#Sustainability

2021-07-29

Five fashion companies join the Foundation’s Network as partners

Fashion brands and retailers Inditex, Lacoste, Primark, PVH Corp, and Ralph Lauren Corporation have joined the Foundation’s Network as Partners.

Inditex, Lacoste, Primark and PVH Corp have previously been Core Partners and Participants of the Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative, with Primark and PVH Corp brand, Tommy Hilfiger, also part of the Foundation’s Jeans Redesign project.

The Foundation’s work on Fashion started back in 2017 and brought together leaders from across the fashion industry to work with cities, philanthropists, NGOs, and innovators to create a circular economy for clothes. Make Fashion Circular now enters its fourth year, and has made strides in redesigning the fashion industry, including establishing its vision and demonstrating that creating clothes for a circular economy is possible today through projects like The Jeans Redesign - where some of the biggest names in fashion have, to date, put more than half a million pairs of circular jeans on the market.

The Foundation and its fashion Partners, including strategic partner H&M Group, will be working to drive momentum towards the Make Fashion Circular vision where clothes, products (apparel, footwear, accessories) are used more, made to be made again, and made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs. As Partners of the world’s leading circular economy network, their collaborative efforts will be key to drive systemic change and scale solutions globally.

Inditex

Inditex is one of the world’s largest fashion retail groups with eight distinct brands focused on a fit-to-customer-demand model in a sustainable way through a digitally integrated platform of stores and online.

https://www.inditex.com

Lacoste

Since the very first polo was created in 1933, Lacoste relies on its authentic sports heritage to spring optimism and elegance on the world thanks to a unique and original lifestyle for women, men and children. At the juncture of sport and fashion, Lacoste frees us up, creates movement in our lives, and liberates our self-expression. In every collection, in every line, Lacoste’s timeless elegance is captured through a combination of the creative and the classic. Since its beginnings, the crocodile’s aura has grown more powerful with every generation who has worn it, becoming a rallying sign beyond style. Passed from country to country, from one generation to the next, from one friend to another, Lacoste pieces become imbued with an emotional connection that raises them to the status of icons. The Lacoste elegance - both universal and timeless - brings together a large community, in which everyone respects and recognizes each other's values and differences. LACOSTE is an international brand from MF Brands Group, established in 98 countries, throughout a network of 1100 shops.

https://corporate.lacoste.com

Primark

Primark is an international retailer that offers the latest fashion, beauty and homeware. Famous for offering the best value for customers; for great basics and everyday essentials, or the latest trends at prices everyone can afford. Founded in Ireland in 1969 under the Penney’s name, Primark is in 14 countries across Europe and North America, and still growing: Today, it has 396 stores and employs more than 65,000 people. Primark is committed to a better future for people and the planet and is working to become a more sustainable business. This includes joining the United Nations’ Fashion Charter (UNFCCC), supporting the Charter’s net-zero ambition and committing to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. Alongside this, the business has signed up to Textiles 2030, the WRAP initiative to accelerate the fashion and textile industry’s move towards circularity and system change in the UK. Primark continues to expand its Primark Cares label – clothing and other products which are made using more sustainable materials or manufacturing methods which now account for more than a quarter of all clothing sales.

https://www.primark.com/en/primark-cares

PVH Corp.

PVH Corp. is one of the world’s largest global fashion companies, connecting with consumers in over 40 countries. Our global iconic brands include Calvin Klein, TOMMY HILFIGER and our Heritage Brands. Our 140-year history is built on the strength of our brands, our team and our commitment to drive fashion forward for good. That’s the Power of Us. That’s the Power of PVH.

https://www.pvh.com

Ralph Lauren Corporation

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren has sought to inspire the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style. Its reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company’s brand names—which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children and Chaps, among others—constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

https://corporate.ralphlauren.com.

“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.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“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.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.