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.
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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Circular future: winners of the Zalando VORN Design Academy
The Zalando VORN Design Academy has announced the winners of its emerging talent award for the fourth time. The ten finalists are currently exhibiting their creations at Berlin Fashion Week. The Design Academy was developed in 2022 by Zalando's Social Impact Team in partnership with VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub. It connects emerging designers...
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Redefining retail: the strategic shift from linear mall toward circular shopping complex
Can shopping centres become centres for a circular society? And if yes, how can they evolve from linear consumption centres into vibrant, circular hubs that drive economic resilience and cultural relevance? The whitepaper “Don’t Call It Circular Society Mall”, presented today at Berlin Fashion Week, explores these questions. It was developed by...
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How the India-EU FTA will level the playing field for the textile and apparel industry
For many garment industry insiders who have navigated the ebb and flow of global supply chains for years, witnessing the formal signing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27th January 2026 seems like the dawn of a new era. For decades, Indian exporters felt as if one hand was tied behind their backs as they faced stiff tariffs while...
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