Livelihoods

In Guatemala’s crowded ropa cruda markets, women dominate the trade, running stalls that support households in an economy where informality exceeds 70%. Surveys reveal their ownership, participation and wages outpace national averages, forcing a reconsideration of how circular value is defined — and who benefits when discarded garments gain a second life.

Guatemala’s secondhand clothing industry is frequently portrayed abroad as little more than dumping. Field surveys show otherwise: almost nine in ten imports are reused, while waste remains limited. Unsorted ropa cruda powers markets, creates work, and sustains women traders. As new rules emerge, the fight is over who defines—and controls—circularity.

The future of cotton in fashion is at a crossroads, threatened by weak transparency, limited certification impact, and the growing dominance of synthetics. In this interview, Tamar Hoek, Senior Policy Director (Sustainable Fashion), and Annemiek Smits, Corporate Engagement Manager for Fashion at Solidaridad, share why brands must prioritise fairer procurement, stronger accountability, and investment in farmers.

A new assessment of 100 top fashion brands reveals limited momentum in sustainable cotton adoption, widespread failures in transparency, and rising dependence on fossil-derived fibres. The Cotton Rankings 2025, developed by Solidaridad and Good on You, expose stark contrasts between industry rhetoric and practice, highlighting how sourcing decisions shape cotton’s uncertain role in fashion..

Amsterdam-based Makers Unite places creativity at the centre of social transformation, repurposing materials into meaningful design while empowering diverse communities. Creative Commercial Manager Ambrose Jude shares how inclusive practices, sustainable craftsmanship, and storytelling can reshape fashion, shift perceptions of migration, and open new pathways for dignity, opportunity, and authentic connection across cultures.

WWF-India and Solidaridad have entered a strategic alliance aimed at transforming India’s cotton and palm oil sectors through regenerative agriculture. The partnership focuses on building climate resilience, improving transparency, and fostering responsible sourcing. Joint activities will include pilot projects, policy advocacy, market reforms, and research to embed sustainability principles into agricultural production systems.

A new report outlines the flow of secondhand clothing from the United States to Guatemala. The study details the scale, reuse rates, and employment generated by this trade. It also raises concerns that proposed regulatory changes in exporting countries could affect resale operations and local value addition in recipient countries.

A groundbreaking study reveals that luxury fashion brands score just 37% on average for transparency around artisan production impacts. The first-ever Artisans' Index exposes how brands from Gucci to Wayfair fail to monitor environmental and social conditions for millions of craftspeople creating embroidered handbags and apparel, block-printed textiles, and handwoven homeware.

Branded clothing retail generated €331.8 billion in economic activity and supported 4.5 million jobs across the EU27 in 2023, representing around 2% of both GDP and employment. Commissioned by the European Branded Clothing Association, the Oxford Economics study highlights the sector’s extensive impact through local supply chains, retail operations, and global trade engagement.

CottonConnect is transforming global cotton supply chains through regenerative farming, full traceability, and collaborative brand partnerships. Led by CEO Alison Ward, the social enterprise empowers farmers, promotes sustainability, and builds climate resilience across India, Pakistan, China and beyond. With scalable programmes and robust impact measurement, CottonConnect aims to make sustainable cotton the norm, not the exception, in a volatile global market.