#Sustainability

2021-11-25

HUGO BOSS secures syndicated loan with sustainability component for the first time

HUGO BOSS has secured a revolving syndicated loan with a sustainability component for the first time. This means that the interest rate for the EUR 600 million loan is also linked to the fulfillment of clearly defined sustainability criteria. The syndicated loan was considerably oversubscribed and aims at providing the company with additional financial flexibility to ensure the successful execution of its ‘CLAIM 5’ growth strategy.

Yves Müller, Chief Financial Officer of HUGO BOSS: "This successful transaction reflects our lenders’ great confidence in our growth strategy. The loan commitment gives us additional financial flexibility to consistently and successfully execute ‘CLAIM 5’ over the coming years. I am also encouraged that the terms of the loan are for the first time tied to our performance and progress made in the important area of sustainability."

The syndicated loan is classified as sustainable finance and as such fulfills key ESG criteria. The interest rate will be adjusted annually based on the achievement of target values defined by HUGO BOSS across four ESG areas: the reduction of CO2 emissions, the share of women in management positions, fair working conditions at suppliers, as well as the use of more sustainable cotton. This is the first financial instrument at HUGO BOSS to be linked to sustainability criteria.

The loan has a term of three years and includes two options to extend the term by one more year in each case, plus an option to increase the credit amount by up to EUR 300 million. It will replace the existing syndicated loan of HUGO BOSS totaling EUR 633 million.

The loan syndicate comprises nine international banks. The transaction was coordinated by Commerzbank, BNP Paribas, and LBBW as joint bookrunners. Commerzbank acted as active bookrunner and documentation agent. BNP Paribas took on the role of sustainability coordinator. LBBW accompanies the financing as facility agent. Also involved are Bank of America, Bank of China, Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, HSBC, and ICBC.

HUGO BOSS attaches high importance to the topic of sustainability, which is firmly embedded in its ‘CLAIM 5’ growth strategy. During the next years, the company will further intensify its sustainability efforts to deliver both clear added value as well as emotional engagement with the consumer. With its efforts already made and sustainability targets set for the future, only recently, HUGO BOSS has been included in the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World for the fifth consecutive time. Consequently, and as the only German company, HUGO BOSS ranks among the top three companies in its industry worldwide that have qualified for the index.

“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.