IBM Enters a Blockchain-Focused Partnership Aimed at the Clothing Industry

Tech giant IBM is partnering up with the textile company KAYA&KATO to create a blockchain-based network to track sustainable clothing production. The platform is to bring transparency to the creation process of the product.

A Blockchain Network For The Fashion Industry And Eco Production

The new partnership between IBM and KAYA&KATO will also be supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ).

According to an official announcement, the technology pioneer will cooperate with the textile company in aims to bring further transparency to the entire manufacturing process. The platform is reportedly constructed to face a number of customers’ needs concerning the whole process of clothing manufacture. The technology will bring some more transparency about the process, starting with the origin of garments and fibers to the completion of the end product. The network will also let consumers know if their clothes are sustainably produced or not.

As per the publication, the new blockchain implementation will also document and trace the whole textile supply chain. It will allow suppliers of organic cotton and KAYA&KATO customers to keep track of the origin of the fabrics and understand each production and distribution step.

Another fundamental aim is to create transparency in this part of the fashion industry and to develop a secured protocol for the traceability of ecological materials.

According to IBM, this is led by the increasing consumers demand to understand the environmental impact of the products they buy. The tech company has conducted a recent survey, in which 77% of consumers said that sustainability is important to them, and 57% surveyed said they are willing to change their purchasing habits to reduce negative impact to the environment.

“Blockchain technology is a catalyst for collaboration and transparency across industries and within supply chains. By creating shared visibility, the technology helps foster trust among companies and their suppliers, businesses and especially their consumers”, said Christian Schultze-Wolters, Director of Blockchain at IBM.

The transaction data, recorded in blocks on the chain, will be accessible to all partnering parties.

Blockchain Keeps Finding Its Place Into Industries

As many economies go through the changes of a modern world, blockchain technology has been proving its applicability to many industries, among which car manufacturing, mining, electronics and food cultivation and distribution.

The novel technology continues to show its advantages even in highly niche environments like aerospace, for that matter. As CryptoPotato reported recently, the aerospace giant Thales announced it would use blockchain for the development of its digital management system and improved inner connectivity between all its applications, thus complying with NATO standards as well.