A Transparent T-Shirt
A collaborative effort between a Berlin-based fashion label and a Swiss textile producer has birthed a unique t-shirt collection. These garments offer
complete traceability, accessible through a digital product passport via a QR code. The initiative ensures that consumers can follow the entire lifecycle of their clothing, starting from the very origin of the organic cotton seed. The t-shirts themselves are designed with sustainability in mind, being mono-material, plastic-free, circular, and returnable. This collection aims to prove that responsible fashion practices can coexist with appealing aesthetics, blending extensive industry experience with a forward-thinking approach to circularity.
Mapping the Supply Chain
The digital product passport, accessed by scanning a QR code on the garment, provides an in-depth look at the textile's journey. Users can opt for a textual or a map-based visualization, pinpointing the exact geographical origins and processing locations of each component. The organic cotton utilized in these t-shirts originates from various villages in the Meatu district of Tanzania's Simiyu region, sourced through a subsidiary that has been operational since 1994. This direct procurement model guarantees complete traceability and quality assurance, extending all the way down to the raw material level. The passport details that Remei's subsidiaries engage directly with local farmers, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring fair purchasing prices, market-rate payments, and an organic cotton premium. Crucially, the specific GMO-free seed variety, 'Seed UKM08,' is identified, a critical requirement for organic cultivation, with its name reflecting its origins from a Tanzanian university and Malawi, alongside its development year.
From Field to Fabric
The journey continues with the ginning process, which takes place at Bibiti Ginneries Ltd. in Meatu, Tanzania, a facility that has been integrated into the supply chain since 2003 and employs eight individuals. Information regarding audits, certifications, and visual documentation of the site is readily available through the passport. Subsequently, the yarn production and fabric manufacturing occur in India. Spinning is handled by Maral Overseas Ltd. in Khalbujurg, which has been a partner since 2010 and produces a range of yarns and fabrics. The company employs 2,443 individuals, with approximately 10% being women, a proportion attributed to the high level of automation in their processes. The fabric is then knitted at Fab Tech International in Tirupur, a smaller enterprise with 35 employees, including four women, and a participant since 2017. Dyeing and finishing are managed by Freelook Fashions in Perundurai, a partner since 2012, employing 236 people, with only three women. This facility also provides audit and certification details, along with visual evidence. The dyeing of the cotton yarn specifically adheres to GOTS certification standards at Eveready Spinning Mills Private Ltd., also located in Tirupur. Finally, the garments are assembled by Kaytee Corporation Pvt. Ltd. in Tirupur, a long-standing partner since 1998. Notably, this manufacturer implemented a living wage for all 252 employees, including 113 women, starting in 2024 through a fair-share payment system.
Environmental Impact Revealed
Beyond the intricate supply chain details, the digital product passport also sheds light on the collection's environmental footprint. The carbon dioxide emissions are broken down by production stage for the 2024/25 financial year. Cotton cultivation and ginning contribute 101 tonnes of CO2, spinning adds 71 tonnes, and garment manufacturing accounts for 57 tonnes. Notably, fabric production itself generates no CO2 emissions due to the exclusive use of electricity from renewable energy sources. The significant portion of CO2 emissions stems from logistics, totaling 213 tonnes, primarily due to the transportation of ginned cotton from Tanzania to India and yarn transport, both by sea and land. Air freight is utilized for 10% of textiles, a measure taken to mitigate delivery delays caused by longer sea transit times, such as those encountered during Suez Canal closures, and to avoid financial penalties. In total, the production cycle generates 1,114 tonnes of CO2, averaging approximately 2 kilograms per garment, equivalent to a 13-kilometer car journey. To further offset its environmental impact, Remei actively supports initiatives like the construction of biogas plants for farming families in India and the provision of efficient stoves in Tanzania to reduce local firewood consumption.
