In a move to address the persisting challenges within the garment and textile industry, Fair Wear Foundation and the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This landmark agreement signifies their commitment to bolstering their joint efforts in promoting systemic change, particularly focusing on responsible purchasing practices and the impactful implementation of the human rights due diligence (HRDD) framework.

The collaboration between Fair Wear and STTI is poised to inject fresh momentum into an industry that has seen sluggish progress in recent years. Both organizations share a vision of a more just garment and textile industry where brands actively engage with stakeholders in manufacturing countries to enhance working conditions. Central to this vision is the establishment of equitable partnerships between brands and suppliers, who possess invaluable knowledge for informing HRDD efforts and responsible purchasing practices.

Fair Wear, with over two decades of advocating for responsible supply chains, emphasizes the importance of these equal partnerships in realizing improved working conditions. Margreet Vrieling, Associate Director at Fair Wear, highlights the significance of strengthening their collaboration with STTI in defining how such partnerships can operate in practice.

STTI, known for its contributions to responsible behavior principles, has been instrumental in refining the Common Framework of Responsible Purchasing Practices (CFRPP). This MoU further solidifies STTI's integration into CFRPP's work, fostering collaboration between manufacturers, brands, and retailers to enhance purchasing practices.

Matthijs Crietee, Secretary General at IAF and co-initiator of STTI, see the MoU as an opportunity to establish stronger links with Fair Wear member brands. Moreover, the partnership between Fair Wear and STTI promises to make substantial strides in shaping a global infrastructure that promotes responsible purchasing practices, crucially timed with upcoming EU legislation on HRDD. The collaboration will leverage Fair Wear's expertise in guiding brands on HRDD implementation and STTI's insights from representing supplier associations in ten manufacturing countries, delivering essential insights and guidance on responsible purchasing practices.