A fabric dyeing factory in Mumbai, India. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
As models strut the international runways promoting the next season’s trends for Fall 2011, a weighty list of apparel manufacturers, retailers, and environmental research groups have come together to form the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to score garment sustainability.
Announced this morning in today’s NYT in an article by Tom Zeller Jr., Clothes Makers Join to Set ‘Green Score’, is an impressive 30 member roster that includes Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, H&M, Hanes, Levi Strauss & Co., Li & Fung, Nike, Patagonia and Gap Inc. From a garment sourcing and manufacturing perspective, these companies have the heft to make the difference to shine a light on the garment dyeing pollutants or advocate factory fair trade and wages.
The coalition will publish a database of green scores assigned to the global suppliers of apparel production from textiles, construction, packaging to transportation. Based on individual standards, suppliers can be selected based on sustainability goals.
In an industry that Americans spend about $340 billion on clothing and shoes last year, the majority of manufacturing is produced overseas. Although groups like Save The Garment Center is campaigning for local NYC production saving American jobs and inspire the next generation of designers, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition will sharpen the ad hoc nature of the global supply chain.
Production is the life blood of a successful fashion brand, balancing high quality and cost compared to the retail price. Years ago it was only measured by speed to market and style, but now, the consumer will be swayed by the designer’s ethical decisions.
The Sustainable Apparel Index is based on a life cycle view of apparel products covering raw materials, packaging, manufacturing, transportation, consumer use and service, and end of life impacts.
