Mango entered a collaboration agreement on 12 January with Centro Superior de Diseño de Moda de Madrid (CSDMM), a centre associated with the university which will help the brand develop a training programme throughout 2024.
The programme will be designed to equip employees, particularly those in the product areas such as designers, buyers and the quality team, with knowledge of circular design and more sustainable fibres and processes.
The curriculum will cover topics such as recycling processes, advancements in sustainable materials, certifications and labelling, and the integration of circularity criteria in collection design.
Renowned experts from the sector and professors from CSDMM-UPM, including Luis Barros Presedo, an expert in sustainable development and supply chains; Gemma Gómez, a consultant and expert on the social and environmental impact of the fashion sector; and Mercedes Rodríguez, assistant director and professor of the CSDMM-UPM, are set to participate in the training sessions.
The programmes will use a mixture of speeches, informal talks, and roundtable discussions to foster engagement and debate among participants.
The collaboration between Mango and CSDMM-UPM is outlined with three primary objectives:
- It aims to establish strong ties with leading academic institutions committed to improving education and knowledge generation.
- The collaboration seeks to reinforce the value proposition for professional development and employee benefits.
- It positions itself as a pivotal move in Mango's sustainability strategy, pushing towards a more sustainable business model.
The collaboration agreement is part of Mango's commitment to fostering relationships with academic institutions and advancing its sustainability roadmap.
This commitment aligns with Mango's broader strategy to attract and retain talent, as highlighted by Andrés Fernández, Mango's director of sustainability and sourcing: “I am convinced that with Centro Superior de Diseño de Moda de Madrid’s expertise, we will advance towards a more sustainable collection, reduce our impact on the planet and improve our impact on society”.
Guillermo Cisneros, the Dean of UPM, emphasised the significance of this alliance as an opportunity to drive social change within the fashion sector. He stated: “One of the goals of our university is to improve society through the generation and transfer of knowledge and the training of future professionals. To achieve this, we promote alliances with engineering, architecture, sport and fashion institutions and enterprises, and in this specific case with Mango”.
Leila Rettali, Mango’s global director of talent and organisational development, echoed this sentiment, emphasising that training teams is integral to Mango's strategy in attracting and retaining talent.
Beyond this collaboration, Mango has existing agreements with education and training organisations, as well as some of the world's foremost design universities. These partnerships focus on promoting research and developing the skills of students, instilling values and good practices in talent for their professional future.
Mango shared that in 2023 it invested close to 365,000 hours in training its approximately 15,500 employees in order to train and promote its internal talent development.
The training programme also aligns with Mango's Sustainable Vision 2030, which focuses on: product, planet, and people. Key goals include prioritising materials with lower environmental impact, incorporating circular design criteria, and enhancing transparency and traceability in the supply chain.
Guillermo García-Badell, director of CSDMM-UPM added: “This programme is a step further for the CSDMM-UPM, after more than 35 years of educating in the university and the professionals of a strategic and cutting-edge sector in our country.”
In December Mango announced it expected to close 2023 with record sales of €3bn ($3.26bn), up from €2.68bn in 2022 as it continued its aggressive store opening expansion.
