Hamburg/Metzingen, 2019-09-11. Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) is expanding its network of cooperation partners and brands to include Hugo Boss. This partnership will see the premium-segment fashion firm develop a series of new products that will hit the shelves next spring.
"Cotton made in Africa’s standard meet our exacting requirements for high-quality, sustainable cotton”, says Andreas Streubig, Director of Global Sustainability at HUGO BOSS. He is pleased to announce that “over 40 percent of the cotton we use is already sustainable, and this partnership will allow us to further increase that proportion, putting us well on our way to reaching at least 90 percent by 2025”. Comprising around half of all material used by HUGO BOSS, cotton plays a significant role for the German fashion company, which has committed to sourcing 50 percent of its cotton from sustainable production by 2020 and 90 percent by 2025.
Cotton made in Africa operates on the principle that partnering retailers and brands pay a licence fee for every product bearing the CmiA label. Income from licensing fees are reinvested in its African project areas where they are used to train cotton farmers in sustainable cultivation methods and basic business administration. This enables farmers to improve their water and soil management. At the same time, the use of genetically-modified seeds and the deforestation of primary forests are prohibited. Around one million smallholder farmers in eleven countries are currently participating in the initiative, through which their cotton is sold to more than 40 international textile companies and brands, including Cortefiel, OTTO, or Asos.
About HUGO BOSS
HUGO BOSS AG is one of the leading companies in the upper premium segment of the global apparel market. With its head office in Metzingen (Germany) and some 14,700 employees worldwide, the company develops and markets high-quality fashion and accessories for men and women under its BOSS and HUGO brands. In the 2018 financial year, it generated EUR 2.8 billion from sales of modern tailoring, elegant evening wear, casual clothing, shoes, and leather accessories as well as royalties from products such as fragrances, eyewear, and watches. More information about our company is available on our website, at group.hugoboss.com. The latest collections can be found at hugoboss.com.
Press Contact for HUGO BOSS
Dr. Hjördis Kettenbach,
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 7123 94-83377
Email: hjoerdis_kettenbach@hugoboss.com
About the Aid by Trade Foundation & Cotton made in Africa (CmiA)
Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) is an internationally recognised standard for sustainably produced cotton from Africa. Established by the Hamburg-based Aid by Trade Foundation (ABTF) in 2005, the initiative employs trade rather than donations to empower cotton farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve living conditions for themselves and their families while protecting the environment. In 2018, 103 million textile products bore the label of Cotton made in Africa. More information is available at www.cottonmadeinafrica.org.
Press Contact for Cotton made in Africa
Christina Ben Bella
Tel.: +49 40 2576 75521
Email: christina.benbella@abt-foundation.org
