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Supply Chain

The Most Beautiful Job in the World - Mensitieri

Luxury? The original gig economy

June 16, 2020

Let’s put the conclusion at the beginning: This book is a must read, for those that intend to ‘go into luxury’, fashion, or any other creative industry. But also for all those that are of the opinion that the ‘Gig Economy’ only came into being with companies like Uber, AirBnb, Just Eat and the like. In fact, luxury – and linked to it – the creative arts have been pioneering the Gig Business Model for many decades already.

Book Reviews Consumer-ism Supply Chain

Global fashion, fashion and the globe

March 23, 2010

"Sustainable Fashion & Textiles" makes it - beautifully - clear why the fashion industry, from the field to the consumer, needs change. And why design is key.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Ethiopia

January 29, 2014

Already early last year the Swedish Fast Fashion retailer H&M announced the placement of test orders for garments from Ethiopian and Kenyan suppliers. And they're not even the first ones: Retailers such as Tesco and Walmart seem to have gone down that lane already some time ago.

Book Reviews Globalisation Supply Chain

The state of the (fashion) world as it happens in Australia

August 21, 2013

Australia is a little bit like a big blank spot of knowledge as far as many of us here in Europe (and the US) are concerned. The recently launched ‘Australian Fashion Report‘ is the first piece of work that looks very specifically at the sustainability and ethical trade practises of brands that are retailed in Australia, both local Australian as well as global brands.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Nigeria – hot bed of opportunities or riddled with challenges?

May 1, 2013

Nigeria’s textile industry used to be – possibly still is – the African continent’s third largest after that of Egypt and South Africa. For one reason or another, the first two are fairly well established among brands of all colours and types as potential – and actual – sourcing destinations. Egyptian cotton is well renowned, as is their industry for jersey goods. Also ‘Made in South Africa’ is not uncommonly found in clothing labels.

Definitions Finance Globalisation Supply Chain

The True Cost – Hidden Costs x Sustainable Development: Transport

January 18, 2022

This post is part of a series where I look at and into the true cost of certain goods and services. This time I’d like to look into the True Cost of all types Transport and Mobility: road, rail, aviation and water. The question therefore is: What are the total costs – the True Cost, i.e. including what is commonly called ‘externalities’ – of the different types of transport we use globally, both for passengers and for freight? Or if you prefer: how do different types of transport compare to each other when it comes to ‘collateral damage’? Spoiler alert: It is really quite complex and rather diverse. And: public infrastructure investments and maintenance costs play a significant role in it.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Made In … close to home: Yet Another Fashion Paradox

March 29, 2012

'Make it British', or the equivalent: French, Italian, German, Spanish ..., is often talked of as the ultimate panacea to address the lack of sustainability in the fashion industry. A few reasons why it all is slightly more complicated than it sounds.

Brand Portraits Globalisation Supply Chain

Tunisian Textiles – A vibrant mix of social and cultural diversity

December 6, 2012

In Tunisia, like across most of the Maghrib region, textiles, their significance and methods of production remain a firm part of the country’s identity and history. A portrait.

Brand Portraits Circularity Supply Chain

From recycled materials to Smateria

November 3, 2011

Smateria is a Cambodian upcycling bag label founded by 2 Italian women. What originally was a haphazard venture with the will to improve the lives of Cambodian women has turned by now into a successful social business.

Brand Portraits Supply Chain

The last shirtmaker of England: Rayner & Sturges

January 24, 2013

The Spitalfields taylors Alexander Boyd is London's last shirt maker. All their shirts are made at the Rayner and Sturges factory in Kent. Impressions from the factory, and the 'making of' a bespoke Savile Row shirt.

Brand Portraits Supply Chain

Midland Jewel in the East End: Grenson’s Shoe Factory

May 23, 2013

Starting in 1866, a shoe factor by the name of William Green came regularly from Northamptonshire up to the City of London to get orders and then take them back to Rushden where, in 1874, he opened his first factory as William Green & Son, founding the company we know today as Grenson.

