How to be transparent as a fashion brand

Transparency in the fashion industry is something that we should all be aware of and strive to move towards. With the many environmental and ethical challenges that face the industry, it's important that both brands and manufacturers alike make an effort to be as transparent as possible with their customers.

Being transparent as a fashion brand is important because it creates trust between consumer and company, and allows customers to feel more engaged with the brand. At THE-CØDED, we believe that being transparent about where our clothes come from, how they're made, and who makes them, allows our customers to make more ethical and sustainable choices when shopping online.

So what do we mean when we talk about transparent fashion, and how can fashion brands adopt a transparent business model for success?

What is transparent fashion?

You may have heard of the term 'transparency' before, whether it was from a THE-CØDED blog post or through a Transparency Index Score report. But when we talk about transparent fashion, we don't mean see-through dresses and shirts!

No, transparency in fashion is about being open with your customers, letting them know exactly how your products are made, where they come from, and the impact they have on the environment and the people who make them.

Here at THE-CØDED, it’s easy to find out our stance on sustainable clothing and where our clothes are made. We believe in transparency and working towards giving back to the communities where our factory partner are located.

How can shopping brands be transparent?

To be transparent, fashion brands should be clear with their customers about the following:

Their supply chain

Being transparent about your supply chain includes being open about who makes your clothes and what materials you're using to manufacture them. There's a growing community of eco-conscious shoppers who want to know exactly where their clothes come from and the impact they can have on the environment. By providing your customers with this information, you can help them make more informed decisions about their shopping habits, building trust between them and your brand.

At THE-CØDED, we've built strong relationships with all of our manufacturers, allowing them to connect directly to their customers who buy their products and designs. As a result, we've created a community and supply chain that is truly transparent.

The policies they have in place

This is definitely an area that the whole fashion industry needs to improve in. Many fashion companies still struggle to be more transparent about their policies, with many practises of fashion brands remaining concealed - especially when it comes to disclosing information on workers in the supply chain and on the environment.

When it comes to transparent fashion platforms, start by being honest about your brand's policies, which can include things such as your environmental stance and the amount your factory partners pay their workers, suppliers and partners. Here at THE-CØDED, all of our factory partners’ workers are paid a fair, living wage for producing the clothing you see on our website. We also believe in quality over quantity, encouraging all of our customers to make more sustainable choices when it comes to shopping.

Working with factories they can trust

Having credible partners with strong CSR (corporate social responsibility) commitments makes it easy to be transparent as a company. Working with like-minded manufacturers and suppliers, who have the same stance on things like ethical practises and sustainability, is important if you want to make a real positive impact on the fashion industry.

Here at THE-CØDED, we only partner with manufacturers who have ethical practises at the forefront of their work. This can be seen in the very concept of our business through the cøde system we have with all of our factories. Many of them support local communities and charities, and/or instil policies that are focused on protecting the environment. Take 010 for example, who are working with local firefighters in their area to help supply first aid within their community!

The transparent manner in which all of our manufacturers operate has seen these relationships flourish, whilst also enabling us to showcase the process of where our clothes are coming from.

Transparent fashion by THE-CØDED

Learn more about our brand's transparency, including the factories we work with, and join us on our journey for ethical and sustainable fashion. Shop our ethically-made womenswear and menswear collections for pieces you will wear over and over again. 

As a transparent shopping platform, we can also connect you as a fashion brand to our supply chain. Get in touch for more information.

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