Until a few years back, brands had the liberty to choose suppliers that delivered the best product at the lowest cost. That scenario has changed now. Consumers want high - quality products faster and at an attractive price point. To meet these regulations, supply chains hence need to be efficient with their responsiveness, without compromising on the product.

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With the alarming impact of fashion on the environment, consumers are now aware of its implications more than ever. Brands that like to stay ahead of the curve — and, by curve, we mean imminent industry regulations, go above and beyond overarching competition. Here are a few ways brands can go about the process of sourcing suppliers for their sustainable clothing collections:

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1. Frame it for success: Identify your selection process internally and define your own criteria for sustainable production, vis - à - vis, a checklist you expect them to meet from an environmental and social impact standpoint. Categorise suppliers on high-low risk & importance and appropriately allocate resources to get the best out of the situation.

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Are they paying minimum wages to their factory workers? What kind of raw materials are they sourcing? Are they using harmful dyes in their dyeing unit? Do they use renewable sources of energy (wind / solar) in their factory? etc. — these are some of many questions you need to ask before you zoom in on the suppliers.

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2. The proof is in the material: Organic cotton, Tencel, modal, linen, hemp, recycled cotton, recycled wool, bamboo, recycled polyester, eco-viscose — these are a few eco-friendly materials with minimum impact on the environment. While producing a sustainable collection, it’s vital your fabric suppliers get the most basic thing right - the raw material.

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Do they source from registered vendors? Are their raw material / fabrics certified? Do they cover a lot of distance to source the raw material as that significantly increases your footprint? Is the cotton organically grown with minimum water consumption?

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3. Certify or bye: Industry-standard certifications are a great way to tell if your garment factory fits your criteria. At altromondo, we have done our extensive research on the most rigorous industry certifications —- GOTS, GRS, OEKO TEX, WRAP, SEDEX, BLUSIGN, SA8000 etc.. We know which ones guarantee authentication and ensure certain environmental & social criteria are met.

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4. The earlier you integrate: As a brand aiming to produce a sustainable clothing line, it is vital to maximise the reduction of carbon footprint. important to make choices that leave the least amount of carbon footprint. A vertically integrated factory ensures less transportation from one point to another, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint of a brand’s production process.

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5. Quality is the lock AND the key: Needless to say, when you, as a brand, develop develop a sustainable line, your costs get higher — sourcing organic & recycled raw materials, sustainable manufacturing & dyeing, eco-friendly packaging etc. —- it is important your customer gets a high quality sustainable product against the higher price they are paying.

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Select a supplier that is consistently high on quality and, delivers value with respect to:

• Customer service
• Delivery commitment
• Reliability & responsiveness
• Reduced resource consumption

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6. Perform, measure, repeat: Auditing suppliers is extremely crucial while developing a sustainable clothing line. You should always conduct an audit before the contract is signed to confirm that the supplier does not have any significant compliance or quality system failures that could affect your ability to produce.

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Establishing metrics in place to measure performance & offer feedback to optimise future performance is vital.  Examples of these metrics include rejected lots, perfect shipments and documentation errors. The metrics selected should measure the total cost of ownership, as well as improve performance toward the maximum finished product performance.

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7. Long-term or u-turn: Building any long term partnership in the industry is a delicate process - it takes time, effort & understanding each other. You need to assess the production & monitor your suppliers & garment factories to develop strategic partnerships to ensure mutual benefits for all parties involved.

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8. Package it green: Apart from the raw materials for your sustainable line, selecting the right supplier for your eco-friendly packaging adds to lowering your footprint. Suppliers that have switched to compostable paper alternatives, or bio - based packaging like corn / sugarcane, compostable plastic are the future of the industry.  

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At altromondo, we take the onus of finding the right supplier for you. We source suppliers on the basis of your internal criteria, ensuring that they deliver the best quality products without compromising on style & price. We measure their performance, & establish a proper feedback system to continue to establish a long term partnership.

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Most importantly, altromondo has its own extensive environmental and social criteria for suppliers to meet before we take them onboard. We do all the ground-work for you –. we visit the factories and ensure all systems, certifications & infrastructure are truly environmentally friendly & compliant.

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In short, we authenticate the whole process for you so you know you are in safe & reliable hands.

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