An awarded pioneer: BRANDS Fashion wins Fairtrade Award 2022

Buchholz, Germany, June 2022 | BRANDS Fashion, the market leader for sustainable corporate workwear and fan merchandise in Europe, has been awarded this year’s Fairtrade Award in the Industry category. Last Thursday, Mathias Diestelmann, Managing Partner and CEO, and Silke Rosebrock, Managing Director and CCO, accepted the award on behalf of the company at the ceremony that was held at the EUREF Campus in Berlin-Schöneberg, Germany.
Anke Engelke, the moderator during the award ceremony, summed up perfectly why the jury chose BRANDS when she asked what made the company a pioneer in its industry: BRANDS Fashion impressed the jury members with its innovative move – setting up the first Fairtrade Textile Standard certified supply chain worldwide. As part of this initiative, the business based in Buchholz has committed to ensuring living wages are paid throughout the whole supply chain within six years.

“We are delighted to receive this prestigious award,” said Mathias Diestelmann, CEO of BRANDS Fashion, as he collected it on stage with CCO Silke Rosebrock from actor Anne Menden, who was presenting the award. “We work hard with our partners and customers to establish fair trade as a standard and we’ve already achieved a lot: since 2016, we have produced over 10 million items that are Fairtrade cotton standard certified and, in some cases, have even been Fairtrade Textile Standard certified since late 2021. Since then, we have managed to collect and pay out 800 000 euros in Fairtrade premiums on top of the retail price to smallholder cooperatives, who can collectively decide how to use them. Along with our customers and Fairtrade Germany, we are proud that our share of the market was over 41% for Fairtrade baby clothing in 2021, and over 85% for Fairtrade workwear,” added Rosebrock. “We would like to congratulate all the other nominees and prizewinners on their excellent contributions and inspiring fair trade projects. We can only achieve change by working together. And evenings like tonight show that it is possible and inspire us to do more.”

A further honour was bestowed upon BRANDS Fashion during the celebrations marking Fairtrade’s 30th anniversary, which brought together various guests from the general public and trade as well as policy-makers, including the German Environment Minister, Cem Özdemir. Rabea Schafrick, Head of the Sustainability Department, was one of nine speakers to present “her” Fairtrade story and the work the company has done to achieve a fair and more sustainable textile industry.

BRANDS Fashion uses a combination of social and ecological certification mechanisms and relies on building close ties with suppliers and on joint continuous development. The company sees itself as a key disseminator of sustainable procurement practices.

About BRANDS Fashion:
BRANDS Fashion is the market leader for sustainable corporate workwear in Europe. This textile pioneer has been developing high-quality and fashionable workwear for well-known companies in Europe and the USA since 2002. Its portfolio also includes a wide range of private label, merchandising and promotional items. Its clients’ individual requirements are at the heart of its work. BRANDS Fashion is a one-stop solution provider, from creative design and market-oriented product development through to global online store solutions. Logistics operations are managed by BRANDS Logistics GmbH, an independent subsidiary. In 2019, BRANDS Fashion founded GoJungo GmbH in partnership with the Danish company Scan Thor. As an innovative platform, the start-up company takes over the complex and time-consuming processes involved in successfully selling on online marketplaces for brands, particularly textile companies. Please find more information on http://www.brands-fashion.com