Supply Chains

The Central Java Gender Justice Agreement, signed in July 2024, is drawing global attention as a rare example of enforceable labour protections in garment supply chains. Covering more than 6,000 workers in two Indonesian factories, the union-led framework establishes binding safeguards against gender-based violence while placing greater accountability obligations on international apparel brands

India’s denim industry has evolved from a domestic manufacturing base into a major force in the global denim economy. With capacity exceeding 1,600 million metres annually and strong export linkages, the sector now stands at a new inflection point where sustainability, value addition, and market diversification will shape its next phase of growth.

In most global supply chains, accountability has a floor — and it sits at Tier 1. The factories below, producing fabrics and raw materials, operate largely beyond the reach of formal due diligence. A coalition of brands, a software provider, and two NGOs tested whether that could change across nine Tier 2 factories in southern Viet Nam. A report from a side session at February's OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector.

The UK garment manufacturing sector has long been positioned as a responsible alternative to offshore production—faster, closer, and more accountable. A new study challenges that framing. It finds that the same brands promoting domestic sourcing are routinely transferring financial risk onto the factories that make their products—through pricing practices, cancellations, and contract terms that consistently favour the buyer.

Water use and wastewater discharge from global apparel supply chains are escalating environmental and social risks. A new study highlights Bangladesh’s garment sector as a critical case, showing how targeted investments could deliver measurable gains in sustainability and operational performance across production systems. It outlines investment approaches that could help suppliers implement water-saving technologies and strengthen long-term resilience across the garment industry.

The denim industry’s sustainability discussions often exclude those closest to production, from farmers to mills, allowing misinformation and greenwashing to thrive. Fear keeps suppliers silent, while brands avoid confronting hard data. In this candid exchange with texfash.com, Andrew Olah, Co-Founder of Transformers Foundation unpacks the systemic silencing of suppliers and the urgent need for honest, inclusive dialogue.

US fashion companies are restructuring sourcing strategies as 2025 tariffs trigger cost spikes, disrupted supply chains and declining margins. The latest USFIA Benchmarking Study has tracked these shifts, revealing a turbulent sourcing landscape and limited reshoring despite government pressure. Companies are bracing up for sustained uncertainty by expanding supplier networks, scaling back investment, and reassessing risk exposure across global operations.

Inditex and Next have come under fire for rejecting a global agreement to improve wages and conditions for Cambodian garment workers. Developed over years with unions and brands, the Cambodia Agreements offer the first collective bargaining template in the industry. Critics say the refusal exposes a gap between public commitments and real action on workers’ rights.

The UK Fashion and Textile Association has released a comprehensive Code of Conduct template for members, designed to help fashion and textile businesses establish ethical, social and environmental standards. This exclusive resource provides structured guidance for companies to develop tailored codes that reflect their values and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

Fashion's global supply chains face unprecedented scrutiny as business conduct risks expose brands to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and financial losses. From forced labour controversies to environmental violations, the industry's complex sourcing networks are increasingly under fire from regulators, investors, and consumers demanding greater transparency and accountability.