None of us could have predicted how dramatically and quickly our lives would change in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Almost overnight, many businesses in our industry closed or saw regular demand plummet. Many have successfully adapted to supply workwear or PPE, whilst others have seen business increase for e-commerce clients.

The way we do business has also changed. With so many of us working from home, offices have closed and we suddenly rely on virtual meetings. The crashing together of our personal and professional lives has been an instant leveller as we get a peek into each other’s homes, we’ve all had calls where someone’s dog appears suddenly or we can hear the kids yelling in the background. It reminds us, no matter where you are in the world, that we are the same, whether you’re the client, the supplier or the colleague.

In fact, we seem to be speaking more to each other than we were pre-lockdown. Some of these changes will last. It no longer makes sense to drive hundreds of miles or fly to another country to meet face to face. It’s far cheaper and efficient to have that meeting online, making presentations over shared screens. And whilst, of course, we did this pre-lockdown, now it has become the only way and the efficiency gains are undeniable.

It normally takes at least 6-9 months to develop, manufacture, market and distribute a new product. In this crisis, it took us 4 weeks to get organic face masks to market, showing just what we can achieve when we communicate well with each other, our suppliers and our distributors.

With most of the team on furlough, our 20-year-old company feels like a start-up again, with a small team in place and everyone pitching in. Our Financial Controller has become an expert in order processing and customer service, and at points, I have had to be tech support (Anyone who knows me will understand the irony of this). I think the cost-cutting strategies put in place by businesses may well continue as we realise the efficiencies to be gained.

We firmly believe that sustainability will be high on the agenda once the crisis abates. Looking back at the origins of the pandemic, it strikes me that a disregard of nature is responsible. SARS, Ebola and even Mad Cow Disease all originated from the same issue, our treatment of animals in particular – shipping wildlife across the globe, eating animals we shouldn’t be and destroying habitats causing human-wildlife conflict. The next crisis may well be an environmental one. Years of industrial conventional agriculture has degraded soil across the world – it’s estimated we only have 60 years of topsoil left, having huge implications on how we can feed ourselves. And we cannot forget that we are living through a climate crisis, causing more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns. In this pause, we have had time to reflect on our actions, and how our buying decisions can help ease the burden on the environment. Sustainability is not going out of fashion any time soon and we all have a responsibility to look at what we purchase and how we live our lives. If such huge adjustments can be made in response to the pandemic, certainly some adjustments can be made to help both the planet and the lives of all who live on it. Just maybe, the gentler, more sustainable and collaborative way of doing business that I have been advocating is now within our grasp.

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On 10 December 2018 during the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland (COP24) UN Climate Change has launched the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action in order to address the global fashion sector’s impact on climate change.

We are among the founding signatories to commit to implementing the charter’s principles and targets.

By signing on to the Fashion Industry Charter the organisations confirmed their commitment to address climate change and collaborate within and beyond the fashion sector towards a cleaner, low-carbon future. The initial target set by the signatories is to reduce our aggregate greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and phase out coal-fired boilers and other sources of coal-fired heat and power generation in our own companies and direct suppliers from 2025. The principles and actions outlined in the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action will be pursued and developed collectively through working groups which will be convened by the UN Climate Change in early 2019.

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The awards champion the most inspiring businesses who are making a difference by taking action to build more inclusive workplaces,
stronger communities and tackle our biggest environmental challenges.

Mantis World have been shortlisted for the Environmental Sustainability Award, focusing on resource management, tackling climate change and nurturing healthy ecosystems.

To coincide with the start of the Responsible Business Week, on the 23rd of April, a celebratory reception of recognition was held by the hosts,
One Hundred, Omnicom, on Bankside. Senior representatives from each longlisted company were invited to attend the celebration.

The Responsible Business Week is an annual initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the positive contribution of businesses to society.

