Italian textile maker Albini Group has partnered with scientific traceability company Oritain to produce what it claims is the first 100% traceable Supima organic cotton, which will be used in collections from global luxury group Kering, owner of brands including Gucci, YSL, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen.
Albini says the partnership demonstrates “the value of transparency and innovation throughout the supply chain from field to fibre and garment.”
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Using only organically-grown Supima cotton that is woven and dyed by Albini, the fabric is completely traceable back to the origin of the fibre thanks to forensic science employed by Oritain.
Oritain will analyse the naturally-occurring chemical properties of the actual fibre itself, creating a unique chemical fingerprint for the product that links it back to the field where it was grown – which cannot be altered, copied or adulterated. Oritain can test the product at every stage of the supply chain to verify that the fabric is consistent with the original fingerprint and has not been substituted, blended or tampered with. Only an exact match shows that the product is authentic.
“Traceability in fashion’s fragmented and global supply chains is imperative to create real change,” says Cecilia Takayama, director of the materials innovation lab at Kering. “At Kering we are focused on sustainable raw material sourcing and this innovative technology for our organic cotton supply chain will enable our Materials Innovation Lab greater visibility to verify farming best practices and fibre quality; ensure integrity within the supply chain; and guarantee alignment with our Kering Standards.”
Rupert Hodges, executive director of Oritain (UK) adds: “Traceability has been a buzzword in fashion for some time, but there are still challenges in the industry. Now through this partnership, we can support Kering, Supima and Albini Group to further enable sustainable, responsible practices in their cotton supply chains.
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By GlobalData“The commitment by these industry leaders to working with Oritain demonstrates the value scientific traceability provides to companies with complex global supply chains. We are very excited to expand on this initial project with our partners and help establish a new industry standard for traceability within the apparel sector.”
