FEMNET
FEMNET e.V. is a German non-profit founded in 2007 that advocates for women's rights in the global textile industry, funding grassroots partner organizations in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Tunisia while providing education, consulting, and a co-developed legal aid app for garment workers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBonn, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What FEMNET does
FEMNET e.V. is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2007 and headquartered in Bonn, advocating for women's rights in the global textile and garment industry. Its operational model is centered on supporting women textile workers in production countries—primarily Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Tunisia—through a network of long-term grassroots partner organizations (BCWS, NGWF, TURC, BLAST, BILS, Munnade/GLU, TTCU, GBGWF, Cividep, Paradigm Shift, ESDO). FEMNET funds and coordinates capacity-building, union strengthening, legal aid, occupational health programs, and crisis support, while also running education programs at primary schools, secondary schools, and universities, including a Futures Literacy workshop curriculum.
FEMNET's technology surface is modest and purpose-built rather than commercial: it has co-developed a legal aid mobile application with BLAST to help Bangladeshi textile workers enforce labor rights, and operates digital channels for awareness (newsletter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Kleiderei Radio podcast) and an online donation platform powered by twingle GmbH. It does not sell a software product; its measurable outputs are advocacy outcomes, educational reach, and procurement-advisory engagements.
Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations (€5–€200 monthly tiers), annual supporting memberships, consulting services for fair textile procurement (targeting cities, municipalities, universities, healthcare institutions, sports clubs, and private companies), and project-based grants from foundations and institutional donors including Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen and ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL on behalf of BMZ. The organization participates in the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft and is embedded in Clean Clothes Campaign, Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, CorA-Network, and the Supply Chain Act Initiative, giving it a structural role in German and EU supply chain due-diligence policy formation.
FEMNET firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FEMNET
- Legal name
- FEMNET e.V.
- Website
- https://femnet.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FEMNET e.V. is a German non-profit founded in 2007 that advocates for women's rights in the global textile industry, funding grassroots partner organizations in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Tunisia while providing education, consulting, and a co-developed legal aid app for garment workers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FEMNET industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-profit Labor Rights Advocacy
- akta.pro primary industry
- Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), Social Compliance & Labor Standards Certification (SMETA/SA8000) (AFALAMAM), Circularity Compliance, Traceability & Certification Services (EPR/Product Passports/Chain-of-Custody) (IMAOAMAJ)
Keywords
Where FEMNET is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bonn
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FEMNET business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters who want to contribute to fair and just work in the global textile industry. FEMNET offers various donation amounts (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 Euro) and provides tax-deductible donation receipts issued in January of the following year.
- Membership Fees: Annual supporting membership fees for individuals who want to actively support FEMNET's work for women's rights in the textile industry.
- Consulting Services: FEMNET provides consulting services for sustainable and fair textile procurement, advising public institutions (cities, municipalities, universities, healthcare facilities, sports clubs) and private sector organizations on implementing sustainability goals in practice.
- Foundations and Institutional Funding: Project funding from foundations such as Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen and ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL (on behalf of BMZ), as well as other institutional donors supporting specific project work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Donation amounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
FEMNET product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FEMNET e.V. is a non-profit feminist association that advocates for women's rights in the global garment and textile industry. It provides consulting on fair and sustainable textile procurement to public institutions and private companies, runs educational programs at schools and universities, supports partner organizations and workers in production countries (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Tunisia), and operates a legal aid app developed with BLAST to help textile workers in Bangladesh enforce their rights.
Product overview
FEMNET e.V. is a non-profit feminist organization (eingetragener Verein) focused on advocating for women's rights in the global textile and garment industry. The organization does not offer a commercial software product or technology platform. Instead, FEMNET's activities include: advocacy work for labor rights and corporate accountability (Supply Chain Act, living wages, gender-based violence prevention), educational programs at schools and universities (including Futures Literacy workshops), field-level support through the #SolidarityWorks! initiative supporting partner organizations in Bangladesh, India, Tunisia, and Indonesia, consulting services for fair public and private textile procurement, campaign work (Women@Work), publications (brochures, fact sheets, annual reports), a digital legal aid app developed with partner BLAST to help Bangladeshi textile workers assert their labor rights, and a member portal for organizational operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fair Textile Procurement Consulting Advisory and consulting services for cities, municipalities, universities, healthcare institutions, sports clubs, and private sector companies on implementing sustainable and fair textile procurement practices aligned with German Supply Chain Act requirements.
