Made in Germany: for environment, jobs and health
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trend has become tantamount to local production. Now it's high time that the fashion sector follows in suit. But do we still have the knowledge and technological possibilities for local production? Can we make jeans in Europe, produce bags and purses and knit sweaters? And where? In this new series FashionUnited investigates garment production in six European countries: Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France - to shed light on the production possibilities that lie within our backyard.
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Today, using “Made in ...” certifications of origin are still voluntary within the EU and relatively open as they also identify those goods that were partly produced elsewhere. However, the EU regulations are set to become stricter and are supposed to define a country of origin as the place where the biggest, value-added component of a product is produced. Initiatives like “Wir produzieren Deutschland” (We produce Germany), “Ja zu Deutschland” (Yes to Germany) and others make it easy for German consumers, manufacturers, distributors and service providers to identify and support those companies that produce in Germany.
Made in Germany as a quality seal
The Southern German family enterprise Trigema for example advertises with the slogan “100% Made in Germany” for quality from Germany. The company was established in 1919 and is the “largest German manufacturer of sportswear and casual fashion” according to its website. The company does everything - from fabric production, design and sewing to the dispatch of the product to the end consumer - without relying on the help of subcontractors. It also only uses yarns produced in Germany or the EU. Ecological standards are also a top priority and Trigema uses only modern washing and bleaching units to help reduce pollution. All 600 articles in the company’s product range comply with the stringent Oeko-Text Standard 100, making them free from hazardous substances and do not irritate the skin. In addition, company-owned power stations supply the production facilities with power from renewable resources.
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“We are proud of our success over the last few decades, despite the huge difficulties the textile industry has faced during the last 30 years. We were not only able to keep jobs in Germany, but have also increased our staff numbers over the last few years to 1,200. I see it as my duty to involve people in the work process and to protect workplaces for the future”, says Grupp.
At the end of 2013, the German garment industry recorded exactly 160 establishments with a combined workforce of more than 27,700 people according to official figures by the German Federal Statistical Office (FSO). These are medium-sized businesses with at least 50 employees. Here’s their division by segments: mens- and womenswear (68 firms; more than 13,700 employees), undergarments (29 firms; more than 5,100 employees), other garments and accessories (23 firms; almost 2,400 employees), hosiery (14 firms; more than 4,100 employees), workwear (13 firms; more than 1,400 employees); other knitwear (10 firms; 650 employees) and leather garments (3 firms; 241 employees).
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Small, individual companies that have found their niche show that exceptions do prove the rule. Andrea and Frank Schürmeyer for example founded a knitwear factory in 1984 in Northern Germany that produces garments and accessories made of new and merino wool since 1998; since 2000 under the brand name Mufflon. Like Trigema, the small enterprise with 20 employees is focused on creating and keeping employment in Germany, local production and eco friendliness. “Mufflon garments are some of the few outdoor products that are produced completely in Germany. Almost 100 percent of the machinery used, materials, ingredients and workforce are from Germany or the EU”, states the company. In addition, it generates its own power with a company-owned photovoltaic system.
The biggest loser was the ‘other knitwear’ segment with a decrease of revenue by almost 52 percent from 144 million euros (January to November 2012) to 69 million euros from January to November 2013. The number of employees dropped by more than 32 percent and the number of firms by almost 12 percent. Overall, the German garment industry reported a revenue decline by 3.5 percent while the number of employees fell by 2.5 percent and the number of firms by 4.2 percent.
This trend corresponds with a survey by GermanFashion. The German fashion association asked representatives of the individual segments about their forecasts for 2014 as compared to 2013. The majority ranked the sales development for mens- and womenswear, workwear and sports/outdoor better than in 2013 while the opinion in terms of exports was divided: 46 percent said exports would be better in 2014 and 52 percent thought it would remain the same. Exactly 65 percent of the participants planned to invest in Germany, 27 percent in the EU and only 9 percent outside the EU.
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Medima is a medium-sized company that produces angora undergarments. With its 130 employees, it almost exclusively manufactures in Germany and like Trigema, according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100. Thus, phthalates, formaldehyde and chloric bleaching agents are off-limits so the company can guarantee their customers ecologically compatible and functional wear.
In conclusion, one can say that not despite but because of lower wages abroad and the resulting lower quality products, the German textile and garment industry with its specialized quality products remains an import consumer goods industry in the country. German garment companies have found their niche and bank on promising, growth-oriented segments like innovate sportswear, outdoor wear, protective clothing and workwear while not forgetting about the environment and job creation in the process.
Photos: Made in Germany/German brands (Wir produzieren Deutschland) / clothes made of organic cotton (Trigema)/children’s jacket made of merino wool (Mufflon) – Medima by Sonja Kiefer (Medima)