Fair Wear, a multi-stakeholder initiative dedicated to improving garment workers' rights and working conditions, has announced a strategic partnership with the European Outdoor Group (EOG), the association that represents and promotes the European outdoor industry. This collaboration aims to create positive, long-term change for workers across the outdoor apparel supply chain by leveraging the collective influence of both organisations.

Fair Wear, known for its 25 years of expertise in supporting garment workers’ rights to safe, dignified, and fair employment, and the EOG, which has a membership of more than 143 organisations in the European outdoor sector, are combining forces to address key challenges in the industry. The partnership will focus on bringing Fair Wear's recently launched HRDD Academy to EOG members, to empower outdoor brands to transform the industry through impactful and practical implementation of human rights due diligence.

With a tailored learning experience that includes action-oriented tools and expert guidance, the HRDD Academy allows brands to drive meaningful change. The HRDD Academy will also enable brands to prepare for legislation, such as the demands of new regulatory frameworks like the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSDDD).

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Victoria Lauer, HRDD Academy coordinator at Fair Wear, comments: “By partnering with EOG we hope to significantly expand the reach of our HRDD Academy and the positive impact on the working conditions in the outdoor industry.”

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Dr Katy Stevens, head of CSR & sustainability at the European Outdoor Group, adds: “This partnership is a crucial step forward for the outdoor industry in Europe. As an industry, we are committed to ensuring our supply chains are both responsible and sustainable, and our collaboration with Fair Wear helps us achieve these goals by placing workers' rights at the heart of our industry values."

Fair Wear and EOG will collaborate closely over the next year through in-person events and digital platforms to ensure the outdoor apparel industry plays a leading role in advancing workers' rights. Together, they aim to drive meaningful progress toward a future where garment workers globally can fully realise their human rights and access safe, dignified, and fairly compensated employment.

To find out more about Fair Wear, visit www.fairwear.org.