Context
The fashion industry is the world’s third-largest manufacturing sector and it is also responsible for 10% of total carbon emissions (World economic forum, 2020). The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that every year some USD 500 billion in value is lost due to clothing that is barely worn, not donated or recycled, that ends up in a landfill, with a huge waste of resources and increase in pollution.
Fashion is also one of five key industries implicated in modern slavery by advocacy organisations with G20 countries importing over $US 127 billion worth of fashion garments identified as at-risk products of modern slavery. In the fashion world it can appear in a variety of forms from harvesting the cotton for a t-shirt, spinning the fibre to yarn, sewing the garment and modelling the final product. The difference between slavery and extremely exploitative labour can be vague and the fashion industry walks a fine line. (Global Slavery Index, 2018 data).
It is important to note that many large fashion brands and companies do not have full control over their supply chains, thus making illegal work practises possible (including sweatshops, trafficking and servitude). Much of the labour and backbone of a clothing collection is contracted out to various players and tracing all the steps from raw material to final product proves quite difficult, thus making exploitation and illegal activities go unnoticed.
Aim of the project
The partners decided to activate the TRA/MA consortium, to share their expertise in the fashion industry, training development, competences advancement, and work together to offer a new job profile of a professional able to (1) support a fashion house or a brand to set the internal policies to move toward sustainability while making sure that all the actors along the value chain respect the same ‘code of conduct’ and (2) are able to offer data needed to compile the FTindex that is clear, correct and traceable.
Impact
In the long term, the benefit of this new profile will lead to more skilled workers entering the job market, thereby affecting the quality of the labour market in a positive way; increased employees and employers satisfaction; an overall increased ability to insert circular economy while employing ethical practices along the value chain and industry.
Results
During the project, the TRA/MA consortium will create the job profile, curriculum and the package of short courses necessary to become a TRANSPARENCY MANAGER IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, such as a professional in charge of ensuring sustainable, ethical practices within the fashion value chain. The material developed in the project’s lifetime will contribute in improving knowledge and skills of anyone interested in entering the FASHION sector, contributing to the reduction of unemployment together with an increase in professionalism and wider penetration of sustainability at all industry’s levels.
Fashion Transparency Index
A review of 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and retailers
ranked according to their level of public disclosure on human rights
and environmental policies, practices and impacts.
FIT 2022 Edition Click here to download!
Projects news
Project’s information
- Duration 24 months, from 01/04/2022 ato30/03/2024
- ID 2021-1-EL01-KA220-VET-000032985
ENG TO DO
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.