Amanda Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said:

“More than ever businesses are expected to play their part in creating the society we all want. We are proud of Mantis World who have been shortlisted for the Responsible Business Awards 2018 for their work in helping to build healthy communities with successful businesses at their heart. It is good to see that sustainability is being embraced in one of the world’s most polluting industries. This is clearly a very forward thinking company that has been considering and working towards a sustainable approach to the environment for a number of years””

To find out more about Responsible Business Week and the Awards, please visit www.bitc.org.uk.

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Justin Mundy, the Director of the Prince’s Charities’ International Sustainability Unit (ISU), announces that 36 brands and retailers have now signed up to the Sustainable Cotton Communiqué and so pledged that, by 2025, 100% of the cotton they use will come from sustainable sources. Mantis World, thus far the only representative of the Printwear industry, stands alongside some of the world’s most renowned brands and retailers including Burberry, H&M, Adidas, M&S and Timberland in joining this commitment.

This announcement was made at the annual Textile Exchange Sustainability Conference in Washington DC, where over 500 textile and apparel leaders came together to discuss the most important sustainability issues facing the industry.  

In order that sustainable cotton becomes standard business practice, the amount of sustainable cotton grown and bought must increase significantly. This pledge clearly demonstrates that there is a demand for more sustainable cotton, and one that will only increase. The commitment made by these signatories will help to drive sustainable practices across the sector by helping alleviate the environmental and social pressures that are too often associated with cotton production including the over-use of pesticides, the release of greenhouse gases, the depletion of local water sources and rising costs of production.

The Sustainable Cotton Initiative, part of the ISU as established by HRH The Prince of Wales, recognises several existing standards as delivering sustainable cotton: Organic, Fairtrade, Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Cotton Made in Africa and, with reference to recycled cotton, the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS).

One Step Beyond: Mantis World’s 4-year plan

However, Mantis World has gone deeper than this undertaking by announcing their pledge to move to only sustainable cotton available 4 years earlier than as required by the Communique. The brand has committed to using only the most sustainable cotton, i.e. 100% Organic or recycled cotton, by 2021 whilst additionally committing to increasing their use of recycled polyester (rPET) over the next 12 months.

Prama Bhardwaj, CEO of Mantis World explains:

“The printwear industry is built around large levels of stockholding with the same style being relevant for years – unlike retail which has seasonal collections lasting just a few months. This, together with continuity demands from the customer, means making changes to existing lines is always difficult.  Whilst our policy for the last few years has been to introduce brand new styles in only sustainable materials such as organic cotton or TENCEL® by Lenzing, our challenge with regards sustainable fibres has been how to approach those existing, running lines.  We are delighted to announce we will be transitioning our existing styles to organic cotton, with work already underway to move our bestselling Superstar T’s and Babybugz T’s, bibs and bodysuits.  From the customer’s perspective there will be no impact on the feel of the fabric, the colour or look of the garment, with the only perceptible difference being the addition of a 3^rdparty, organic-certification logo to the swing tag”.

And what about price?

“There is a small premium on the price of organic cotton, but when the environmental and social costs of conventional cotton organic cotton are factored in, we believe it’s worth it. We can also confirm that Mantis World will be absorbing some of that price premium so that customers will be able to buy organic at nearly the same price as current conventional cotton”.

A Call to Action for the Industry

“We want to demonstrate that the printwear industry, as a whole, can make sustainability the norm rather than the niche. We hope that all suppliers will join us at a pre-competitive level and make organic and sustainable cotton a given.  If multi-billion-dollar companies such as Kering, Adidas and H&M can do it, why can’t we?”

