#Sustainability

2024-09-05

Dondup partners with Bluesign to set a new standard in sustainable denim

Dondup, the renowned Italian designer denim brand, is excited to announce its official partnership with bluesign®. As the leading European denim company to join the bluesign® System Partner network, Dondup underscores its unwavering commitment to sustainability, responsible production, and environmental stewardship, setting a new benchmark in the fashion industry.

Founded in 1999 in Fossombrone, Italy, Dondup produces and distributes 100% Made in Italy ready-to-wear clothing for men and women © 2024 bluesign®

Bluesign® offers a comprehensive solutions system focused on sustainable chemistry, employing a holistic approach to drive environmental improvements, enhance worker safety, and increase resource efficiency. Through rigorous on-site assessments, management of input streams, and verification of chemical inventories, bluesign® collaborates closely with its system partners to develop tailored solutions that ensure stringent safety and sustainability standards are met at every step.

Dondup is now part of bluesign’s Denim Initiative, launched in March 2023, which includes a global network of leading denim brands, manufacturers, mills, and materials suppliers such as Everlane, Reformation, PureDenim, Saitex, Advance Denim, and ISKO. This initiative aims to revolutionize denim production by implementing clean chemistry and sustainable practices, ensuring the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility.

Matteo Anchisi, CEO of Dondup, states, “At Dondup, our commitment to sustainability and responsible production is unwavering. By partnering with bluesign®, we are advancing our mission to minimize environmental impact and uphold the highest safety and responsibility standards in our supply chain. This collaboration allows us to produce stylish, environmentally conscious, and socially responsible premium denim.”

The ripple effect of Dondup's partnership with bluesign® extends beyond the brand itself. As bluesign's clean chemistry practices are implemented throughout Dondup's supply chain, they inspire other stakeholders—suppliers, manufacturers, and even raw material providers—to adopt similar standards of environmental and social responsibility. This cascading effect ensures that every aspect of the production process, from chemical suppliers to material manufacturers, aligns with the stringent environmental and social criteria set by bluesign®.

“We chose bluesign® as a trusted partner to ensure our production processes meet stringent environmental and social criteria,” Anchisi continues. “Together, we are setting a new standard for sustainability in the fashion industry, prioritizing transparency and accountability. We are proud to lead the way in sustainable denim and anticipate the positive impact this partnership will have on our products, industry, and the world.”

Dondup's partnership with bluesign® is expected to create an echo effect throughout the fashion industry, encouraging numerous materials vendors, manufacturers, and other partners to join bluesign®. This collective movement towards cleaner and more sustainable production practices will further amplify the impact of this partnership, driving significant improvements in environmental and social responsibility across the supply chain.

www.dondup.com

www.bluesign.com/en/

bluesign launches bluepass alongside first consumer-facing campaign

With its first consumer-facing advertising campaign, bluesign is taking a new approach to making chemical management, manufacturing standards and third-party verification more visible to consumers. The UNSEEN campaign will launch on September 20 around New York Climate Week and accompanies the introduction of bluepass, bluesign’s new consumer-facing designation.

Inside the Making at Ecomondo 2026: Textile supply chain calls for transparency and measurable sustainability

Transparency, verifiable environmental claims and closer cooperation across the textile value chain were the central themes of the “Inside the Making: The Power of the Process” panel at Ecomondo 2026 in Rimini. Representatives from denim and sportswear manufacturing, textile finishing, digital printing and branding discussed how technological innovation and supply chain collaboration can help companies meet new European regulatory requirements while making sustainability economically viable.

Jeanologia and BCome connect factory data with Life Cycle Assessment and Digital Product Passports

A new white paper by EIM by Jeanologia and BCome demonstrates how primary environmental data from denim finishing processes can be integrated into a garment's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and prepared for use in a Digital Product Passport (DPP). A comparative case study highlights significant improvements at the production stage while also showing how these translate into the environmental performance of the finished garment.

Marks & Spencer expands across Asia Pacific through partnership with Global Fashion Group

Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Global Fashion Group (GFG) have announced a strategic partnership to expand the British retailer's fashion business across Asia Pacific. M&S has launched on Southeast Asian fashion platform ZALORA and plans to enter THE ICONIC in Australia and New Zealand in early 2027. The agreement also introduces regional fulfilment for Australian M&S.com orders, enabling faster deliveries and returns while supporting a capital-light international growth strategy.

Woolmark survey: 82% of consumers prefer natural fibres over synthetics

A new consumer survey commissioned by Woolmark and conducted by Ipsos across five major markets reveals a strong preference for natural fibres over synthetic alternatives. On average, 82% of respondents in the United States, France, Germany, Italy and China said they would choose natural fibres when price, style and fit are equal. The findings coincide with the launch of Woolmark's new global brand platform, “Return to Real”, which highlights the natural performance properties of Merino wool and the growing importance of verified fibre quality.

KARL MAYER introduces MULTIPLY BX for high-efficiency wind turbine reinforcement fabrics

KARL MAYER is expanding its composite machinery portfolio with the new MULTIPLY BX, a biaxial warp knitting machine specifically developed for the production of reinforcement textiles used in wind turbine rotor blades. Designed for high output and efficient material utilisation, the machine achieves production speeds of up to 500 m/h and offers a productivity increase of 20 to 25% compared with the established MAX GLASS ECO. The MULTIPLY BX will make its debut at the KARL MAYER (China) Product Show in Changzhou during ITMA ASIA 2026.

ReSpin founder Åsa Strandberg receives Innovation Champion of the Year 2026 award

Åsa Strandberg, founder and CEO of Swedish textile recycling company ReSpin AB, has been named Innovation Champion of the Year 2026. The award recognises her development of RespinJenny, a patented technology designed to recycle textile waste into new, high-quality fibres without using water, chemicals or additional virgin raw materials. The distinction was presented by the Olle Oscarsson Foundation and Axera Inkubator at Guldgalan in Sweden.