our collaborations from A to Z

From politics to production. From nationwide industrial networks to global collaboration projects. There are many ways of working together to make a difference. Here is an overview that is intended as a guide to how we collaborate on sustainability issues.

(The) Accord Bangladesh

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is an international agreement with action plans pertaining to construction, fire, and electrical safety. The agreement was established to create safer factories in the Bangladesh clothing industry following the 2013 Rhana Plaza collapse at the capital city, Dhaka, in which 1,129 workers lost their lives. The Accord is a collaboration among international and local unions, clothing companies, and trade organisations. In total, more than 1,600 factories are covered by the programme. Gina Tricot signed the agreement in 2013 and the company also signed Accord 2018, which covers a three-year period starting in May 2018.

Amfori BSCI

Amfori (formerly the Business Social Compliance Initiative, BSCI) is an organisation that strives to bring about better working conditions in the supply chain. At present, Amfori has brought together more than 2,000 companies in agreement on a shared Code of Conduct and supports these companies’ efforts to address social and environmental issues in the supply chain. Gina Tricot has been a member of Amfori BSCI since 2011. As members, we pledge to implement the Code of Conduct in our supply chains. Membership also gives us access to a platform for collecting relevant information about audits and our suppliers. The platform is an important tool in our continuous efforts to evaluate and monitor production.

 

Better Cotton (BCI)

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes a better future, for both people and communities involved in cotton farming, and for industries in which cotton plays an important role. Within the framework of BCI, farmers are trained in more sustainable methods that include everything from water use to fertilisers and insect control. The aim is not to produce organic cotton, but to help bring about more sustainable cotton production on a larger scale and improve the conditions for cotton producers. Gina Tricot has been a member of the Better Cotton Initiative since 2011.

Gina Tricot is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative to improve the conditions of cotton cultivation around the globe. Better Cotton is purchased through a system of mass balance and is not physically traceable to the end product. Read more about it here.

The Better Cotton Initiative improves global cotton manufacturing for the people producing the fibre. It’s better for the environments in which the cotton is grown and for the sector as a whole. Buying cotton products from Gina Tricot is a way for you to support the Better Cotton Initiative farmers, so they can use water more efficiently, ensure good soil health and natural environments, reduce use of dangerous chemicals, and respect the rights and welfare of workers

CanopyStyle

CanopyStyle is an initiative to ensure that supply chains are free of viscose manufactured from wood that comes from virgin or endangered forests. As part of this initiative, the non-profit environmental organisation Canopy partners with companies in the textile industry to influence fibre manufacturers and help speed up the process. The goal is to protect endangered forests and develop innovative solutions for more sustainable fibre production.

Gina Tricot contributes to the initiative by getting our suppliers involved and creating transparency downstream in the viscose supply chain. By documenting our viscose supply chain, we hope to ensure to the greatest extent possible that we do not rely on any wood from virgin or endangered forests.

Gina Tricot has also signed the Pack 4 Good initiative to work with better packaging solutions. Read more about it here.

Fur Free Retailer

Fur Free Retailer is a world-leading programme initiated by Fur Free Alliance, an international coalition of animal and environmental protection organisations. The programme involves and motivates companies to work together and become fur-free. It also helps increase transparency for consumers interested in fur-free products. The initiative has resulted in a digital list that guides consumers to companies that are involved in the programme. Gina Tricot joined the initiative in 2011.

gemme with gina tricot

Rent is the new new – in winter 2020, we launched a new collaboration: Gemme with Gina Tricot, a specially designed rental capsule collection with unique, hand-sewn dream dresses that focus on high fashion and beautiful materials. Gemme is the fashion industry’s online walk-in closet, where you share your own designer garments and accessories or get access to exclusive wardrobe “gems” directly from other fashion lovers and influencers. It’s a fun and more sustainable way to share clothes with each other. 

