28 June 2022
Fairtrade Award 2022 – BRANDS Fashion has been awarded in the Industry category
On June 9, Mathias Diestelmann, Managing Partner and CEO, and Silke Rosebrock, Managing Director and CCO, accepted the award on behalf of our company at the ceremony that was held at the EUREF Campus in Berlin-Schöneberg, Germany.
Anke Engelke, the moderator during the award ceremony, summed up perfectly why the jury chose us when she asked what made the company a pioneer in its industry: BRANDS Fashion impressed the jury members with its innovative move – setting up the first Fairtrade Textile Standard certified supply chain worldwide. As part of this initiative, the business based in Buchholz has committed to ensuring living wages are paid throughout the whole supply chain within six years.
We are delighted to receive this prestigious award
“We work hard with our partners and customers to establish fair trade as a standard and we’ve already achieved a lot: since 2016, we have produced over 10 million items that are Fairtrade cotton standard certified and, in some cases, have even been Fairtrade Textile Standard certified since late 2021. Since then, we have managed to collect and pay out 800 000 Euros in Fairtrade premiums on top of the retail price to smallholder cooperatives, who can collectively decide how to use them. Along with our customers and Fairtrade Germany, we are proud that our share of the market was over 41% for Fairtrade baby clothing in 2021, and over 85% for Fairtrade workwear,” added Rosebrock. “We would like to congratulate all the other nominees and prizewinners on their excellent contributions and inspiring fair trade projects. We can only achieve change by working together. And evenings like tonight show that it is possible and inspire us to do more.”
A further honour was bestowed upon BRANDS Fashion during the celebrations marking Fairtrade’s 30th anniversary, which brought together various guests from the general public and trade as well as policy-makers, including the German Environment Minister, Cem Özdemir. Rabea Schafrick, Head of the Sustainability Department, was one of nine speakers to present “her” Fairtrade story and the work we have done to achieve a fair and more sustainable textile industry.
We can only achieve change by working together!
If you are interested in the Fairtrade Textile Standard, please send a message to info@brands-fashion.com.