Fashion manufacturers have launched the Fashion Producer Collective to gain a stronger voice in sustainability decisions traditionally set by brands. The group, formalized in 2025, seeks involvement from the start of initiatives rather than at implementation stages. Members aim to address issues like duplicative certifications and unsuitable decarbonization requirements.
Kim van der Weerd co-founded the Fashion Producer Collective after her experience managing garment factories in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, revealed that many brand-driven sustainability tools overlooked factory realities. The organization now enables producers to collaborate on topics including worker health, energy use, and data requirements.
Saqib Sohail, a co-creator, said manufacturers should join projects from day zero instead of providing endorsements after decisions are made. Sapphire Group in Pakistan now holds 40 certifications at an annual fee cost of €130,000, illustrating the administrative burden described by members.
The collective recently developed the Bang for Buck framework for decarbonization investments with partners including Elevate Textiles. In April the American Apparel and Footwear Association released heat stress guidance and is now collaborating with the group on an implementation guide scheduled for later this year.
Members pay fees only for chosen activities, and the structure values contributed time toward costs to reduce uncompensated work. The agenda is set through producer-led projects, hubs, and peer groups rather than top-down directives.
