Fashion's Future: Due Diligence Gets Real

Fair Wear has launched its 2026-2030 strategy, aiming to integrate human rights and environmental due diligence more deeply into the garment, textile, and footwear sectors. The organization stresses that reactive risk management is insufficient due to current global challenges. This new approach prioritizes due diligence informed by affected stakeholders, aligning with daily business operations. Multistakeholder collaboration is highlighted as key to accelerating innovation and problem-solving in supply chain human rights risks.

Simultaneously, CmiA, a sustainable cotton standard, announced an updated standard taking effect in 2026. This revision will require CmiA-verified cotton companies to bolster their monitoring, reporting, and corrective actions concerning human rights and environmental protection. This update aims to offer fashion brands and textile firms greater assurance for their due diligence and sustainability reporting efforts, ensuring respect for human rights is a core integrated requirement.

Both initiatives underscore a proactive shift towards more robust ethical practices. Fair Wear's strategy focuses on making Human Rights Due Diligence practical and impactful, with plans to share insights across sectors. CmiA's updated standard ensures training programs are inclusive and accessible, promoting participation by women, young people, and vulnerable groups. Cotton companies will also implement monitoring systems to assess human rights risks and engage with local communities.