There is always an offer based on “authentic denim”, which perhaps some more niche consumers still look for. There is always a product offer that maintains this authentic aesthetic of denim, and cyclically we see it again also on runways.

It took time to connect with the customers and our way of working has been very agile. There was a lot we learned from the consumers and reiterated their feedback to accommodate what they needed. It took us some time to break the stigmas around rentals and it is safe to say that we as business owners along with our consumers have come a long way.

In Germany, an increasing amount of power we consume is produced by modern wind generators. The rotor blades of these generators are made of composites. German textile machines, such as warp knitting machines, braiding machines, etc, are used to process fibre-reinforced composites. So, innovations in the textile machinery industry are the launch pad for intelligent applications and products.

We need to align in the circular value chain with all actors, to understand how we measure impact and what we need from each other to close the loop. Luckily, the legal framework will change the game in the coming years and that is much needed for a transformation at scale.

US exports to Colombia have increased, especially in agriculture, chemicals, and manufacturing. This has led to increased economic growth and job creation in Colombia and improved Colombian businesses' competitiveness in the global market. The textiles industry in Colombia is significant and has given occupation to many Colombians—actually 13%.

Today, Colombian companies produce garments with recycled components and have policies to recover the marine ecosystem. We also have successful cases of leading companies in sustainable approaches, such as Patagonia, which, aware of the advances in working conditions and sustainable policies, has found a sourcing option in Colombia.

The EU’s forthcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive makes a good start by mandating that brands and retailers mitigate the negative impacts in the production of their products. Companies need to cascade this down the value chain but are in the end responsible for the whole process.

First, our country has a well-established fashion industry with more than 100 years of experience and a consolidated production chain. In addition, our textiles and apparel sector is one of the most dynamic in the Colombian economy since it represents around 7.7% of the industrial GDP. Furthermore, Colombia's strategic position makes it an attractive export platform for companies wishing to expand their operations in Latin America.

The success of these efforts will depend on multiple factors, including the state of the global economy, trade agreements, and political stability. To become a more potent exporter, Colombia must continue improving its infrastructure, logistics, and trade regulations while addressing corruption and security issues.

Workers mindsets certainly changed. Previously, the fire drills were not taken so seriously in some cases as the threat perception among the workers, supervisors and managers was low. But it became abundantly clear that safety is not to be taken lightly. There were huge efforts by industry associations, government agencies and international brands to increase the awareness that certainly helped improving the skills of the workers on how to respond to emergencies.

Managers are increasingly aware that the actions of their supply chain partners can have a negative impact on their own firms. As you note, the increase in activists, watchdogs, etc, has probably heightened the importance, as has the ubiquity of 24/7 news and social media. In terms of sourcing strategy, most firms are going to continue to search for the lowest costs while considering the risk of the potential negative impact of social and environmental incidents like the Rana Plaza building collapse.

But beyond blame seeking, it’s important to remember that NGOs have limited resources; they must concentrate their efforts to achieve the greatest impact. It’s much more cost-effective for an NGO to work with a major western retailer (e.g., H&M, Walmart) that buys from thousands of suppliers rather than working directly with thousands of suppliers.

Bangladesh's RMG sector is starting a new chapter. The safety overhaul that the industry has undertaken after Rana Plaza is an important part of that journey. Bangladesh is at present one of the safest garment manufacturing hubs in the world. When buyers now purchase from Bangladesh, the "Made in Bangladesh" stamp provides certain reassurances regarding safety and sustainability. This is a genuine added value.

We cannot let the government off the hook. It needs to enact laws that improves workers’ rights and enforce that legislation. While that is not always possible, a combination of private initiatives, multi-stakeholder initiatives, corporate initiatives, and consumer pressure is ultimately necessary to make a change. One focus or one avenue is not enough. We have not come to the ideal framework in any country. Change in this industry is slow, but we have definitely seen some progress happen over the last several decades.

For decades, many global brands and buyers have been able to use their unequal distribution of bargaining power within these supply chains to require their suppliers to meet the competitive pressures within the industry by producing smaller batches of increasing varieties of products more rapidly and at decreasing prices. This has created a perverse incentive structure which de-incentivises factories to pursue good labour rights and good human rights.

Most of our clients weave on handlooms and it is prohibitively expensive to get the handloom weaver in the certification loop. Hence, we do not go in for certification. We encourage our clients to see the process themselves and self-certify. Most of them hire professional photographers to document our operations and record our story which is presented to their clients.

BioDye can dye most of the Pantone shades and meet the fastness criteria too. Our natural dyed textiles can compete with synthetic dyes in range and performance. By shifting to natural dyeing, the pollution wrought by the use of synthetics dyes can slowly be reduced. BioDye also encourages those around them to cultivate trees and adopt organic farm practices.

The Directive is part of a comprehensive legislative package, so the buck does not stop here—there is more to come. The Directive is an example of the Brussels regulatory power, while it also has a global impact. It demonstrates that the industry, especially in the Global South, is not yet well represented to take an intelligent and informed position.

The Directive is progress in the right direction—companies need to be held accountable for the claims that they are making about their products. One year ago, the work began, and this is the next step to instigate change. It will support further transparency into what is in a garment and force manufacturers and brands to have physical proof of their claims.

This shows the EU is listening to key stakeholders and protecting consumers from greenwashing at a time where sustainability plays a key role in consumer choices. It comes with effective enforcement through the creation of a verification scheme, penalties for non-compliant businesses, and access to justice for affected parties.