Articles by Simone Preuss
Simone Preuss is a freelance journalist specialising in apparel production, sustainability and social responsibility. She has been working with FashionUnited since 2012, gaining valuable insights into an ever-changing industry.
From words to measurable impact: OECD due diligence forum urges transition
The main sessions of the 2026 OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector, which took place on 11 and 12 February, centred on the urgent transition from a culture of compliance to one of tangible impact, specifically focusing on how global brands must navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. In his opening...
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What do the election results mean for Bangladesh’s garment and textile sector?
Following the unprecedented unrest of late 2024 and the subsequent interim administration, Bangladesh voted last Thursday and declared results on Friday: The BNP-led alliance won 209 seats and the Jamaat-led bloc secured 68 in the 297 constituencies for which results were declared. For the ready-made garment (RMG) sector—the very heartbeat of...
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Fashion’s best kept secret: home-based workers
They trim loose threads, stitch buttons, zippers and hooks and hem garments; they embroider and embellish with beads and sequins; they hand-paint fabrics, knot tassels and fold garments into polybags for shipment; they even do edge-painting or decorative stitching for accessories. There is hardly a supply chain in the textile, garment and...
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How can DPPs support OECD due diligence in global fashion supply chains?
The digital product passport (DPP) serves as a structured digital record under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). These passports do not replace due diligence but rather act as "structured containers" for the necessary data to support it. This is what Catherine Lomonaco, founder of GoTrace, highlighted at a webinar on 10th...
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Major retailers launch unified framework and digital tool to streamline compliance
How can fashion companies fulfil sustainability and supply chain data demands without duplicating data or significant administrative burden, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)? Seven major retailers and nonprofits Cascale and Fair Wear have co-developed and launched a unified self-assessment questionnaire as well as a free...
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Putting priorities back into production
How can garment manufacturers enable environmental transformation? And how can they do this in a nationally coordinated, structured and country-specific way? This is why the manufacturer-led ATTI platform (Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative) was conceived a couple of years ago and officially established as an organisation in 2025. Its...
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Tex-Eco Initiative: future-proofing Indian textile and garment exporters for global ESG compliance
India's Union Budget 2026-27, revealed earlier this week, outlines strategic shifts for the textile and garment industry to enhance its global supply chain role, focusing on value, sustainability and technology. The Tex-Eco Initiative was unveiled as one of the “Integrated Programme for Textiles"' pillars: It is designed to align Indian textile...
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AAFA study: Fashion fakes not only hurt brands but are also dangerous to health
Counterfeit apparel, footwear and accessories present serious chemical and product safety hazards to consumers. This is the conclusion of a recent study titled “Unboxing Fake Fashion Unleashing Real Dangers”. It was released by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), and supported by total assurance quality provider Intertek. As part...
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India's textile budget 2026-27: implications for global supply chains
India’s Union Budget was announced on 1st February, summarising estimated revenue and expenditure of the year 2026-27. As it maintains a strong focus on public capital expenditure to support logistics efficiency, urban development and industrial expansion, it has a far reaching effect on many sectors. FashionUnited has summarised the five key...
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A sigh of relief: What the US-India trade deal means for the textile and garment industry
Not even two months in, and the year 2026 already seems to be a promising one for trade deals. After the ink is barely dry on what observers have called the “mother of all trade deals” - the free trade agreement between the European Union and India signed on 27th January - another one is taking centre stage. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi...
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