Book Reviews Labour Supply Chain

What growth means, why giving out aid is tricky – and how this all relates to our daily lives

March 23, 2010

"People respond to incentives". Book review of an excellent introduction to the mechanisms and macro-economics behind development and global aid giving.

Finance Governance Labels Supply Chain

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (8) – Habemus propositum! Targets we have!

July 18, 2023

After some results at the COP in Vancouver, as well as efforts by the TNFD (Task Force for nature-based financial disclosure) – we finally (!) got the first ever Science -Based Targets for Nature (SBTN). It is a first release, however. So the question obviously is, how do these targets address the 5 key drivers of biodiversity erosion? Are the SBTNs worth their salt?

Circularity Materials Supply Chain

Panipat Stories – Textile recycling, hardcore

January 17, 2013

Panipat is an ancient and historic city in the Panipat district, state of Haryana, India. The city is the global centre of “Shoddy Yarn”. It is a business that is worth 1 billion dollars world wide. 85% of the volume is for the domestic marketm 15% for export. But the industry has more shadows then there is light ...

Brand Review Finance Globalisation Supply Chain

Uniqlo’s joint venture with Grameen: What is its structure?

November 23, 2010

Strategical setting, structure and goals of the Uniqlo-Grameen joint venture. 6th of an article series that analyses Uniqlo and why it joint forced with Bangladesh's Grameen Bank.

Definitions Labels Supply Chain

The Primary Sustainable Cotton Labels – Briefly Explained

January 31, 2013

In this article a very brief run down of the main varieties of ‘better’ cotton that exist: Cotton made in Africa, Better Cotton Initiative, Organic and Fairtrade cotton, and 2 more generic good practise farming systems.

Luxury Materials Supply Chain

Luxury & Endangered Species

July 13, 2012

The reaping (black market) trade in reptile skins for the luxury fashion and accessories market is an openly talked about, albeit ugly, reality of the present. The recently published UNCTAD BioTrade report and toolkit provides useful and pragmatic info for designers.

Globalisation Labour Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Burma – the next hot spot, for apparel sourcing too?

September 4, 2013

Since the moment that Burma's opposition Leader, Aung San Suu Ky, was released from her decade of house arrest it was clear: Nothing would remain the same.

Labour Supply Chain

Cost of (Fair) Labour in Apparel (III/III)

March 6, 2014

What of all that are buyers aware of, and how do they use it? This is the second of the two questions for which the most insightful research with fairly hard data has been published by Prof. Doug Miller from Northumbria University in Newcastle. The two most relevant papers in this context are: 'What price a living wage' and 'Towards Sustainable Labour Costing in the Global Apparel Industry'

Labour Supply Chain

RAGS Challenge Fund project completion – Lessons learned

December 18, 2013

The RAGS Challenge Fund ran from 2010 to 2013, and was funded by UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID). “Working Together for a Responsible Ready-Made Garment Sector” is the final report of the RAGS Challenge Fund. The report is intended to be a vehicle for sharing the lessons learned during the life of RAGS for a number of audiences, such as government entities, NGOs, trade union

Future Fit Industries of 'Stuff': Governance, Responsibility, and the Age of Doughnut Economics

Supply Chain

Luxury? The original gig economy

Global fashion, fashion and the globe

Sourcing Destinations: Ethiopia

The state of the (fashion) world as it happens in Australia

Sourcing Destinations: Nigeria – hot bed of opportunities or riddled with challenges?

The True Cost – Hidden Costs x Sustainable Development: Transport

Made In … close to home: Yet Another Fashion Paradox

Tunisian Textiles – A vibrant mix of social and cultural diversity

The last shirtmaker of England: Rayner & Sturges

Midland Jewel in the East End: Grenson’s Shoe Factory

What growth means, why giving out aid is tricky – and how this all relates to our daily lives

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (8) – Habemus propositum! Targets we have!

Panipat Stories – Textile recycling, hardcore

The Primary Sustainable Cotton Labels – Briefly Explained

Luxury & Endangered Species

Sourcing Destinations: Burma – the next hot spot, for apparel sourcing too?

RAGS Challenge Fund project completion – Lessons learned

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