Spotlight on Retraced, Tech Innovator

Weaving a New Fabric of Trust: Retraced's Digital Revolution in Fashion

Retraced is a traceability & sustainability compliance management platform that enables fashion companies to digitise & trace their supply chains, efficiently manage their compliance data, and gain full transparency down to the raw materials.

The dynamic startup with an eye on the future, is rapidly becoming the go-to platform for brands seeking to navigate the complex world of sustainable supply chains and transparent production.

Founded with a mission to humanize and accelerate the global fashion industry's shift towards responsible practices, Retraced has quickly caught the attention of industry giants and conscious consumers alike. Their innovative platform offers a digital thread that connects every step of a garment's journey, from raw material to retail rack, weaving a tapestry of transparency that's as stylish as it is sustainable.

"We're not just building software; we're crafting a new standard for the industry," says Lukas Pünder, co-founder and CEO of Retraced. This entrepreneurial spirit is evident in the company's rapid growth and impressive client roster, which reads like a who's who of fashion. With over 150 brands, including heavyweights like Desigual, Victoria's Secret, and Tom Tailor, Retraced is proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

What inspired the founding of Retraced?

The idea for Retraced emerged from a frustration with how opaque global supply chains still are - especially in an industry as impactful as fashion. We saw a clear need for scalable, digital solutions that help brands meet rising expectations for transparency and sustainability. What inspired us most was the potential to create not just a product, but an infrastructure that empowers companies to make more responsible decisions and truly transform how things are made.

But what sets Retraced apart in a sea of sustainability solutions? It's their holistic approach to an industry-wide challenge. The platform doesn't just track data; it empowers Corporate Social Responsibility teams to collaborate with suppliers in real-time, streamlining sustainability strategies and turning compliance into a competitive advantage.

This innovative approach hasn't gone unnoticed by investors. In a testament to its potential, Retraced recently secured a whopping €15 million in Series A funding, led by Partech. This financial boost is set to fuel the company's global expansion and enhance its technological capabilities, particularly in AI and process automation.

As regulations tighten and consumer demand for transparency grows, Retraced is positioning itself as an essential partner for brands navigating these complex waters. The upcoming EU Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD) is just one example of the changing landscape that fashion brands must adapt to, and Retraced's platform offers a compass to guide them through.

But Retraced isn't content with just serving brands. In a move that demonstrates their commitment to industry-wide change, they're developing a user-friendly European Digital Product Passport (DPP) for consumers. This tool aims to empower shoppers with the information they need to make informed, sustainable choices, bridging the gap between brand initiatives and consumer awareness.

"We believe that true change comes when everyone – from brands to suppliers to consumers – is part of the conversation," explains Philipp Mayer, co-founder and CPO of Retraced. This inclusive approach is at the heart of the company's mission to create a more transparent and responsible fashion ecosystem.

How would you describe your mission in one sentence?

Our mission is to build a global ecosystem that drives sustainable change in the fashion industry by enabling transparent, cross-company collaboration.

As we look to the future, it's clear that transparency and sustainability are no longer optional in the fashion industry – they're the new gold standard. Retraced is not just keeping pace with this shift; they're actively shaping it, providing the tools and insights needed to turn sustainability challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.

For brands looking to stay ahead of the curve, the message is clear: embracing transparency isn't just about compliance – it's about competitive advantage. As consumers become increasingly savvy about the impact of their purchasing decisions, brands that can tell a clear, verifiable story about their products' journey will have a distinct edge in the market.

Retraced's journey is more than just a success story; it's a blueprint for the future of fashion. By harnessing the power of technology to drive positive change, they're proving that the industry can be both stylish and sustainable, profitable and responsible.

As we stand on the brink of this new era in fashion, the question for brands, suppliers, and consumers alike is not whether to embrace transparency, but how quickly they can adapt. With platforms like Retraced leading the way, the path to a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry is clearer than ever before.

The future of fashion is being rewritten, one digital thread at a time. And if Retraced has its way, it will be a future where every garment tells a story of innovation, responsibility, and hope – a story that we can all be proud to wear.