Latest social & environmental news and analysis articles 
Articles here will keep you up-to-date on the sustainable and ethical production of textiles, apparel and footwear, from fabric innovations through to the latest factory and retail initiatives – as well as those that don’t make the grade
Top stories on just-style this week...
25 May 2012
Top stories on just-style this week include analysts' views on M&S reporting a 0.2% rise in clothing sales during its first quarter, American Eagle Outfitters looking to sell off part or all of its children's brand 77kids, plans by retailers to back a three-year programme to clean up production in the Bangladeshi garment industry.
UK: Topshop to launch eco-fashion collection
25 May 2012
High street fashion chain Topshop will launch a line of clothing made from surplus stock and production off-cuts through a collaboration with Reclaim To Wear.
EU: Shelves plans for organic clothing standard
25 May 2012
A review by the European Commission has decided not to expand the official European Union (EU) certification of organic products to textiles and clothing.
US: AAFA reveals new product safety compliance tools
25 May 2012
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has unveiled two new product safety tools as part of its growing chemical management and product safety toolbox.
BANGLADESH: Fashion firms back factory clean-up scheme
24 May 2012
Leading global brands and retailers including H&M, Levi Strauss, Carrefour and Tesco have backed a three-year programme to clean up production in the Bangladeshi garment industry.
HONG KONG: Trials show benefits of biobased textile enzymes
24 May 2012
The use of biobased enzymes as an alternative to traditional chemicals in the production of cotton knits can eliminate the need for caustic chemicals, as well as cut water and energy use and overall processing time, trials have shown.
CAMBODIA: Garment workers strike as talks collapse
23 May 2012
Talks to try to end an 11-day strike at a Cambodian supplier that makes garments for international brands including Gap, Levi's and H&M broke down yesterday (22 May) after a day of negotiations.
US: Probes CAFTA labour complaint against Honduras
23 May 2012
The US Department of Labor is to review alleged failures by the government of Honduras to enforce its labour laws under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
Global news roundup
23 May 2012
The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world's local media. just-style has not checked these stories so cannot guarantee their accuracy.
AUSTRALIA: Toxic chemical found in Australian kids' footwear?
22 May 2012
A toxic chemical that is banned in Europe has reportedly been found in children's school shoes on sale in Australia - although the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has told just-style it not received any reports of injuries from exposure to the substance.
Top stories on just-style this week...
18 May 2012
Top stories on just-style this week include a report on Adidas suing Big 5 over an alleged infringement of its three stripe trademark, an article on western apparel companies considering reshoring to their home markets, and a story on how the abolition of the World Trade Organization's multi-fibre agreement failed to deliver wealth to Cambodian and Sri Lankan textile and clothing workers.
SRI LANKA/CAMBODIA: Textile workers hurt by lifting of quotas
15 May 2012
A World Bank assessment has concluded the abolition of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) multi-fibre agreement (MFA) on textile trade quotas failed to deliver wealth to Cambodian and Sri Lankan textile and clothing workers.
US: Eco-friendly recycled denim fabric launched
15 May 2012
A group of apparel industry veterans has developed a new eco-friendly denim made in the US from recycled denim yarns and recycled soda bottle fibres that also meets the needs of buyers and designers for a quality fabric.
SOUTH EAST ASIA: Migrant workers face factory exploitation
14 May 2012
Migrant garment workers in factories in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia making clothes for western fashion brands are facing state oppression and exploitation by their employers, according to claims in a new report released today (14 May).
DENMARK: New fashion industry code of conduct unveiled
14 May 2012
A new code of conduct specifically for the fashion industry was released earlier this month with the aim of helping the fashion industry to move towards a more sustainable future.
US: Avery Dennison joins Sustainable Apparel Coalition
10 May 2012
The group working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel and footwear production around the world has added labelling and RFID supplier Avery Dennison as its first "solution provider" member.
Speaking with style: Henry Tan, CEO, Luen Thai Holdings (Part I)
9 May 2012
Luen Thai Holdings is Hong Kong's largest listed garment firm, with 34,000 employees, revenues of around US$1bn and a flagship business that produces over 80m garments a year - as well as footwear and bags - from production bases in China, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia. In the first of two articles based on a conversation with just-style managing editor Leonie Barrie at the recent Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong, CEO Henry Tan calls for industry-wide collaboration in a bid to increase efficiency and offset rising costs in the apparel supply chain.
Speaking with style: Henry Tan, CEO, Luen Thai Holdings (Part II)
9 May 2012
In the second of two articles based on a conversation with just-style managing editor Leonie Barrie at the recent Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong, Henry Tan, the CEO of Hong Kong's largest listed garment firm Luen Thai Holdings, talks about the push into new production bases and the changing role of China.
BANGLADESH: WRAP to boost compliance at footwear firms
9 May 2012
Factory auditing and certification group Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) is to work with the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) to promote socially responsible manufacturing in the country.
UK: Call for action over Olympic worker abuses
8 May 2012
Workers making sportswear for the forthcoming London Olympics are being poorly paid and treated, according to a new report from the Playfair 2012 campaign.
Global news roundup
8 May 2012
The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world's local media. just-style has not checked these stories so cannot guarantee their accuracy.
Nike raises the bar on sustainability in sourcing
4 May 2012
Sporting goods giant Nike Inc says it is "changing the rules of the game" with a new factory rating system that puts labour and sustainability standards to the fore when it comes to choosing - and losing - the factories making its products around the world.
US: New Nike index to rate suppliers on sustainability
4 May 2012
Sporting goods giant Nike Inc has set out new labour and sustainability standards that will be used to choose and evaluate factories making its products around the world as part of a series of updated business and environmental goals.
Top stories on just-style this week...
4 May 2012
Top stories on just-style this week included a report on the surge in Sri Lanka's apparel exports, India ending its ban on cotton exports, and the sale of Collective Brands to a consortium made up of Wolverine Worldwide and private equity firms Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital.
UK: UKFT launches manifesto
3 May 2012
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has launched its manifesto, calling on the government to support the fashion and textile industry.
SRI LANKA: Apparel exports surge 20% in value in 2011
2 May 2012
The value of apparel exports from Sri Lanka soared by more than 20% to break through the US$4bn barrier in 2011, according to the country’s Export Development Board.
GUATEMALA: US apparel firms seek enforced labour laws
2 May 2012
A group of US retailers and brands, including Adidas, American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc, Liz Claiborne, Nike, PVH Corp, Under Armour and VF Corporation, is again calling on the Guatemalan government to enforce its labour laws amid ongoing concerns over labour rights violations.
US: American Apparel workers march for immigration reform
2 May 2012
US clothing brand American Apparel closed its factories in Los Angeles for three hours yesterday (1 May) to allow workers to march to protest for better working conditions, fair pay and immigration reform.
PERU: Groups seek change to garment labour laws
30 April 2012
Workers' rights groups have described Peru's legislation covering non-traditional exports as "unconstitutional" and "in breach of international labour standards".
INDIA: Dalit women exploited in garment supply chain
30 April 2012
Young Dalit, (or Untouchables, as they were formerly labelled) women are continuing to suffer exploitative conditions in the Indian garment industry, according to a report released by Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN).
