Sourcery is inviting up to ten denim mills, manufacturers and vertical manufacturers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey and Italy to become Provisional Direct-to-Grower Manufacturer Partners.
Founded on the belief that existing cotton commodity trade system is not built for commercial and environmental impact at scale, the Amsterdam-based global sourcing platform connects brands, manufacturers and growers to secure and transact fiber, yarn and fabric with full transparency.
To close the disconnect between supply and demand, Sourcery’s Direct-to-Grower program uses a pull-based system of trade that “leverages forward transaction momentum at all stages of the value chain on fiber, yarn, fabric and finished goods through a commercially neutral facilitative process that drives more transparency, fairness, and efficiency and benefits everyone from grower to consumer,” the company stated.
The program aims to drive stronger demand in the market with Direct-to-Grower partners downstream into the entire cotton value chain.
By following the Direct-to-Grower approach, Provisional Partners can “test drive” the Sourcery and immediately engage, collaborate and buy cotton fiber directly from growers and sell denim yarn and fabric to other Direct-to-Grower Partners without any upfront membership fee. Sourcery said it does not charge a commission fee on fiber, yarn or fabric transactions.
Members will also be among the first mills to have the opportunity to participate in Sourcery’s forthcoming stock option subscription program that will be available to all its member partners. This members-owned strategy will allow the sector “to take ownership in and lead the future of trade as a global cooperative committed to transforming trade for good,” Sourcery said.
Last July, Pakistan-based Sapphire Textile Mills joined the Direct-to-Grower program.
“The denim industry is often the first to adopt new fibers, processes, technology than other textile categories who tend to be less forward thinking and responsive,” said Crispin Argento, Sourcery’s global marketing director. “By specifically inviting the denim community to join not just as future members, but to also take ownership in Sourcery is very much a part of our approach to transforming the ‘impact paradigm’ whereby growers, traders, mills, and brands can better collaborate, define, and now own the future of sustainable cotton and transparent trade.”
Sourcery said the Provisional Partnership Program has proven successful in India and Pakistan. Recent partners include spinning mills Shivatex, Armstrong India, Unitech Spinner, Nahar Spinning, Ken Enterprises, Ramco Group and GTN Textiles.