Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI) Officially Launches in London
Convened by the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), the event drew manufacturers, brands, federations, and civil society into a unified call for bold, localised action and a rebalancing of industry systems to better support manufacturer-led, nationally oriented action on industry transformation.
Opening remarks from Matthijs Crietee (IAF Secretary General) and Cem Altan (IAF President) laid the foundation for a day focused on structural change, while Christian Schindler (ITMF Director General) emphasised that ATTI is designed not to compete with existing initiatives but to fill a critical gap — centring manufacturers in transformation efforts that have often been brand-led or fragmented.
Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu from UN Climate Change spoke to the complexity of the current moment, urging the industry to move beyond isolated efforts and towards truly collaborative models that include policy, finance, and operational stakeholders. She emphasised that the pressure cannot fall solely on sustainability teams, and that systems change demands cross-functional and cross-sector alignment.
The core of the event focused on the ATTI model — beginning with needs assessments and collaborative solution design, and moving towards implementation through national chapters. Speakers such as Miran Ali (ATTI Global Council, Bangladesh) and Selçuk Mehmet Kaya (İHKİB) spoke candidly about the ongoing challenges to industry transformation, citing rising demands, obstacles to financing, and a lack of context-specific approaches.
From the brand side, Fernando de Bunes (Inditex CSO) and Felicity Tapsell (BESTSELLER Head of Responsible Sourcing) affirmed their support for ATTI’s practical, country-focused structure. They stressed the importance of building transformation plans that respond to national contexts and working directly with manufacturers to identify systemic barriers.
Later in the programme, Eva von Alvensleben, Executive Director of The Fashion Pact, framed ATTI as a much-needed mechanism to connect initiatives, scale impact, and ensure manufacturers have a seat at the table. She highlighted the role of coalition-building in unlocking industry-wide transformation, even when the path is complex and sometimes messy.
The speaker programme concluded with a conversation between Andrew Martin (Cascale Executive Vice President), Andres Bragagnini (Apparel Impact Institute), and Olivia Windham Stewart, an independent sustainability adviser who has been leading the development and implementation of ATTI on behalf of IAF and ITMF, and who also served as MC for the day’s event. Reflecting on the initiative, Martin described ATTI as “a dream come true” — a clear mechanism through which the industry can align brand expectations, localise implementation, and put manufacturers in the driving seat.
Andres Bragagnini of Aii echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of integrating technical solutions, financing, and local planning. He outlined how ATTI’s national chapters and manufacturer-led governance provide a practical framework for supporting transformation in key production countries.
As the event concluded, participants underscored the potential of ATTI to bridge longstanding gaps between strategy and execution. With manufacturers leading, brands aligning, and organisations like Cascale, Aii, The Fashion Pact, and UN Climate Change offering strategic support, the industry is better positioned to meet its 2030 climate goals through grounded, collective, and context-specific action.
ATTI Launch: Press Coverage
Just Style – Laura Husband, “Why Fashion Brands Must Support this Supplier-Led Initiative,” 30 June 2025
Sourcing Journal – Jasmin Malik Chua, “Long Excluded in Climate Conversations, Fashion’s Suppliers Create Own Seat at Table,” 27 June 2025
The Financial Express - Monira Munni, “Manufacturers Take Lead in Industry-Wide Transformation,” 27 June 2025
The Business of Fashion - Sarah Kent, “Fashion’s Suppliers Want More Say on Climate Action,” 26 June 2025
Ecotextile News - Simon Glover, “Manufacturer-led Sustainability Initiative Launched,” 26th June 2025
Photos by Ifemuyiwa Olayinka