Notes to Editors

This announcement, made at the annual Textile Exchange conference, follows the launch of the sustainable cotton communiqué at a high-level meeting in May this year that was attended by HRH The Prince of Wales and organised by The Prince’s International Sustainability Unit (ISU) in collaboration with Marks & Spencer and The Soil Association (UK).  The 36 companies that have signed the communiqué are: ASOS, Eileen Fisher, Greenfibres, H&M, IKEA, Kering, Levi’s, Lindex, M&S, Nike, Sainsbury’s, F&F at Tesco, Woolworths, Adidas, A-Z, BikBOk, Burberry, Burton Snowboards, Carlings, Coyuchi, Cubus, Days like This, Dressmann, Hanky Panky, House of Fraser, Indigenous Designs, KappAhl, Kathmandu, Mantis World, OTTO Group, prAna, SkunkFunk, Timberland, Urban, Volt and Wow. *

Information about cotton and sustainability

Cotton is the most abundantly produced natural fibre and its production supports the livelihoods of over 350 million people¹.  Despite its global importance, cotton production can be beset by many environmental and social challenges that undermine the sustainability of the overall sector. Whilst cotton only covers 2.4% of the world’s arable land, it accounts for 6% of global pesticide use². With around 2,720 litres of water needed to make just one t-shirt, cotton production is highly dependent on water, and artificially irrigated areas can deplete local water sources³. Higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change are likely to cause severe water shortages in some areas, as well as increase the prevalence of pests and diseases, and in turn negatively affect yields. The challenges of the cotton sector are also social and economic, with cotton farmers and their dependents negatively impacted by the over-use of pesticides and petroleum based fertilizers, and rising costs of production and volatile market prices.

[1] Fairtrade Foundation, Commodity Briefing: Cotton, 2015

2 Pesticide Action Network UK, 2017: http://www.pan-uk.org/cotton/

3 Fairtrade Foundation, Commodity Briefing: Cotton, 2015

More information, including the full text of the Sustainable Cotton Communiqué, is available on the ISU website: www.pcfisu.org/sustainable-cotton

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We are a London-based B2B clothing company, creating “blank” apparel, to be decorated and personalised by our customers. So, a T-shirt you bought at a concert, from an independent brand or in a souvenir shop might have been made by us, without you being aware of it. Sustainability, social responsibility and the environment have always been at the heart of what we do as a brand, since our inception 20 years ago. Our small and friendly team works closely with our manufacturing partners in Africa, Asia and Europe. Our collections for babies, kids and adults are available through a network of wholesale distributors all over Europe. In addition to our stock products, we also offer a bespoke production service that allows customers to design products according to their own specifications.

The role:

We have ambitious plans for our future and are seeing huge growth opportunities, especially in Southern Europe. To support our sales strategy, we are looking to recruit a brand ambassador to cover the French, Italian and Spanish market. Reporting to the European Head of Sales, you will be representing and promoting our brands, quality and ethos with the aim of increasing brand awareness and driving sales. You will work closely with the sales teams of our distributors, supporting them with product training and during joint visits or events. Building relationships with our distributors’ customers like printers, embroiderers, brands or merchandisers, you will be giving us market feedback and suggesting potential campaigns and initiatives for your territories.

The ideal candidate:

You share our passion for sustainability and textiles and have gained some first-hand experience in a sales environment. You are a native French speaker with a good command of English and Spanish and/or Italian. You enjoy travelling and meeting new people and are in possession of a driving license and a car. Being a self-starter, you are able to learn quickly and motivated to develop your role further within the company. You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and are well-organised with regards to managing your own diary and the admin that comes with this role. A knowledge or interest in garment decoration and the promowear sector is an advantage, but not vital as training will be provided. Last but not least, we are all professional and work hard, but we also like to be sociable and have fun and are looking for a like-minded person to join our team.

What we’re offering:

You will be part of a company that cares for their staff and supply chain as well as the planet we live on. In our small team, everyone has a voice and there is room for creativity and development. You’ll work in an international industry that is quite relaxed and informal.

To apply or to request further details, please message careers@mantisworld.com

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On May 25-26th, the Africa Fashion Guide will host the annual event, titled “Africa. Fashion’s Future” in 2017.
It will be set out over 2 large halls in the Chelsea Town Hall, SW3 5EE, centrally located in London.

