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.
Fashion for Good and leading brands to tackle microfibre pollution caused by fibre fragmentation
Fibre fragmentation is the breakdown of textile fibres into smaller parts, for example when washing or wearing clothes but also during the dyeing process. Particularly harmful is the release of tiny pieces of synthetic fibres, namely microplastics. They can accumulate in the ecosystem and pollute it and waterways, harm aquatic life by entering...
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Epson launches Textile Academy at new Innovation Centre in UK
Global technology firm Epson inaugurated a new Innovation Centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, UK, and launched its first ever Textile Academy, designed to be a platform that inspires young designers and design students to contribute to a better, more eco-friendly textile industry. To commemorate the opening, Epson invited textile design...
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How to use AI safely - tips and tricks
How can AI support customer loyalty? And can it minimise theft in stores? What are good prompts? How safe is AI and what are its limitations? These and other questions were discussed at a dedicated day of talks around artificial intelligence (AI) hosted by the German digital centre for SMEs with a focus retail on 11th February 2025....
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New platform supports sourcing of flax-linen and hemp in Europe
The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp has launched a new online platform that enables users to select creative textiles for fashion and home markets, as well as explore the latest innovations in European flax-linen and hemp materials and textile & technical solutions. The new platform, Linen & Hemp Dream Lab, is the result of the merger of...
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Fashion for Good & BCG: Demand for next-gen materials could outpace supply by 2030
“Materials lie at the heart of the fashion industry. They form the foundation of every garment, shaping the design, feel and functionality of the product. They also define the brand’s narrative and its appeal to consumers,” starts a new report published today and created by global sustainability initiative Fashion for Good together with the...
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Fast fashion? No, thanks - which brands to avoid
Non-profit organisation Remake has teamed up with Commons, an organisation that advocates for more sustainable consumer choices. A campaign is currently underway with the hashtag #NoNewClothes, calling on consumers to boycott fast fashion and spend less for a month. Given the reduced purchasing power of consumers who are very careful about their...
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Aid by Trade Foundation introduces new transparency standard for cotton
The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), known for cotton standards like Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and Cotton made in Africa Organic, announced today the introduction of its new transparency standard in the first quarter of 2025. Only in November last year, the foundation joined the transparency initiative Make the Label Count to ensure that...
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Study: How does automation affect workers in Bangladesh’s RMG sector?
Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of readymade garments (RMGs) after China, contributing 10.35 percent of the national GDP and 84.58 percent of the country's exports in fiscal year 2023. The country is also home to 61 of the top 100 highest-rated LEED-certified factories in the world and 229 LEED-certified green factories....
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Living wage report finds “limited progress" among garment and footwear companies
The 2023-2024 Annual Report from the Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF) has taken a look at progress when it comes to living wages and incomes in the garment and footwear sector. Thirty-three companies were assessed, among them Adidas, Asics, Esprit, Fast Retailing, H&M, Hugo Boss, Inditex, Kering, LVMH, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Primark, Puma...
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Cotton vs. polyester - why the recent cotton ban rumour managed to create such ripples
The text that probably triggered the rumours of an alleged EU-wide cotton ban by 2030 was a partner article. The article stressed that cotton was still an ‘environmental problem’, with the conclusion suggesting that an EU ban on cotton was in the offing if the fashion industry itself did not take action because European regulations made it so....
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