Benetton becomes first European fashion firm to join IWTO

Benetton’s decision to join IWTO further underlines the central role of knitwear and wool in its overall strategy. Wool’s highly elastic and resilient natural fibres make it an extraordinary and unique material, which – when combined with innovative knitting technology – allows for the purest expression of the United Colors of Benetton brand identity.

Benetton will make its IWTO debut at the Organisation's upcoming Annual Congress from May 3-5 2017 in Harrogate (UK). "We are the first European fashion company to join IWTO," said Marco Airoldi, chief executive of Benetton Group. "This is a new first and a further demonstration of the ethical approach which is at the heart of Benetton Group, a company for whom social commitment, caring for the environment, a well-monitored supply chain and transparency towards the consumer are the core values of a model of responsibility that goes above and beyond our commercial objectives."

IWTO membership will enable Benetton Group to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and transparency in the supply chain, setting in motion a continuous dialogue with the main players of the wool industry and allowing the Group to participate actively in discussions on current important issues, such as wool recycling, research on yarn quality and the application of animal welfare principles within the wool industry supply chain.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India