1- Make your suppliers aware of their role in the production of products sold by fashion brands.
Explain to your suppliers that even if they are not directly in contact with the final brand, the brand is responsible for its entire supply chain. Therefore, the brand must provide projections on eco-design, risk management, and knowledge of its suppliers. Your suppliers are, in fact, indirectly involved in traceability projects, regardless of whether they are a Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 supplier, or a trader.
2- Raise awareness about the rapid evolution of laws.
The legislative landscape has been evolving rapidly in recent years toward greater supply chain transparency. The goal is twofold: to protect suppliers—by addressing risks such as forced labor or deforestation—and to reduce the environmental impact of products by measuring their impact and implementing impact reduction strategies. Some current laws, such as the UFLPA, AGEC law and the due diligence, but also forthcoming European laws (DPP) require brands to have a minimum knowledge of suppliers involved with the risk of penalties / bans on selling their products.
3- Reassure your suppliers about the project's non-commercial objectives.
Explain to your suppliers that the brand's CSR objectives are a priority if brands want to grow, and that their cooperation is needed to achieve them. You can find some examples in this article of why their cooperation is crucial. If possible, please mention traceability in your purchase orders and purchasing terms to help them to anticipate.
4- Suppliers who cooperate are valued by the brands.
Encourage your suppliers to use these projects as an opportunity to showcase their company and highlight their best practices (share their certifications, their renewable energy initiatives, and more.) Transparency and supplier collaboration have become extremely important prerequisites for fashion brands.
5- Tell them about Fairly Made and let them discover us.
You're our best link, so encourage them to sign up for our webinars and get in touch with us to better understand who we are and how we work.
We understand that these changes can be disruptive for the textile and leather industries, which have long operated with a high level of confidentiality. However, it’s important to recognize that transparency will no longer be optional in the future. Everyone will be required to provide precise traceability information in order to continue collaborating. At Fairly Made, part of our mission is to help you prepare for this transition.