Chloé Mikolajczak is the coordinator of Fashion Revolution Belgium, the Belgian branch of the international movement aiming for a more ethically and environmentally sustainable fashion industry. She talks with us about the roots of the movement, its transforming strength and the challenges that brands face.
The number of shoe brands claiming to be ethical and/or ecological has mushroomed in recent years. So much so that some of them are on the verge of becoming major players on this huge market. Fleeting fad or a sea change for a business that is worth tens of billions of dollars?
According to Sandra Rothenberger, marketing professor at Solvay Brussels School, ethical sneakers should follow the path of organic food but taking the fast track.
The ACP textile printing workshop, which offers Fair Trade promotional and workwear, is clearly feeling an increase in both supply and interest in sustainable clothing. However, although “many customers are asking about the most sustainable choice, when it comes to making the final decision, even the most committed organisations opt for the cheapest product, which can be extremely frustrating for us,” says Director Dirk Piret.
Jules Clarysse started producing bath textiles on a very small scale more than 70 years ago. With an annual production of 20 million bath towels, 20% of which will be fair trade by 2014, Clarysse NV is today the market leader in Europe. Even during the crisis, Clarysse has continued to invest in sustainability.
1138 Bangladeshi workers were found dead between loads of garments destined for the European and American markets after the six-floor Rana Plaza complex in the industrial outskirts of Dhaka collapsed on 24 April 2013. Asia’s largest industrial catastrophe – after Bhopal – did not only disclose construction shortcomings but also the race to the bottom in the garment sector, which this time led to a deadly finish. How have authorities, businesses, trade unions and NGOs responded? Does the consumer have any sustainable alternatives?
Five years ago, Nancy De Poorter opened a gift shop with an online shop in Zammel, near Geel. It was during her work as a volunteer in the Wereldwinkel in Westerlo, which is more focused on food, that she discovered a passion for fairly produced gifts. Meer dan Mooi has developed from a shop selling fair trade gifts and home decoration items to a fair trade clothing shop where the organic aspect is also important.
There is a lot of potential for high quality and uniquely designed fashion accessories and artifacts in both Kenya and Tanzania. With the rise in demand for these products among the locals due to the growth of the middle class, special emphasis needs to be put to target this group.
There is a lot of potential for high quality and uniquely designed fashion accessories and artifacts in both Kenya and Tanzania. With the rise in demand for these products among the locals due to the growth of the middle class, special emphasis needs to be put to target this group.
The Trade for Development Centre published a market research on the handicraft sector in Tanzania, with the aim of obtaining data that will provide producer organizations with the information needed to formulate their sales & marketing strategy and develop their business further. The study covered the following aspects; trends, consumer profile, competitors, Sales outlets and trade chains and total market estimation.
Chloé Mikolajczak is the coordinator of Fashion Revolution Belgium, the Belgian branch of the international movement aiming for a more ethically and environmentally sustainable fashion industry. She talks with us about the roots of the movement, its transforming strength and the challenges that brands face.
The number of shoe brands claiming to be ethical and/or ecological has mushroomed in recent years. So much so that some of them are on the verge of becoming major players on this huge market. Fleeting fad or a sea change for a business that is worth tens of billions of dollars?
According to Sandra Rothenberger, marketing professor at Solvay Brussels School, ethical sneakers should follow the path of organic food but taking the fast track.
The ACP textile printing workshop, which offers Fair Trade promotional and workwear, is clearly feeling an increase in both supply and interest in sustainable clothing. However, although “many customers are asking about the most sustainable choice, when it comes to making the final decision, even the most committed organisations opt for the cheapest product, which can be extremely frustrating for us,” says Director Dirk Piret.
Jules Clarysse started producing bath textiles on a very small scale more than 70 years ago. With an annual production of 20 million bath towels, 20% of which will be fair trade by 2014, Clarysse NV is today the market leader in Europe. Even during the crisis, Clarysse has continued to invest in sustainability.
1138 Bangladeshi workers were found dead between loads of garments destined for the European and American markets after the six-floor Rana Plaza complex in the industrial outskirts of Dhaka collapsed on 24 April 2013. Asia’s largest industrial catastrophe – after Bhopal – did not only disclose construction shortcomings but also the race to the bottom in the garment sector, which this time led to a deadly finish. How have authorities, businesses, trade unions and NGOs responded? Does the consumer have any sustainable alternatives?
Five years ago, Nancy De Poorter opened a gift shop with an online shop in Zammel, near Geel. It was during her work as a volunteer in the Wereldwinkel in Westerlo, which is more focused on food, that she discovered a passion for fairly produced gifts. Meer dan Mooi has developed from a shop selling fair trade gifts and home decoration items to a fair trade clothing shop where the organic aspect is also important.
There is a lot of potential for high quality and uniquely designed fashion accessories and artifacts in both Kenya and Tanzania. With the rise in demand for these products among the locals due to the growth of the middle class, special emphasis needs to be put to target this group.
There is a lot of potential for high quality and uniquely designed fashion accessories and artifacts in both Kenya and Tanzania. With the rise in demand for these products among the locals due to the growth of the middle class, special emphasis needs to be put to target this group.
The Trade for Development Centre published a market research on the handicraft sector in Tanzania, with the aim of obtaining data that will provide producer organizations with the information needed to formulate their sales & marketing strategy and develop their business further. The study covered the following aspects; trends, consumer profile, competitors, Sales outlets and trade chains and total market estimation.