The collection, whose items can be hired exclusively through gemmecollective.com, was conceived in a mutual design collaboration and locally produced in Gina Tricot’s hometown of Borås, Sweden by XV Production – a visionary and progressive in-house concept in textile design and production. Collection pieces are available for rental in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden. Read more about it here.

Human Bridge / Fretex

Human Bridge is a professional organisation working with medical equipment aid. The organisation supplies hospitals around the world with used but well-functioning equipment. It also supplies clothing and other materials in places where there has been a humanitarian disaster. Gina Tricot has collaborated with Human Bridge and Fretex, its Norwegian equivalent, since 2010. Through this collaboration, Human Bridge/Fretex manage the products that our customers take to stores for reuse or recycling, or because the item is defective.

One Bag Habit

One Bag Habit is a joint effort by retailers to raise awareness among consumers about sustainability and lower the consumption of plastic bags. As of 1 June 2017, we charge for the bags sold at our stores and encourage customers to purchase sustainable bags that can be reused. All of the proceeds from the sale of bags go to charitable organisations that focus on sustainable development regarding environmental and social issues. Gina Tricot has been a member of the initiative since its inception.

Our suppliers

At Gina Tricot, we set great store in the collaboration we maintain with our suppliers. We believe in conducting business in an appropriate and fair manner for all involved. Gina Tricot doesn’t own any factories; all our products are manufactured by independent suppliers, and we’ve worked hard over the years to limit the number of suppliers we use. Why? Because having fewer suppliers allows us to create stronger partnerships and set shared goals – especially when it comes to sustainability. On our product pages, we present the supplier and production unit for each and every item we sell. Click on the link below to see a full list of our active suppliers.

 

Tier 1: Production units related to final products
This list includes all production units that are active for Gina Tricot, and which provide sewing, cutting, garment washing, placement printing, embroidery, garment finishing, and packing. So-called vertical suppliers – which provide both processes related to final products and Tier 2 processes such as dyeing and washing/finishing internally – are listed in Tier 1. This list is updated twice each year. The latest update is always available on this page. Last updated: August 2022

Tier 2: Production units related to raw materials and accessories
This list includes all production units that are active for Gina Tricot, and which manufacture fabrics and yarns; these units also provide dyeing, washing/finishing, all-over printing, and accessories.  This list is updated twice each year. The latest update is always available on this page. Last updated: August 2022

 

Re:newcell

Gina Tricot started working with Re:newcell in 2018. Re:newcell uses cotton waste to produce clean, natural, biodegradable raw materials that can be used for new clothes of the highest quality – and these clothes can be recycled over and over and over again.

With the help of our denim suppliers, Gina Tricot regularly donates textile waste to Re:newcell’s factories. This material is converted into new textile fibres that can be used over and over again. Our goal is to involve even more of our suppliers in the same initiative and of course increase our share of donated textile waste to Re:newcell.

STICA

The purpose of the Swedish Textiles Initiative for Climate Action (STICA) is to support the apparel and textile industries and their stakeholders in the Nordic region to reduce greenhouse gases, at minimum, in line with the 1.5 °C warming pathway, as outlined by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Ultimately, STICA’s aim is to ensure that the Swedish and Nordic textile industry does more than its share by becoming the first climate-positive apparel and textiles industry in the world, well before 2050. Gina Tricot became a member of STICA during 2019.

Swedish Chemicals Agency industry dialogue

The Swedish Chemicals Agency is a supervisory authority under the Government of Sweden. It is responsible for ensuring that companies and society at large conduct controls of chemicals in an acceptable manner. Gina Tricot participates in the Agency’s dialogue with industry to bring together government authorities, professional organisations, manufacturers, and distributors. Together, we discuss industry-specific issues and create action plans for a toxin-free everyday environment.

Textile Exchange

The Textile Exchange is a global, not-for-profit organisation that cooperates closely with its members to bring about change in the industry, with respect to fibre selection, ethics and standards, and responsible supplier networks. Read more here.

