Global Fashion Agenda has welcomed three new Associate Partners: VF Corporation, Zalando and TAL Apparel.

The trio will work closely with the GFA, providing feedback and input on its mission to accelerate the fashion industry’s transition to a circular economy, adopting sustainable best practices.

“Global Fashion Agenda is driven by a collaborative and solutions-driven approach to identify the major challenges facing our planet and industry, as well as the opportunities and innovations that can transform the fashion business. As the new Associate Partners; TAL Apparel, VF Corporation and Zalando will further diversify the representation of companies joining our movement and will share their findings and challenges,” noted Eva Kruse, the CEO of Global Fashion Agenda.

The three firms join the likes of Crystal International, G-Star Raw, Ganni, Selfridges, Outland Denim, Allbirds and the ERDOS Group in partnering with Global Fashion Agenda.

For Zalando, the company insists the organisation’s mission statement aligns well with its own as it looks to increase work on the sustainability front.

“It is Zalando’s sustainability vision to be a sustainable fashion platform with a net-positive impact for people and the planet,” says co-CEO, David Schneider. “This means constantly improving our own business and making it easy for customers to spot and shop more sustainable fashion. We are collaborating with strong partners to face the fundamental sustainability issues of our industry and shape a more sustainable future for fashion.”

The Berlin-based ecommerce retailer has grown exponentially since its launch in 2008 and now serves 17 markets and an estimated 29 million customers. It’s rise means the company is now more accountable than ever for its business activities and the associated environmental impact. It’s hoped by aligning with like-minded businesses, the firm can build on its efforts to date.

For garment manufacturer TAL Apparel, a stalwart with more than 60 years in industry, sustainability has long since been a focus. This partnership is a matter of creating a homogenous industry that’s open in knowledge exchange.

“We believe in open dialogue, alignment and coordination along the whole supply chain,” said TAL’s president and chief technology officer, Dr. Delman Lee. “Global Fashion Agenda provides a wide-reaching platform that reaches the senior management of organizations in the supply chain. Alone we go faster, together we go further.”

Finally, fashion powerhouse VF Corporation, which owns the likes of Vans, The North Face and Timberland, makes up the three new inductees. “We’re facing some extremely complicated challenges and big uncertainties but at the same time need bold and urgent action,” admits Anna Maria Rugarli, sustainability & responsibility senior director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“We believe there’s a need for strategic partnership and collaboration to facilitate comprehensive, systemic change at scale. Global Fashion Agenda is an enabler of change and has been pushing the industry to work together through a common agenda and coordinated action,” she added.

Courtesy: Eco Textile News