International Accord’s Post

The global fashion industry is valued at over $2.4 trillion and it employs over 75 million people worldwide. Yet, wages are extremely low. Too often workers experience dangerous working conditions, long hours and lack union representation or the protection of a collective bargaining agreement. Voluntary, piecemeal and top-down approaches to corporate social responsibility have failed to address the underlying business practices that lead to labor rights violations and unsafe conditions for workers. Our recently released report on #WorkerVoice shows that engagement with authentic, representative worker voice is critical to #DueDiligence that delivers for workers and businesses. We are delighted to see more companies taking a stand against these conditions and committing to binding and enforceable agreements that are ensuring labor rights and worker safety across their supply chains. American company Levi Strauss & Co is the latest signatory to the #PakistanAccords, a proven, outcome- and worker-centered model which commits the company and its suppliers in Pakistan to ensuring safe, sustainable and decent work for garment workers across their supply chain. The U.S. Department of Labor (Tag) stands with companies that practice #ResponsibleBusinesss and uphold labor rights and worker voice. We hope to see more American textile companies follow suit. Learn more about the research on worker voice here: https://bit.ly/3AbrdLm

H&M, Uniqlo, and Zara are experiencing potential delays in clothing collections due to political unrest in Bangladesh. The unrest has led to the indefinite closure of garment factories, impacting numerous fashion retailers reliant on Bangladeshi production. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following violent protests that resulted in nearly 300 fatalities. Bangladesh is the third-largest clothing exporter globally, following China and the European Union. H&M sources from approximately 10,000 factories in Bangladesh and has expressed concern over the situation. Zara's production is heavily concentrated in Bangladesh, with 98% of its output coming from 12 manufacturing clusters. Uniqlo's parent company, Fast Retailing, sources from around 29 factories in Bangladesh. The unrest adds to existing disruptions in the fashion supply chain, previously affected by conflicts in the Red Sea. H&M has postponed some spring/summer campaigns due to shipping delays and is increasing efforts to nearshore production and expedite supplier shipments to mitigate disruptions. Fast restoration of normalcy critical for fast fashion supply chain in Bangladesh #fashionsupplychain #zara #H&M #uniqlo #bangladesh

California-based apparel retailer Levis has opened a store on Banani Road in Dhaka, Bangladesh, revealed a top company executive on social media on Thursday. Click on the link below to know more... Amisha Jain | Levi Strauss & Co. #retailnews #retailtrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailsectornews #retailindia #retailtrends #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing

American denim brand Levi’s has opened its largest mall store in Pacific Mall in New Delhi’s Tagore Garden. Levi Strauss & Co.| Abhinav Agarwal | Pacific Development Corporation Ltd Click on the link below to know more... #retailnews #retailtrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailsectornews #retailindia #retailtrends #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing

UNIQLO. Further to today’s stellar trading figures, Uniqlo continues to demonstrate a strong and sustainable growth strategy. I remember when their first UK store opened in Knightsbridge. It was decent but not exceptional—narrow and deep, yes, but the product design and colour range weren’t particularly compelling. The store eventually closed. It took them some time to find the right balance, but they now have a distinctive personality, focusing on innovation, quality, and price. Their offering is cool yet accessible, with an easy-to-navigate store and product layout and excellent point-of-sale support for highlighting product attributes. Their store locations and designs are consistently top-notch. They’ve mastered evolving their product mix, embracing trends without being hostage to them. A special call-out for their AIRism cotton oversized tee. It’s an iconic core product among my extensive circle of fashion industry friends, often purchased in a wide range of colours and used for countless styling purposes. It’s their modern uniform. “a product for all seasons,” ( and occasions ) as Robert Whittington might have said in 1520 ?! Please DM me if you’d like to learn more about where they source their trend information. By the way, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, take a look at UNIQ clothing in South Africa. #trenhub #bdalondon #innovation #sustainabioty #productstrategy #colurplanning.