Textiles for Recycling Initiative (T4RI)

The Textiles for Recycling Initiative (T4RI) was set up through the efforts of several member companies of the Swedish Trade Federation. T4RI would like industry to take its share of the responsibility for ensuring that textiles have a longer life, or even a new life. With a focus on environmental benefits and a circular economy, the idea is that first and foremost, textiles should be reused. After that, they should be recycled in the best possible way by creating new fibres. Gina Tricot’s role in the initiative is to collaborate with the other companies in the reference group to create the conditions for doing this, discuss solutions for better re-use and recycling in the textile industry, and promote a healthy atmosphere for taking responsibility.

The Chemicals Group

The Chemicals Group is a network for sharing knowledge and news about chemical and environmental issues with its member companies. Through this network, more than a hundred companies have joined forces to tackle issues having to do with legal requirements and chemicals. They also share knowledge and information on responsible chemicals management. The network is run by Swerea IVF together with government authorities and experts from academia.

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel

Since autumn 2019, Gina Tricot has worked with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel initiative. The Swan is one of the world’s leading and most stringent environmental labelling schemes. This is a Type 1 environmental label, which means that it is an independent organisation that works according to the life-cycle perspective and with a holistic approach to development of criteria. 

We are very happy that our popular basic T-shirts are now certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. These must-have, all-round faves can be styled with just about anything for a fashionable, casual look. Our Swan Ecolabel-marked T-shirts are available in beautiful colours, and are made with reduced environmental impact in every step of production – from raw materials to the finished product.

The Swedish Trade Federation’s Network on Animal Welfare

The Swedish Trade Federation arranges network meetings to discuss issues concerning animal welfare and materials originating from animals. In 2017, as a result of the group’s efforts, the Swedish Trade Federation was able to launch an animal protection policy aimed at increasing knowledge and raising awareness about animal welfare issues. The policy has also been supplemented with a guide for purchasers and designers, regarding materials that originate from animals.

UNICEF

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is a United Nations programme that provides humanitarian and developmental assistance, along with disaster prevention and preparedness via its field offices throughout the world. Gina Tricot began collaborating with UNICEF in 2011, focusing on education of small children in Bangladesh. The project ran for more than six years and has ensured that 26,500 children (4–5 years old) have received access to education. Since then, we have continued collaboration in Dhaka, where families in particularly vulnerable areas have been given improved access to healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitary facilities, and education. In recent years, Gina Tricot has also held store campaigns that provide additional support to UNICEF.

Vinterie Second Hand – Second life by Gina Tricot

Our sustainability journey towards a more circular fashion industry is off to a great start in 2021, as we begin an inspiring collaboration with Vinterie: the new, Swedish, online-based second-hand service that gives fashion a second chance. Second life by Gina Tricot is a digital shop-in-shop at Vinterie.se, where selected garments acquire new value. We’re filling the shop with hand-picked, seasonal looks and unique statement pieces, for example from our sample collections. Everyone can join the journey and shop second-hand fashion, or offer their Gina Tricot clothing via Vinterie.se to other users who are keen to update their wardrobes with these garments. Together, we can help each other close the loop and make sustainable, circular fashion a way of life. 

The collaboration with Vinterie is available only in Sweden. 

World Childhood Foundation

The World Childhood Foundation works to ensure that children who have been exposed to different risk situations, in Sweden and abroad, obtain living conditions and are thus able to develop into strong, secure, and responsible people. By supporting Childhood, Gina Tricot contributes to more children having a secure and caring start, filled with joy, love and curiosity about life. Gina Tricot began its collaboration with CHILDHOOD during 2019.

WWF

In 2020 we initiated a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to ensure that Gina Tricot’s water strategy complies with the WWF model for Water Stewardship. During the collaboration, we’ll continue to evaluate our risks, and develop goals, strategies, and action plans based on those risks as well as the opportunities that we have to improve the water environment.