All News & Press Releases

With more than 220 civil society networks, individual organisations and trade unions from all over the world, we are addressing the European Parliament and the EU Member States today with a joint statement. Whether from India, Brazil, USA, China or Bangladesh, all drawing organizations have one thing in common: They are calling for a strong EU supply chain law. Only a strong EU supply chain law can effectively improve the conditions for people, the environment and the climate along global value chains!

Read more …

© FEMNET ⁇ Stefan Klübert

The state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia will take place on 15 May 2022. Almost all political parties have defined climate protection, environmental protection and social justice as goals of their policies. An important lever for achieving these goals is sustainable public procurement in the country and especially in the cities and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia. By signing the call, we want to send a clear signal that it is time to take effective policy action to achieve these goals.

Read more …

© FEMNET

In blue skies and sunshine, the exchange tables were moved to the courtyard of ZeSaBo on 23 April 2022: Volunteers from the Bonn local groups of Greenpeace and Amnesty International, in cooperation with FEMNET, invited to the second change of clothes at ZeSaBo. The action attracted many people who brought well-preserved, no longer beloved clothes and found new favorite parts between the clothes racks and jeans stacks.

Read more …

Visitors in front of exhibition panels in the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum

Exhibition, performance, fashion show and talk – on Sunday 24 April, this year’s Rana Plaza Memorial Day, the highlight of the FEMNET #eintshirtzumleben campaign took place in the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum (RJM) in Cologne. The heart of the event was the exhibition of the 19 T-shirt artworks of well-known artists, such as Vera Lossau, Lilla von Puttkamer, Pipilotti Rist, Frank Schätzing or Willi Reiche. Art instead of consumption was the motto of the campaign and at the same time the conclusion of this successful event day.

Read more …

© mirror image

Joint press release

Bonn/Cologne. April 24th is the world's most important day of action for fair fashion and the conclusion of the global action week Fashion Revolution Week. It will take place on the anniversary of the collapse of the ‘Rana Plaza’ building with several textile factories in Bangladesh in 2013. The Bonn-based women's rights organisation FEMNET e.V. therefore invites you to the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum (RJM) Cologne on Sunday, 24 April 2022 to conclude its solidarity and education campaign #eintshirtzumleben. At the same time, this marks the culmination of their cooperation in the context of the sustainability theme series ‘Rethink Fashion!’.

Read more …

© Adler Mannheim/Sörli Binder

Joint press release from Global Nature Fund (GNF) and FEMNET

Purchasing is an essential aspect of a company's sustainability strategy. A club of the German Ice Hockey League is currently showing how companies can align it in a contemporary way: On Sports Day, the DEL-Club Adler Mannheim, supported by the FAIR WEAR WORKS project with its decision for sustainable procurement, is setting an example for improving working conditions and reducing the environmental impact of textile production along the supply chain.

Read more …

In April 2022, a new initiative in the textile and footwear industry is gaining momentum. The aim is to improve the health situation of the workers. The focus is on production regions in India and Indonesia as well as opportunities for action in Germany. The organizations FEMNET e.V. and SÜDWIND Institute initiate the initiative in Germany. “From the outset, we want to take into account the needs of all relevant stakeholders. These include local workers, local trade unions and other civil society organisations. At the same time, it is important for us to involve companies, existing initiatives and supplying companies", explains project manager Lisa Carl from FEMNET.

Read more …

The joint commitment to improved complaint structures in spinning mills and the promotion of stakeholder dialogue continues. The Tamil Nadu Alliance Initiative started its second phase in November 2021. Now the main focus is on around 40 spinning mills in the four districts of Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode and Tiruppur.

In addition to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and FEMNET, the four alliance companies Tchibo, the Otto Group, KiK and HUGO BOSS AG are once again participating in the project. As in the first project phase, the local NGO SAVE organizes the implementation on site.

Rising numbers of infections and renewed lockdowns in the Indian state caused delays. But now the project is gaining momentum and the first training sessions and factory visits could take place.

Read more …

Putin's attack on Ukraine has far-reaching consequences for the people of Ukraine, Russia and Europe. The fashion industry is also responding to the war. Thus, many fashion companies stop their business activities in Russia. At the same time, sanctions against Putin are affecting textile supply chains and textile factories in Ukraine are being destroyed by attacks.

Disclaimer: This report is based on information we have gathered from various media outlets. You can also find a compilation in our Current news update. Please note that not all information is verifiable due to the current situation.

Read more …

© SAVE, India

As part of the Textile Alliance, FEMNET has proposed to ask the Federal Government in an open letter on Women's Day on 8 March to finally ratify the ILO Convention 190 against Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace. A total of 32 alliance members, including 17 companies, have signed a letter to Minister Heil (Ministry of Labour) and Minister Schulze (BMZ).

Read more …

Putin’s cruel war in Ukraine shows us once again what destructive forces dictatorships can develop – and how important resistance is. active protection of human rights and a strong civil society are. We express our solidarity with the courageous people in Ukraine who are fighting against the violent attack and for their lives. In particular, on International Women's Day, we declare our solidarity with all women who are exposed to hardship and violence.

Read more …

More Articles …