Fashion Archives - Trade for Development Centre

The path to ethical clothing

December 23rd 2022

For many years now, we’ve known that the way we consume has negative consequences on both people and planet. The 2013 Rana Plaza collapse, which killed more than 1,100 people working for major clothing brands, shone a light on the appalling working conditions in sweatshops. On 27 September 2022, Enabel’s TDC hosted a conference on ethical clothing, followed by a fashion show. The event was attended by more than 150 people. The debates focused on two key questions: Have working conditions in the textile industry improved since the collapse of Rana Plaza? And is Made in Europe a guarantee of decent work?

Supergoods: sustainable clothes for trendy shoppers

March 24th 2021

When shopping, don’t focus on what’s in fashion, but look for your own style that suits you. Tonny van Bavel Tweet In 2012, Mechelen couple

Relaxed sustainable shopping? Check out the Harvest Club

October 13th 2020

Welcome to the Harvest Club, in the heart of Leuven. Stefanie Vereecken selects a wide range of clothing, home décor, accessories and beauty and care products for her sociable concept store. All from suppliers with their heart in the right place, just like Stefanie. Want to take a look inside?

Kalani: household linen that is organic and fair trade

September 2nd 2020

Kalani’s household linen is both organic and fair trade. It is one of the few textile brands in the world that knows exactly where the cotton for its household linen comes from. Founder Bruno Van Steenberghe talks about his commitment to farmers in India, about his concern for the environment, and the health of his customers.

L’envol du colibri in Namur: the fashion boutique doing its part

May 25th 2020

After two and half years of selling clothes via private sales and at fair trade shows, at the end of 2019 Sophie Depas and Esther Sougné opened the L’envol du colibri boutique in Namur. They support the idea of ethical and sustainable fashion, through brands for both women and men. An interview with the two ladies.

Mr. Manchette converts fair fashion novices with sustainable shirts

May 22nd 2020

“Our shirts should catch the eye of the buyer first and foremost because they are stylish and high quality. In doing so they prove this goes hand in hand with fairness and sustainability.” These are the words of An Boone, founder of the Belgian fair fashion brand Mr. Manchette. With her sustainable men’s shirts she fills a gap in both conventional clothing and fair fashion shops.

Coronavirus strengthens case for new EU textile laws – 65 civil society groups publish joint vision

May 8th 2020

As the European Commission is poised to start developing a new ‘comprehensive strategy for textiles’ in the coming months, a group of 65 diverse civil society organisations has set out its vision for the global Textile, Garments, Leather and Footwear (TGLF) sector. They have done so by releasing a non-official (or “shadow”) strategy in which they propose a set of legislative and non-legislative actions that the EU can undertake to contribute to fairer and more sustainable TGLF value chains.

COSH! for easy sustainable fashion shopping

April 28th 2020

Niki De Schryver found that many people want to buy sustainable clothing but don’t know how. That’s why she launched COSH!

European Fair Trade Capital Ghent

April 24th 2020

From fair trade coffee to fair fashion For many years the Fair Trade Towns campaign has shown that local authorities can play an important role

Fashion Revolution

March 14th 2020

Chloé Mikolajczak is the coordinator of Fashion Revolution Belgium, the Belgian branch of the international movement aiming for a more ethically and environmentally sustainable fashion industry. She talks with us about the roots of the movement, its transforming strength and the challenges that brands face.