Traceability and Transparency: Essential Issues for Sustainable Fashion

Traceability and Transparency: Essential Issues for Sustainable Fashion

In a context where sustainable fashion is a prominent topic, many brands are communicating their efforts in this area. However, the rising number of scandals and false claims tarnishes their credibility, highlighting the challenges the industry faces in achieving true transparency. Fashion supply chains are notoriously complex: they involve multiple players spread across the globe, from the cultivation of raw materials to final assembly, including transportation and storage. Studies indicate that only 19% of fashion companies have full visibility over their value chains, and even then, this visibility is often partial. This poses a significant challenge for brands aiming to set ambitious sustainability goals.

To illustrate this complexity, consider the example of a simple cotton t-shirt: up to ten organizations can be involved, from cotton cultivation to retail. Ensuring traceability thus becomes a major challenge for brands that aim to guarantee complete transparency and meet the growing expectations of consumers.

The Rise of Traceability: A Consumer Demand and a Regulatory Necessity

Traceability aims to provide consumers with detailed information on a product’s journey, from the origin of raw materials to the manufacturing facilities. It allows brands to demonstrate that their products are made responsibly, respecting both workers' rights and the environment.

Regulatory pressures and consumer expectations are converging toward an increased demand for traceability. More than half of fashion industry decision-makers believe traceability is a key lever for reducing supply chain emissions. However, access to such information is currently limited for most brands, which can often monitor only their direct suppliers.

The solution lies in enhanced collaboration among all partners in the value chain, with common approaches and adapted technological tools. By encouraging centralized management and widespread cooperation, brands can improve quality and reduce costs for all parties, particularly the most vulnerable players.
In this context, local production— "here clothing"—emerges as an appealing and sustainable alternative, enabling brands to ensure respectful working conditions and high environmental standards while enhancing transparency. By opting for short circuits and local partners, brands achieve better control over their manufacturing process, establish a direct connection with artisans and raw materials, and revitalize local economies and regional craftsmanship. This approach reduces the carbon footprint of each garment and aligns with consumer expectations for a more responsible fashion industry, where authenticity, quality, and ethics are at the heart of collections. For consumers, choosing "here clothing" means supporting a mode of fashion that is more human, committed, and sustainable.
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