Producing in Portugal: An ethical and responsible commitment for the fashion industry

In recent years, "Made in Portugal" has become very trendy in Europe, and this is excellent news. By prioritizing local manufacturing, European brands are helping to reduce their carbon footprint while complying with stricter regulations on working conditions. Portugal stands out in particular for its preference for green energy, which helps reduce CO2 emissions compared to other countries such as China.

Social responsibility: A guarantee of quality

The fashion industry has a considerable social impact, with difficult working conditions, meager wages, and exposure to products harmful to health. Countries that export clothing massively to Europe, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, unfortunately have poor scores in terms of human rights.

In comparison, Europe, with an overall score of 2.51, is made up of countries with fewer human rights risks. This makes Portugal, with its mostly excellent working conditions, an ethical choice for clothing production.

However, Portugal's growing popularity has led to an increase in orders, causing some manufacturers to subcontract to smaller workshops where working conditions may be less than ideal.

Affordable and decent labor costs

Although Portuguese wages are lower than those in France, the local cost of living allows workers to live decently. With a minimum wage of 740 euros gross per month in 2022, Portugal offers affordable labor without leaving workers in poverty. The poverty rate in Portugal (17% of the population in 2018) is also lower than that of some other European countries such as Italy (20%).

Environmental commitment: Towards more eco-friendly manufacturing

The environmental impact of clothing is largely linked to the energy used to produce the raw material, the fabric, and assemble the garments. China, for example, depends on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas for 84.4%, while Portugal stands at 74.6%.

Although the difference may seem minimal, on a national scale, this represents a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing production in Portugal is therefore a guarantee of ecological quality.

Portugal's textile expertise: A benchmark in Europe

Since the emergence of environmentally conscious fashion brands in the early 2000s, Europe, particularly Portugal and Italy, has stood out for its textile expertise passed down from generation to generation. Unlike France, which lost its status as a textile country long ago, Portugal still has a skilled workforce and high-performance facilities.

Why not France?

Although France is recognized as the country of fashion, it is no longer a major player in the textile industry. The shortage of skilled labor and adequate infrastructure makes the complete rebuilding of the production chain in France difficult.

The lack of spinning mills in France, essential for transforming raw material into yarn, forces brands to look for alternatives abroad, often in Europe or sometimes in China, which complicates domestic production.

In conclusion, producing in Portugal offers many ethical and responsible advantages for the fashion industry. Human rights-respecting working conditions, affordable yet decent labor, a more responsible environmental approach, and high-quality textile expertise make Portugal a top destination for European brands concerned with ethics and sustainability.