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• Aug 13, 2025
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What is traceability in the textile industry and why is it so important?

Textile traceability refers to the ability to track the journey of a garment or other product from its origin—the raw material—to its final destination: the consumer or recycling. This system documents each stage of the production process (such as spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and distribution), allowing us to know how, when, and where it was manufactured, with what materials, and under what conditions.

The importance of traceability

Transparency and trust

In an era where consumers demand to know the origins and impact of what they buy, traceability offers security and credibility. When a brand can demonstrate that its products respect labor rights and environmental criteria, it generates trust and loyalty. 

Social and environmental responsibility

Traceability ensures that good practices are followed throughout the chain, preventing labor exploitation and minimizing pollution. It also facilitates recycling, as knowing the materials used is essential for separating and reusing garments correctly.

Quality and safety

An effective system allows for the rapid detection and isolation of faults, such as dyeing defects or composition problems, improving quality control. It also helps to comply with strict regulations, such as REACH in the European Union.

Operational efficiency

Recording each batch and movement reduces errors, delays fewer processes, and optimizes the supply chain.

Steps to implement traceability in textiles

1. Product or batch identification: assign unique codes such as RFID or QR codes from raw material to final product

1. Process recording: document each stage of the process (dyeing, cutting, manufacturing), including date, location, and operator data.

1. Use of technology: integrate blockchain for immutable records, IoT and RFID for real-time monitoring, and ERP software to consolidate data.

1. Information exchange: ensure compatibility between systems to share data between suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.

Faced with social, regulatory, and commercial pressure, large groups such as Kering, H&M, and LVMH have already implemented tools such as the blockchain-based AURA platform to track their products. Initiatives such as Fashion Revolution promote transparency in manufacturing, while campaigns such as Clean Clothes push for fair working conditions. Certifications (e.g., GOTS or Global Recycled Standard) have also gained relevance by supporting brands real commitment.

Traceability in the textile industry is much more than a documentary exercise: it represents transparency, environmental responsibility, safety, and efficiency. To become the norm, the use of technologies such as blockchain, IoT, RFID, and integrated management platforms, together with global standards and consumer pressure, is essential. Only then will truly ethical and sustainable fashion be achieved.

ITG Group recognizes that the products generated by its customers are distinguished by their quality, and therefore understands the importance of supporting that value with increasingly transparent processes. Traceability not only allows the origin and conditions under which a textile was produced to be demonstrated, but also strengthens confidence in its excellence. That is why ITG Group accompanies its customers on the path toward a more traceable, transparent industry that is prepared for the demands of todays consumers. We are your business partner in the textile industry. 

Information obtained from: 

https://www.vogue.mx/moda/articulo/trazabilidad-textil-que-es-y-como-funciona