Esprit joins the partnership for sustainable textiles set up by German govt

Esprit is an international fashion brand that represents style and quality since 1968 and it has a presence in over 40 countries with approximately 900 directly managed retail stores and over 7,800 wholesale points of sale, including franchise stores and sales spaces in department stores with inspiring collections for women, men and kids has joined the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles set up in 2014 by the German government and stakeholders from textile industry.

The partnership aims to improve living and environmental conditions for workers in textile manufacturing countries. It is led by German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr Gerd Müller.

Lary Brown, vice president-head of global social compliance & sustainability with Esprit, said that they are very positive about Dr Müller’s initiative. Since many of the abuses that workers face around the world are illegal under local law, there is a definite role for government in their on-going efforts to assure working conditions in their supplier factories globally.

They welcome the German Government’s support of their efforts, and will ensure that their business operations blend as seamlessly as possible with this alliance’s standards.

The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, in addition to attracting new members and revising its initial proposals, a partnership list of hazardous chemicals that are to be avoided has been approved.

Recent evidence suggests the Partnership is seeking to use its influence in key garment manufacturing hubs in South East Asia. Recently, it was represented at a joint booth of the German Embassy in Hanoi for an international exhibition of machinery and materials for the garment industry.

A statement from the Germany Embassy said that Germany aims to provide information related to the work of the alliance so that interested Vietnamese textile firms can take part.

The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles has 160 members, which based on revenue account for almost 50 percent of the German textile market. Members include the likes the Otto Group, Lidl, Puma, Aldi and Tchibo.