The U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) joined 129 international trade associations and multi-stakeholder organizations today to urge the “supranational, national, and local authorities around the world to modernize their domestic textile, garment, footwear, and related accessories labeling requirements and legally allow and support the use of more sustainable and economic, digital labels for required labeling information.”
“During the past 60 years, a confusing array of labeling requirements – relating to care instructions/symbols, fiber content, importer requirements, and origin of textiles, garments, footwear, and related accessories – have proliferated around the world. Created with the best of intentions to enable consumers to make informed buying decisions, these requirements are now hindering the industry’s efforts to be more sustainable and support the circular economy, including the enhancement of traceability. Industry estimates show that, collectively, these requirements now result in the annual production of approximately 5.7 million miles (about 9.2m km) of label tape – enough to stretch from the earth to the moon, and back, twelve times each year.”
Signatories in this effort represent all aspects of the global fashion and apparel industry, from those working with materials and textiles to industry groups focused on sustainability, including USFIA Partner iHKiB. You can read the letter here.