Saudi Fashion Commission Releases 'Ihram Circularity' White Paper, Promoting Sustainable Pilgrimage

17:25-28 April 2025 AD ـ 01 Thul-Qi’dah 1446 AH

Saudi Fashion Commission Releases 'Ihram Circularity' White Paper, Promoting Sustainable Pilgrimage

The Saudi Fashion Commission released its white paper, "Ihram Circularity: Weaving a Greener Hajj and Umrah Experience," detailing the innovative Sustainable Ihram Initiative and its potential to revolutionize textile waste management within the Kingdom and beyond.

This initiative marks Saudi Arabia's first foray into circular fashion, intertwining faith, cultural preservation, and environmental responsibility, said the commission in a statement on Monday.

The white paper serves as a comprehensive exploration of the Sustainable Ihram Initiative, which focuses on the creation of a special edition Ihram made from recycled materials.

This initiative transforms discarded Ihrams into sustainable garments for pilgrims undertaking the Hajj and Umrah, embodying a commitment to responsible resource utilization while honoring the spiritual significance of these sacred journeys, explained the statement.

CEO of Fashion Commission Burak Cakmak said: "The Sustainable Ihram Initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration, reflecting the collective efforts of local and international partners committed to advancing the circular economy within the fashion industry."

CEO of Tadweem – the Fashion Commission’s partner in the Sustainable Ihram Initiative- Mostafa Bokhari said: "This Circular Ihram represents more than a garment; it is a profound expression of faith intertwined with environmental stewardship. By uniting the principles of faith and sustainability, we are creating a legacy of mindful resource use while honoring the spiritual significance of Hajj and Umrah."

The "Ihram Circularity" white paper delves into the cultural symbolism of Ihram garments and their significance to pilgrims, the potential for scaling Ihram garment recycling and its impact on reducing textile waste, strategies for promoting the use of recycled Ihrams and raising awareness among pilgrims, and the role of technology and innovation in creating high-quality recycled textile products.

The commission invites industry stakeholders, researchers, and the public to explore the white paper and join the conversation about creating a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.

Valentino Unit Put Under Court Administration in Italy over Labor Exploitation

Designer Valentino shoes are seen on display at the Nordstrom flagship store during a media preview in New York, US, October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

Asharq Al Awsat

11:15-15 May 2025 AD ـ 18 Thul-Qi’dah 1446 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

11:15-15 May 2025 AD ـ 18 Thul-Qi’dah 1446 AH

Valentino Unit Put Under Court Administration in Italy over Labor Exploitation

Designer Valentino shoes are seen on display at the Nordstrom flagship store during a media preview in New York, US, October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

An Italian court on Thursday placed under judicial administration a company owned by fashion group Valentino for subcontracting its production to Chinese-owned firms that allegedly exploited workers.

The court in Milan ordered a one-year administration for Valentino Bags Lab Srl, which makes Valentino-branded handbags and travel articles, according to the 30-page ruling seen by Reuters.

The administration will be lifted earlier if the company brings its practices into line with legal requirements.

The court said Valentino Bags Lab "culpably failed" to adequately oversee its suppliers in order to pursue higher profits.

Neither Valentino nor Valentino Bags Lab could be immediately reached for comment.

French fashion group Kering bought a 30% stake of the Italian brand in 2023 from Qatari investment fund Mayhoola, with an option to purchase the whole of its share capital by 2028.

Valentino Bags Lab is the fourth fashion company to be targeted by the same Milan court over similar labor issues since December 2023, following an Italian unit of French luxury giant LVMH's Dior, Italy's Armani, and Alviero Martini, an Italian handbag company.

The Milan court lifted the judicial administration it placed on these three companies before the end of the one-year deadline imposed on them.

The judges wrote in their ruling that despite the previous cases being widely reported "Valentino Bags Lab kept operating with suppliers who exploit workers and use labor in violation of safety regulations, without in any way increasing its control systems".

The prosecutors in the case said the violation of rules among fashion companies in Italy was "a generalized and consolidated manufacturing method".

Italy is home to thousands of small manufacturers that cover 50%-55% of global luxury goods production, consultancy Bain has calculated.

DAY-NIGHT PRODUCTION

In the latest case, Carabinieri police from the Milan labor protection unit inspected seven Chinese-owned workshops around Italy's financial capital from March to December 2024, including one of the firms involved in the Dior case last year.

They identified 67 workers, of whom nine were completely off the books. Three of these were irregular immigrants.

Workers were made to sleep in the workplace in order to have "manpower available 24 hours a day," according to the ruling.

It said data mapping electricity consumption showed "seamless day-night production cycles, including during the holidays". In addition, safety devices had been removed from the machinery to allow them to operate faster, it said.

One of the contractors, Bags Milano Srl, has had Valentino Bags Lab as its sole purchaser since 2018, commissioning around 4,000 bags per month, with production costs ranging from 35-75 euros ($39.20-$84) per bag, judicial sources said.

These bags were then sold to customers at prices ranging from 1,900 to 2,200 euros, according to two judicial sources.

The judges said the owner of Bags Milano subcontracted the production of some of the Valentino bags to other Chinese-owned workshops.

The owners of the contracting and subcontracting companies are under investigation by Milan prosecutors for exploiting workers and employing people off the books. Valentino Bags Lab itself faces no criminal probe.

Investigations by Italian magistrates have over the last years exposed alleged exploitation of workers in the fashion and luxury supply chain.

Milan's court proposed in June 2024 a scheme under which luxury firms should strengthen checks on suppliers to ensure they respect labor laws.

Saudi Fashion Commission Releases 'Ihram Circularity' White Paper, Promoting Sustainable Pilgrimage