Sustainable Sourcing Matrix: Brazil

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30 MAY 2013

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In this matrix, SOURCE highlights 32 key Brazilian suppliers of materials and fabrics as well as manufacturers of apparel and accessories producing to ethical and environmental standards.

COMPONENTS AND TRIMMINGS MATRIX: A GLOBAL GUIDE

This matrix includes information on products, services and areas of specialisation, sustainable and ethical commitments and actions, business size and links to further information. From small to mass scale production, we present information on some of the highest skilled and sustainable suppliers and manufacturers for the fashion sector across Brazil. Contents include: 1) Denim; 2) Leather; 3) Fabrics; 4) Manufacturers; 5) Other Materials; and 6) Services

Key facts about sourcing in Brazil - The Guardian has called Brazil “a world of untapped potential” - The industry is worth 63 billion USD, comprising of 30,000 companies and producing 9.5 million garments every year - Textiles & fashion sector is second largest employer in the country and the fourth largest exporter in the world (not including the export of cotton fibre - Producing textiles in Brazil is expensive and the cost of labour is particularly high - Bureaucratic system is one of the most complicated in the world particularly for the import and export of goods - Due to strong domestic market, only 15% of the industry’s output - Ethical and sustainable business practices are almost inherent across the Brazilian market, with fair trade practices being supported through public policy For more detailed analysis read this piece by textiles expert Ilaria Pasquinelli.

Socio-environmental projects to support sustainable fashion in Brazil Instituto E has developed projects such as e-fabrics, which aims to identify sustainable materials that can be used by fashion and textile industries; it also intends to create a conscious consumer culture and to promote studies on the production process impacts on the environment in order to preserve diversity, to improve social relationships, and to create well-designed products. Likewise, Traces is an interesting project developed as a partnership between Brazil and Italy that aims to combine fashion and sustainability by tracing the carbon footprint impact created throughout the ‘e-fabric’ production chain. The project’s objective is to analyse the socio-environmental impact caused by six e-fabrics (pirarucu fish skin, PET and cotton recycled canvas, ecological silk, recycled fabrics, organic cotton and eco jute canvas) throughout their lifecycles. Cotece is an institute focused on the promotion of creative and educational practices to engage people and companies on social projects in order to develop sustainable products. The institute’s mission is to provide innovative solutions towards sustainable fashion through workshops, talks and collaborative work with craftspeople. Selo Qual is a programme developed by ABIT (Brazilian Association of Textile Industry and Apparel) to support companies across the textiles and fashion industry to develop strategies based on merging sustainability and quality. Selo Qual was launched in 2006 with the purpose of certificating and ensuring quality, innovation and socio-environmental responsibility. Now, the aim is to disseminate the certificate to every company in the sector in order to promote Brazilian fashion as a benchmark of quality and sustainability. In recent years, some renowned Brazilians brands have faced problems regarding workers’ healthy and security. National and transnational companies that were involved in this net were encouraged by the Instituto Ethos of Social Responsibility and International Labor Organization (ILO) to deal with labour issues across their value chains. In 2005, the Brazilian Pact to Eradicate Slave Labour launched with the purpose to implement tools so that the corporate sector and Brazilian society could avoid commercializing products from suppliers that have made use of slave labour. In São Paulo, fashion consultant Chiara Gadaleta Klajmic created a project called Ser Sustentável com Estilo with the aim to promote ethical and sustainable fashion, recycling, conscious consumerism, and to support Brazilian traditional crafts. Chiara and her team believe in fashion as an agent of change, so they facilitate talks and workshops to disseminate the ideas of sustainable development and creative economy based on Brazilian traditional culture and craftsmanship in several cities and communities in Brazil.

PLEASE NOTE: You must be a member to download the SUSTAINABLE SOURCING & MANUFACTURE MATRIX: BRAZIL. Research compiled by SOURCE Editorial Assistant and Brazilian native, Eloisa Artuso