they are always equipped to meet and exceed regulatory compliance, irrespective of how legal standards evolve. We're also proud of our partnership with the European Space Agency which, when it was launched, was the first project of its kind to use AI and satellite imagery to detect organic versus non-organic cotton fields. This enables us to enhance the integrity of organic cotton and prevent fraud across the value chain. What is your company's latest ESG-related initiative? We recently launched a new vision and mission, shaped by the evolving needs of the industry and the growing urgency for climate and social action. This transformation is about going beyond product-level certification to help catalyze systemic change. It's reflected in the development of our latest standard update, which includes enhanced criteria on environmental protection, labor rights and accountability. We're addressing issues like carbon intensity and worker agency more directly, ensuring our standard remains a strong driver of progress in a complex global landscape. What is the biggest misconception consumers have about sustainability in fashion? A common misconception is that sustainability is just about the product—what it's made of, whether it's organic or recycled. But sustainability isn't just about materials; it's about systems. That includes how fast we produce, how we treat workers, and whether we internalize the full environmental and social costs. We play a key role in helping shift the focus from surface-level fixes to systemic transformation. If products carried their true cost, including environmental degradation and labor exploitation, many of today's problems could be addressed more effectively. As consumers become more aware of worker conditions and how clothing is produced, how can the industry best spread the word on progress? The best way to communicate progress is through credible, third-party certification like ours. They provide evidence—not just marketing claims—that a product meets verified sustainability criteria. Brands should use them not only to prove their efforts but also to talk about them transparently. As standard setters, we also need to do our part by making sustainability achievements more visible and accessible to both brands and consumers. What do you consider to be the apparel industry's biggest missed opportunity related to securing meaningful change? The Covid-19 crisis presented a unique opportunity to rethink how fashion operates. In 2020 and 2021, we saw a surge in ESG pledges, but many of them weren't backed by concrete action. When value chains shut down, millions of garment workers were left without protection, severance, or income. Brands had the chance to rebuild around fairness, resilience and shared responsibility—but instead, many reverted to business-as-usual, prioritizing cost-cutting over long-term change. That moment could have been a turning point. Unfortunately, it wasn't. What was your company's biggest takeaway from the Covid crisis that is still relevant today? We were already a fully virtual organization before the pandemic, so operationally, we were well-prepared. The real test came in the audit process, where independent, on-site inspections are critical for credibility. During the pandemic, we had to innovate. Virtual audits became necessary, and while they were never a full substitute for physical visits, they demonstrated how adaptable and creative systems can be without sacrificing integrity. It taught us that flexibility and trust can go hand in hand, especially when supported by strong frameworks and oversight. On a personal level, what is your philosophy on shopping and caring for your clothes? I buy less but better. When I do shop, I look for GOTS-certified or other credible certifications, or I choose second-hand. I also repair my clothes and encourage swapping or sharing instead of constantly buying new. For me, it's about consuming more consciously, extending product life, minimizing waste and encouraging others to do the same. How much do you look into a brand's social or environmental practices before shopping? I always research a brand's practices before buying. As someone leading a sustainability standard, it's not just a job, it's a deeply held value. I've seen the best and worst of textile production, so I seek out brands with credible commitments and avoid those that fall short. In fact, I filter my product searches to prioritize sustainable options and don't even consider conventional ones. Anything new you are doing to boost sustainability beyond the fashion industry? In my personal life, it's nothing extravagant—just consistent. I try to reduce my CO₂ footprint, eat organic and regional food, and choose sustainable alternatives in everyday purchases, whether that's cleaning products or home goods. I also try to engage in discussions and education with people of all ages to raise awareness. Any final thoughts? ESG isn't a checklist. It's a mindset. It requires a shift in how we think, make decisions and define success—not only in business, but also in daily life. If we adopt this mindset collectively, we can drive the systemic changes that sustainability demands. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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