- Legal Aid App (with BLAST) A mobile application developed with BLAST that supports textile workers in Bangladesh with labor rights violations and helps them enforce legal claims.
- Educational Workshops and Bildungsmodule Educational modules, workshops, and speaker trainings delivered at primary schools, secondary schools, and universities covering labor rights in the fashion industry, sustainable consumption, and Futures Literacy for the Fashion Industry.
- Supporting Membership (Fördermitgliedschaft) Annual supporting membership for individuals who want to actively support FEMNET's mission, providing access to a password-protected member area.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supports partner organizations in Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS), National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), and other labor rights organizations
Companies that use FEMNET
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
FEMNET technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
FEMNET partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS)coreThe internationally recognized labor rights organization is a member of the Clean Clothes Campaign and is one of Bangladesh's most prominent advocates for workers' rights. FEMNET supports BCWS, which was founded by Kalpona, a prominent human rights activist who fought against inhumane working conditions.
- National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF)coreThe largest union in Bangladesh's export-oriented garment industry, working since 1984 for the rights and human dignity of workers. NGWF distributes food aid and support to textile workers during crises and advocates for worker rights.
- Trade Union Rights Center (TURC)coreA non-governmental organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. TURC works in various locations across Indonesia with trade unions to promote decent work and empower workers through labor rights education, legal assistance, and labor studies.
- Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust (BLAST)coreA non-profit organization providing free legal aid and services to marginalized and disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh. FEMNET collaborates with BLAST to develop a legal aid app that helps textile workers enforce their rights.
- Munnade and GLU (Garment Labour Union)coreTwo institutions under one roof with a common goal: strengthening the rights of women workers in India's garment industry. Based in India where FEMNET conducts field visits and project planning.
- Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS)majorThe only employment institute in Bangladesh striving to promote fair and employee-friendly policies and legislation. BILS conducted a study on private control systems in Bangladesh's textile industry.
- Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA)majorAn Asian labor-led global labor and social alliance across garment-producing countries in Asia and consumer regions of USA and Europe. Works on living wages and fair purchasing practices.
- Clean Clothes CampaigncoreFEMNET is a member of the Steuerkreis (advisory board) of the Clean Clothes Campaign. The international campaign addresses labor rights violations in the garment industry and includes over 250 organizations.
- The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textiles Partnership)majorA German multi-stakeholder initiative for sustainable textiles. FEMNET participates as a Trägerkreispartner (core partner) in this initiative.
- CorA-Network & Supply Chain Act InitiativemajorOver 50 organizations work on the CorA network advocating for clear and binding rules for companies to respect human rights. FEMNET is a member working on corporate responsibility and supply chain legislation.
- Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO)majorA non-profit and non-governmental research organization based in Bangladesh dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection, biodiversity, and ecological balance.
- Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation (GBGWF)majorA federation of 48 trade unions from Bangladesh's textile industry, committed since 2010 to improving working conditions with particular focus on female garment workers.
- Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU)majorA Dalit women-led trade union of textile workers in India working to end gender-based violence and harassment, wage theft, and caste-based violence in garment factories.
- SÜDWIND InstitutemajorFEMNET collaborates with SÜDWIND on the Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) on Gender and Health in the Clothing and Shoe Industry, including joint press releases and initiatives.
- Cividep IndiacorePartner organization in India working on occupational safety and health issues in the textile industry. Cividep conducted studies on specific risks for women workers and participates in the Multi-Actor Partnership on Gender and Health.
