Last year, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) went into effect. The act prohibits the importation of a variety of goods from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, among many other things. The decorated apparel industry is just one that is affected by the UFLPA, and many are working to test their apparel sources and adhere to the new regulations.

Recently, Next Level Apparel (NLA) announced an exclusive partnership with Oritain, a company using cutting-edge forensic science to verify the origin of products and raw materials. In a press release shared on BusinessWire, NLA states that this partnership further advances its sector leadership by allowing it to conduct scientific verification of its cotton products for the benefit of consumers and the broader decorated apparel industry.

“From our local roots in southern California to our international consumer base, we are dedicated to creating an experience that advances our customers’ mission while ensuring the integrity of the premium quality products we bring to market,” said NLA CEO, Randy Hales, in the press release. “We embrace the protection of our beautiful planet and are purposeful in finding the right options in every area of our operations. Partnering with Oritain reinforces this principle and highlights our commitment to sustainability and transparency in our supply chain.”

The agreement with Oritain allows NLA to independently test products from its supply chain to ensure the integrity, quality, and consistency of its cotton textile products globally. Such testing will also provide critical assurances for NLA’s customers and other stakeholders.

This announcement is just the latest in a series from NLA. The company expedited its requirement to have all fabric suppliers utilize 100% U.S.-grown cotton for purchase orders placed after Feb. 1, 2023. It also entered a strategic partnership with San Pedro Sula, Honduras-based GK Global (GK) to provide nearshore fabric supply.

“We’re excited about this groundbreaking partnership as it’s yet another milestone in Next Level Apparel’s well-established commitment toward greater sustainability and transparency,” Hale continues in an email interview. “Through this cutting-edge science, we’ll gain more information and insights into our raw materials and provide even greater assurance to our customers on the quality and integrity of the premium products they love.”

Other Oritain Partnerships

Many manufacturers and mills are implementing similar partnerships and strategies around the world. In 2020, Cone Denim was the first denim mill to use a unique method to truly verify the origin of its fabric, according to an article from Oritain. The two partnered to use forensic science to detect naturally occurring trace elements and isotopes that are intrinsic properties of the fabric that can be verified back to its source. In February of this year, Cone Denim announced an extension of this partnership.

According to the article, through the extended partnership, “Cone Denim continues to assure its customers that denim produced by the company is authentic, true to source, and in compliance with their cotton sourcing policies and allows Cone to confidently reaffirm its origin of ethical sourcing and supply chain transparency.”