News - The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textiles Partnership) 14 October 2016 Critical conference on fashion studies and the apparel industry: Youngsters focus on sustainability, textile alliance is on the brink Düsseldorf. While the fashion managers of tomorrow are increasingly interested in sustainable business, the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles is making slow progress. This was demonstrated by the conference ‘Fair Fashion Works? Corporate Responsibility in Fashion Studies’ in Düsseldorf yesterday and today, organised by the women’s rights organisation FEMNET, itself a member of the Textile Alliance. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched the alliance of companies, politics and civil society more than two years ago in order to improve the inhumane production conditions in the textile industry. FairSchnitt Conference 2016 Panel: From left to right: Dr Bernhard Felmberg, BMZ, Niema Movassat (MdB, DIE LINKE), Dr Uwe Mazura (Gesamtverband textile+mode), NGO representative Tim Zahn. Photo:© FEMNET e.V. A promising approach? This was discussed by Tim Zahn, coordinator of the civil society actors in the alliance, Dr. Bernhard Felmberg from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Niema Movassat (MdB, DIE LINKE) and Dr. Uwe Mazura (Gesamtverband textile+mode). "Knocking yourself on the shoulder now is foolish," said NGO representative Zahn. According to Dr. Felmberg from the BMZ, it is positive that the interest groups pursue a common path despite the different ideas. Movassat, on the other hand, criticised its non-binding nature: "The textile alliance jumped as a tiger and ended up as a bed rug," said the left-wing politician. The past has shown that self-commitments are not enough. Dr. Mazura from the association textile+mode is committed to ensuring that small and medium-sized companies do not have to meet the same social standards as big players. According to NGO representative Zahn, the textile alliance will have to be measured by its results. As long as working conditions in low-wage countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia have not improved, nothing has yet been gained. Among other things, a vote in the Textile Alliance next week will decide on the way forward. Over two days, around 120 students and lecturers discussed the role of politics, business and science in improving working conditions in the producing countries. In addition, the exchange took place in workshops with practitioners from the sector – International Labour Organisation, TIE-Germany, Esprit, FEMNET and Get Changed. Even after the conference, students should remain connected and put their ideas and plans into practice at the respective locations. FEMNET e.V. is a women's rights organisation committed to decent production in the global textile industry. He is a member of the Clean Clothes Campaign. Contact: Anne Neumann, tel. 0228/18038116This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.femnet-ev.dewww.fairschnitt.org www.modefairarbeiten.de
