#Sustainability

2020-09-17

Inditex donates 750,000 garments to refugees through UNHCR

Inditex is set to donate 750,000 garments from its various brands to the Spanish Committee of the Agency of the United Nations High Commision for Refugees (UNHCR) for distribution at seven refugee camps in Rwanda. These camps are sheltering around 149,000 displaced individuals, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi.

The retail value of the items is €13.5 million

Thanks to this initiative, which the company is executing with a number of suppliers, 139,571 items were already dispatched in August; another 111,048 will be sent at the end of September and the remainder will be shipped by 31 January 2021, with Inditex assuming the cost of transporting the goods to Africa in full. The retail value of the items donated is €13.5 million.

Rwanda is one of the main recipients of the people displaced by the waves of instability experienced in recent years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also from Burundi. The former has displaced an estimated 5 million people between 2017 and 2019. The tension in Burundi has prompted hundreds and thousands of its people to flee to neighbouring countries. UNHCR is providing those people with assistance in Rwanda’s refugee camps.

The most urgent needs are for shelter, drinking and sanitation water, medical attention, clothing and food. Inditex’s Executive Chairman, Pablo Isla, alluded to the company’s long-standing commitment to refugee aid, a cornerstone of the Group’s community investment model: “Over the last 20 years, we have been collaborating consistently with leading third-sector organisations on their programmes for refugees in many parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. All of us here at Inditex are tremendously motivated to continue this targeted effort going forward”.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

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“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Jeanologia and BCome connect factory data with Life Cycle Assessment and Digital Product Passports

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Itema brings textile versatility to ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026

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Brückner showcases sustainable technologies for the future of textile finishing at ITMA ASIA 2026

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