#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2021-05-06

VF Corporation advances global partnership with Better Work

VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories, today announced that it is advancing its engagement with Better Work by strengthening its partnership status to Global Partner. This action is part of VF’s ongoing commitment to human rights and improving worker well-being throughout its global supply chain.

On International Workers’ Day, VF is progressing its goal to improve the lives of one million people by 2025 through enhanced worker well-being programs

As a Global Partner, VF will increase collaboration with Better Work through enhanced training and assessments on critical supply chain issues such as child labor, discrimination, forced labor, freedom of association, and occupational health and safety.

Better Work is a collaboration between the UN’s International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, that brings together all levels of the garment industry to improve working conditions, respect labor rights for workers, and improve the competitiveness of the industry. VF is one of 40 Global Partners of the Better Work program.

"Our partnership with Better Work is another demonstration of our deep commitment to managing an ethical, responsible, and sustainable supply chain that puts people at the center," said Peter Higgins, VF’s Vice President Global Responsible Sourcing. "I'm confident this strengthened partnership will do even more to support the advancement of key human rights priorities, including those focused on freedom of association, gender-based violence and workplace harassment."

As a Better Work Global Partner, VF-authorized contract facilities will go through in-depth training and assessments on material issues that can impact apparel supply chains. The program will run in supplier factories located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, Haiti, Indonesia, Jordan, Nicaragua, and Vietnam, where working conditions and improvements will be assessed at each location. If issues arise, VF, Better Work and the factory, including workers, will collaborate on effective remediation solutions that directly impact and improve factory workers' lives. The program will also implement Better Work’s two-fold strategy to promote compliance with national law and international core labor standards.

VF's strengthened partnership with Better Work builds on the prior success of VF's 2018 Industrial Relations Leadership pilot program with Better Factories Cambodia. This pilot successfully enhanced collaboration and communication at VF's strategic factories while building capacity for worker representatives and management, as well as delivering a positive impact on workplace issues, especially industrial relations. The pilot was expanded to include two more factories in Cambodia and Vietnam.

“Better Work looks forward to its deeper engagement with VF as a global partner,” said Tara Rangarajan, Head of Better Work’s Brand Engagement Team. “This is a significant milestone in our ability to work together to continue improving working conditions in the apparel industry.”

To learn more about Better Work, please visit: https://betterwork.org/

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.