Australian denim brand Outland Denim has partnered with Sweden’s NudieJeans to claim that this is the world’s first plan to support cotton farmers in the supply chain of the garment industry.
The Supply Network Intelligence System, developed in partnership with Precision Solutions Group (PSG), actively seeks out instances of deliberate exploitation, slavery and unsafe working conditions and raises solution. Target areas include (but are not limited to) organic cotton farms from Turkey, where Outlands Denim and NudieJeans source their cotton.
OutlandDenim founder and CEO James Bartle said: We believe that this plan has the ability to completely subvert the fashion industry. This isn’t just about eliminating the exploitation that exists in OutlandDenim’s supply chain, it’s simply not how supply chains should work. The scheme, which represents brands such as OutlandDenim and Nudie, can open doors to collaboration for the benefit of workers across the industry and supply chain.
NudieJeans CEO Joakim Levin added: We believe that this plan is a huge possibility for us and the entire fashion industry to gain insight into and explore the visibility of the textile supply chain. By working together, we have the opportunity to target and support vulnerable groups in the textile supply chain to improve their working conditions.
Although sustainability is at the forefront of the fashion industry conversation, often the focus is on first-tier suppliers, such as ready-to-wear garments that work directly with brands. factories and suppliers. The scale and complexity of fashion supply chains means traceability at each layer becomes increasingly opaque. Workers at the front end of the supply chain, such as those working on cotton farms, are at greater risk of exploitation due to reduced traceability and visibility.
To date, the program has benefited 1.5 million people, and 70,000 people have participated in pilot activities. As a result, more than 150 communications have been received from the human rights hotline. Issues were revealed about pay discrimination, unsafe working conditions resulting from a lack of safe drinking water and a lack of personal protective equipment. 370 vulnerable people living in tent camps received COVID-19 kits, which also raised awareness of the campaign, provided seasonal workers with vital personal protective equipment and allowed for further field research for the report.
The program enables coordination workers to act quickly to respond to and investigate such grievances and then pass their reports on to appropriate stakeholders, government agencies and NGOs to resolve.
Now Outland Denim, NudieJeans and PSG are encouraging other brands to join the program and become brand members of the program.
The company stated: The more brands join this program, the greater the influence of the program. As impact amplifies, collaboration will enhance remediation efforts and share costs.
This summer, OutlandDenim announced plans to other brands to open up its Cambodian manufacturing facilities and establish internal sustainability standards.