To attend, please register and get your ticket here. Places are strictly limited.

Mantis World’s founder and CEO Prama Bhardwaj will be speaking on the future of value chains and supply chains in African fashion.

The post Fashion Africa Conference 2017 appeared first on Mantis World.

Mantis World are excited to be working with Canopy towards a supply chain free of viscose from endangered forests.

Click here to view our policy and visit www.canopyplanet.org for more information.

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Mantis World’s CEO Prama Bhardwaj hosted an Open Space session about sourcing from Africa during the Organic Cotton Round Table (OCRT) event on Thursday. The annual meeting, following the Textile Sustainability Conference, is a global stakeholder platform that supports and brings together the organic cotton community to be inspired, mobilized, and equipped to act. The OCRT has on-going Task Forces for Business Models, Seed & Soils, and Consumer Engagement, as well as an Innovation Lab that seeks out and celebrates new ideas in organic cotton.

For more information, please visit:

www.textileexchange.org

www.aboutorganiccotton.org

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    6pm      – Introductions
    6.15pm – Film screening of The True Cost
    7.45pm – Panel discussion chaired by Dr Alessandra Messadri (SOAS)
    8.40pm – Reception

Synopsis:

A story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing?

Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, and featuring interviews with the world’s leading influencers including Stella McCartney, Livia Firth and Vandana Shiva, The True Cost is an unprecedented project that invites us on an eye opening journey around the world and into the lives of the many people and places behind our clothes.
Panel Discussion

    Chaired by Dr Alessandra Mezzadri (SOAS, University of London)
    Livia Firth (Co-Executive Producer of The True Cost, Founder Eco-Age)
    Thulsi Narayanasamy (Senior Programmes Officer (Sweatshops & Plantations) from War on Want )
    Jessica Simor (QC)

Biographies:

Dr Alessandra Mezzadri‘s work focuses on labour and gender relations, labour standards and CSR norms in global commodity chains and production networks. She is an expert on the political economy of the global garment industry, with a special focus on India. She has investigated in depth the Indian export-oriented garment industry and its different regional labour regimes, illustrating the different ways in which sweatshops are formed and reproduced.

Livia Firth is the founder and creative director of Eco Age Ltd. As an Oxfam Global Ambassador, Livia travelled to Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh and Zambia, connecting with the people at the beginning of the supply chain. She is also a founding member of Annie Lennox’s ‘The Circle’, a powerful women’s advocacy group. Livia is a UN Leader of Change and has also been recognised with the UN Fashion 4 Development Award. In 2014.  Livia was awarded the Rainforest Alliance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability and the Honorary Award of the National German Sustainability Foundation.

Jessica Simor is recognised as one of the country’s leading specialists in human rights and public law, acting for a wide range of clients on a diverse number of issues. Jessica also has expertise in EU and commercial law, and issues concerning regulatory bodies, acting for organisations such as Ofgem, the ORR, Oftel and the OFT. Jessica has represented Government departments (such as the Department of Energy & Climate Change and the Ministry of Defence), NGOs including WWF, Refuge, Liberty, Environmental Justice Foundation and MDLI, as well as multinational corporations and private individuals.
Registration

The film screening is free with a suggested donation upon entry (£10 waged, £3 students and unwaged). To insure your seat please register here.

The London Asian Film Festival is an eclectic mix of films, stimulating interviews, outstanding lectures series, workshops, live performances, visual arts exhibitions, master classes and the annual short film competitions. The LAFF is hosted by Tongues on Fire, a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to provide a platform for independent film and arts with a link to South Asia. We celebrate South Asian culture, its vibrancy and its many dimensions through story telling, live events, master classes and film.

This film screening and panel discussion is hosted in partnership with Tongues on Fire and Asian Circle, a network of UK-based Asian women who share a passion to support vulnerable women in India and South Asia.

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