AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: The textile industry is notoriously complex, involving multiple players, making transparency and traceability a significant challenge. This applies specifically to cotton. Armedangels, in collaboration with Sourcery, is reshaping the process of sourcing organic cotton by implementing a fairer, efficient, and transparent supply chain through the Direct-to-Grower program. This initiative directly connects Armedangels and its suppliers with organic cotton farmers in Gujarat, India, establishing new standards for more responsible trade practices that benefit all involved. Building Trust and Visibility Across the Value Chain
The primary goal of this collaboration is to enhance visibility and trust across the cotton value chain. Sourcery, Armedangels’ partner, plays a crucial role in securing fiber that meet the brand’s stringent requirements for quality, supply, and integrity. By reducing intermediaries and implementing pre-commercial agreements with spinners, Sourcery helps streamline the supply chain, allowing Armedangels to tell a complete and authentic story of its investment in organic cotton.
“As a company, we don’t see Direct-to-Grower as just another marketing initiative. It’s our way of radically challenging the status quo. We are committed to making a tangible impact by engaging deeply, learning continuously, and pushing boundaries. Together with Sourcery, we’re exploring new fibers, regions, and unprecedented levels of transparency— transforming the way trade is done, ensuring fairness and efficiency for everyone involved,” says Julia Aruni Kirschner, Impact and Innovation Director at Armedangels.
A New Era of Fairer and Efficient Trade Through the Direct-to-Grower program, Armedangels successfully procured fiber, yarn, and fabric that met its high standards for quality and transparency. The partnership allows for visibility down to farm level, ensuring transparency in pricing and trade efficiency. This marks the beginning of a new approach to cotton sourcing—one that is transparent, fairer, and efficient for all stakeholders, especially the farmers.
Expanding Partnerships and Innovation Armedangels’ commitment to sourcing non-GMO, organic cotton has been further strengthened through the partnership with Sourcery. This collaboration not only helps the brand achieve its transparent sourcing goals but also enables it to form long-term relationships with growers through Sourcery’s Direct-to-Grower solution. With Sourcery’s continued support, Armedangels plans to explore new fibers and regions, pushing the boundaries of transparent and more sustainable trade.
“Armedangels is not simply building a transparent supply chain. They are creating opportunities that benefit all stakeholders, highlighting the importance of the Direct-to- Grower approach. Through this project, we’ve redefined the possibilities of primary data verification, setting the stage to embed crucial social criteria in our work.” says Rui Fontoura, Brand Engagement Director at Sourcery.
About Sourcery: Sourcery is a member-owned global sourcing and digital trade solution that connects brands, manufacturers, and growers to secure and transact fiber, yarn, and fabric with greater transparency, efficiency, and verified impact. By providing tools that simplify and streamline the sourcing process, Sourcery empowers its partners to meet their sustainability goals while ensuring economic equity across the value chain.
About Armedangels: Since 2007, the Cologne-based label Armedangels proves that fashion can be different: innovative and timeless, produced according to responsible standards for people and planet. No wage slavery, no hazardous chemicals, no cheap mass-produced goods. From the simple idea of printing T-shirts and raising donations for projects and organizations through sales, a company has grown that is now one of the largest sustainable lifestyle labels in Europe. With a team of 160 and four collections a year, Armedangels shows that responsibility and good product design are not mutually exclusive.