- Paradigm ShiftmajorA non-profit organization committed to strengthening human and labor rights in India, specializing in solutions to improve working conditions and strengthen employee rights. FEMNET partnered with Paradigm Shift for the Gender-Responsive Health Protection project.
- fashion interACTIONminorA network for students interested in fashion industry labor issues. FEMNET supports this student network as part of its educational activities at universities.
- SOUTHWINDmajorPartner in the Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) on Gender Equality in Occupational Health and Safety, contributing to improved health situation for workers in textile and footwear industry.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FEMNET competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fairtrade Foundation: Broader fair-trade certification and advocacy organization covering multiple product categories including textiles; overlaps with FEMNET on consumer-facing fair-fashion awareness but covers a much wider portfolio beyond garments.
- Better Work (ILO/IFC): Joint ILO-IFC program improving labor standards and competitiveness in global garment supply chains; a larger incumbent operating across multiple production countries with employer and union engagement, partially overlapping FEMNET's worker-rights mandate.
Direct peers
- Ethical Trading Initiative: Alliance of companies, NGOs, and trade unions promoting respect for workers' rights in supply chains; operates in similar garment/textile accountability space as FEMNET and engages on supply chain due diligence regulation.
- Fair Wear Foundation: Multi-stakeholder organization working to improve labor conditions in the garment industry, with strong overlap in worker empowerment, living wages, and brand accountability in production countries.
- Worker Rights Consortium: Independent labor rights monitoring organization focused on eliminating sweatshop conditions in apparel and footwear supply chains; comparable scope on worker-driven accountability and supplier investigations.
- Clean Clothes Campaign: International coalition of over 250 organizations addressing labor rights violations in the garment industry. FEMNET sits on its Steuerkreis; both organizations campaign for living wages, supply chain accountability, and gender-based violence prevention in textile supply chains.
- Asia Floor Wage Alliance: Asian labor-led coalition across garment-producing countries and consumer regions advocating for living wages in the apparel industry. FEMNET is a partner; both organizations coordinate on wage-floor campaigns in Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia.
Emerging players
- Fashion Revolution: Global movement campaigning for transparency, sustainability, and ethics in the fashion industry; comparable on consumer education and supply chain transparency themes, with younger and more grassroots positioning than FEMNET.
- Worker-Driven Social Responsibility Network: Coalition promoting worker-driven social responsibility models in supply chains; operates in adjacent space on worker-led monitoring with smaller, more niche overlap to FEMNET's union-strengthening work.
Others
- SÜDWIND Institute: German development policy and advocacy NGO working on economic, social, and ecological issues; FEMNET collaborates with SÜDWIND on the Multi-Actor Partnership on Gender and Health in the clothing industry, making it a close ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FEMNET social profiles
Digital presenceFEMNET financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FEMNET leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
FEMNET funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FEMNET M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FEMNET
What does FEMNET do?
FEMNET e.V. is a non-profit feminist association that advocates for women's rights in the global garment and textile industry. It provides consulting on fair and sustainable textile procurement to public institutions and private companies, runs educational programs at schools and universities, supports partner organizations and workers in production countries (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Tunisia), and operates a legal aid app developed with BLAST to help textile workers in Bangladesh enforce their rights.
Is FEMNET a public or private company?
FEMNET is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FEMNET founded?
FEMNET was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FEMNET based?
FEMNET is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does FEMNET make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees, consulting Services and foundations and Institutional Funding.
Who are FEMNET's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fairtrade Foundation and Better Work (ILO/IFC). Direct peers are Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear Foundation, Worker Rights Consortium, Clean Clothes Campaign and Asia Floor Wage Alliance. Emerging players are Fashion Revolution and Worker-Driven Social Responsibility Network. SÜDWIND Institute is listed as an others.
Does FEMNET have an API?
No public API is recorded for FEMNET.
What industry is FEMNET in?
FEMNET's product category is Non-profit Labor Rights Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAM, Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm), with a secondary code of BPADAGAF, Gender Equality & Women’s Rights.