Bold moves drive big change, but sometimes it takes a little nudge to get the engine started. Let’s talk about Levi’s recent decision to sign the Pakistan Accord. This wasn’t just a signature on paper, it’s a step toward ensuring garment workers have safer conditions, and it took years of advocacy, protests, and relentless pushback to make it happen. But beyond Levi’s, the situation highlights a much bigger conversation around the fashion industry and worker safety. A few takeaways: 1. Collective action works: Labor rights groups like Remake and Clean Clothes Campaign proved that sustained activism can lead to tangible change. Persistence is key. 2. Brand accountability is crucial: Levi's signing the Pakistan Accord means they’re legally bound to ensure worker safety. When brands take responsibility, real progress happens. 3. The cost of inaction is high: Did you know 250 workers died in a garment factory fire in Pakistan back in 2012? That's the reality when safety is compromised. 4. Free riding needs to stop: Some brands benefit from safer shared facilities without committing to worker safety agreements. Fair? Not quite. Everyone needs to step up. 5. We still have a long way to go: Even with big names on board, other industry giants like Nike and Amazon have yet to sign any version of the Accord. The clock’s ticking for true change. 6. Safety is a shared responsibility: A safer, more ethical supply chain requires collaboration from all sides - brands, suppliers, and advocacy groups alike. According to the Clean Clothes Campaign, over 130 brands have signed the Pakistan Accord, but worker safety remains a pressing issue with new incidents still occurring. Ultimately, it’s up to all of us to push for a fashion industry that values people over profits. The conversation doesn’t stop with one accord, it STARTS here. #Sustainability #WorkerSafety #EthicalFashion #GarmentIndustry #SupplyChainReform #CSR #FashionForGood #AdvocacyMatters #CollectiveAction

How does a factory manage production for brands like Zara, Uniqlo, Adidas, and even Yeezy GAP? Meet Dishang Group—a fully vertical factory with over 20,000 employees handling everything from sourcing to production. Their scale is massive, but their attention to detail is what sets them apart. From jackets for Yeezy GAP to all types of clothing for global brands, Dishang manages projects with surprisingly low minimums. When it comes to fully integrated production, few factories can rival their capabilities. Follow Glass Factory for more insights into the world of high-volume, vertical manufacturing. #manufacturing #fashionproduction #verticalintegration

Giorgio Armani's supply chain fiasco sheds light on the industry's complexities. Here's the gist: Supply Chain Snag: Armani's hiccup underscores the intricate web of global supply chains, where even a small disruption can have significant ripple effects. #SupplyChainWoes 🌐🚚 Transparency Matters: The incident emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in supply chain management, urging brands to prioritize ethical sourcing and production practices. #EthicalFashion 🌱💼 Learning Opportunity: While setbacks are inevitable, they provide valuable lessons for brands to strengthen their supply chain resilience and adaptability in an ever-changing landscape. #SupplyChainLessons 📚💡 Giorgio Armani's stumble serves as a wake-up call for the fashion industry, highlighting the need for robust supply chain strategies and ethical standards. Let's turn this setback into a step forward. 💪👗 #SupplyChainResilience BTW, if anyone reading this is trying to launch or grow their brand in fashion, beauty, or luxury - please check us out and inbox us. We're a pretty big deal, and we love to build empires. Best! https://lnkd.in/eKNNAtWT

Apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co., one of the most sought-after stocks in America over the past year, is set to make a comprehensive return to Hong Kong, eight years after closing its flagship store in the city in Pedder building. The company intends to lease two substantial retail spaces in prime areas. One location is a 7,000 square-foot unit in Hysan Place, currently occupied by Fast Retailing's casual wear brand GU, situated in the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay. The other is a lease exceeding 10,000 square feet in New Town Plaza, presently rented by H&M, a well-known retail hub in northern Hong Kong. Abercrombie's move contributes to a growing trend among global fashion brands aiming to secure larger retail spaces in Hong Kong, recognized as one of the most expensive real estate markets worldwide, particularly in light of declining property prices. The retailer is expected to pay approximately HK$1.5 million per month for the Hysan Place location, which represents a higher rental rate compared to the HK$700,000 currently paid by the existing tenant. Other fashion brands expanding their presence in Hong Kong include Mango, which has secured a 19,000 square-foot store in Central for around HK$1.2 million monthly.

Louis Philippe and Van Heusen , prominent brands under Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL), have marked a significant step in their global retail strategy with the opening of two flagship stores in Qatar. In collaboration with HK Group, the brands aim to enhance the physical retail footprint and provide an enriched shopping experience in the GCC region, specifically in the vibrant retail landscape of Qatar. #retailnews #retailtrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailsectornews #retailindia #retailreports #retailtechcase #retailtrends #retailbusiness Jacob John, President – Premium Brands, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited Hassan Kunhi, Chairman of HK Group