Articles by Simone Preuss
Simone Preuss is a freelance journalist specialising in apparel production, sustainability and social responsibility. She has been working with FashionUnited since 2012, gaining valuable insights into an ever-changing industry.
Shipping giants carefully navigate Red Sea Route again
German and Danish shipping giants Hapag Lloyd and Maersk announced in a routing update yesterday that they would resume services through the Red Sea route, effective immediately. This affects specifically their SE3 service, which is the gateway to Europe from China via the Middle East. SE3 starts from Qingdao in China or Kwangyang in South Korea...
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How current tariffs are impacting garment manufacturing and employment in Bangladesh, Vietnam and India
A series of escalating tariff regimes—most notably a universal 10 to 15 percent tariff implemented by the US—is triggering a massive reshuffling of global apparel sourcing. In addition, the US Trade Representative (USTR) launched a sweeping Section 301 investigation into forced labour compliance, threatening an additional 10 to 12.5 percent...
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From UFLPA to DPP: The shift from cheap labour to complete transparency
In recent years, the global textile and apparel landscape has transformed from a race for the cheapest labour to a high-stakes battle over supply chain data. While the EU and its trade partners are readying themselves for the upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP), not a few are wondering which impact it will have on global logistics....
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Fight against ultra-fast fashion gains momentum in EU
Led by Germany, France and the Netherlands, an increasing number of EU member states are calling for coordinated European action against fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion. The three member states raised the issue at the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on Thursday. They appealed to the European Commission to make existing and planned EU...
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Reju opens first R&D centre in North America
Textile-to-textile materials regeneration company Reju announced today the opening of its first research and development (R&D) centre in North America. Its establishment means the company is a step closer to building a closed-loop recycling ecosystem that converts discarded fabric and textiles into quality products. The new facility is located...
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Seasonal clothing discounts keep shop price inflation steady in the UK
Summer discounting keeps shop price inflation stable according to latest figures by the British Retail Consortium (BRC): While overall shop price inflation held steady at 1.2 percent year-on-year in June, thus matching May's growth rate, despite the stability, this figure remains slightly higher than the three-month average of 1.1 percent. “...
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The future of luxury: new report taps US and Chinese clients
The global luxury industry has officially moved past its explosive post-pandemic “super-cycle” and become a market that is fundamentally “shrinking and splintering” according to a recent report by McKinsey and Business of Fashion (BoF). “The State of Fashion: Face to Face with Luxury Clients” is based on a survey of more than 2,000 clients and...
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Study: European e-commerce to grow despite challenging consumer climate
European digital commerce is projected to grow by 6 percent annually until 2029, despite the challenging consumer climate. According to the authors of the McKinsey study, “Europe’s new e-commerce agenda: How AI is resetting growth and competition”, this not only indicates “remarkable resilience” but also describes a fundamental shift. Artificial...
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Heat stress: the very real supply chain risk the fashion industry can no longer ignore
The temperature is 35 degrees celsius but feels like 40 degrees due to the humidity. The air is stifling, the garment dust making it hard to breathe. The old ceiling fan is creaking and full of dust too, barely cooling the air. Workers, used to not drinking too much to avoid frequent bathroom breaks, sip on water spiked with electrolytes but...
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DPP readiness: When and how brands and suppliers can get started
The Digital Product Passport (DPP), part of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), will create a standardised system for sharing comprehensive product data, from information about durability and recyclability to recycled content and environmental footprint. “It is emerging as one of the most transformative regulatory and...
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