About the interview
Social responsibility is a critical topic in apparel sourcing and trade. Gen Z, both as consumers and future professionals in the fashion industry, care deeply about this issue. At the same time, the conversation around social responsibility has become more technical and complex, such as compliance with new regulations like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
In the interview, Avedis Seferian, President & CEO of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), shared his insights and extensive practical experience about the current landscape and emerging trends in social responsibility related to apparel sourcing, including:
- What does “social responsibility” truly mean in the context of today’s global apparel industry, and how has that meaning evolved over the past decade?
- What are the key expectations for fashion companies if they need to achieve socially responsible sourcing?
- Is social responsibility more of a legal issue or an ethical issue for fashion companies? Where does the line lie between what is required by law and what is expected ethically from apparel brands and factories?
- How does a typical social compliance audit work on the ground, and why does it involve much more than simply “completing a checklist,” as some people may misunderstand?
- Does greater supply chain transparency help promote social responsibility? How can fashion companies be encouraged to become more transparent, and what challenges remain?
- What is the impact on garment factories and their workers when fashion companies suddenly cancel sourcing orders? As fashion companies increasingly expect suppliers to be “flexible,” such as accommodating last-minute changes to sourcing orders, could this expectation further complicate social responsibility efforts?
- Can AI and technology have some potential applications in promoting social responsibility in the fashion industry?
- Advice for students and young professionals entering the apparel industry who want to make a meaningful impact in social responsibility and ethical sourcing.
About Avedis Seferian
Avedis Seferian joined WRAP in 2004 and became its President and CEO in 2012. Avedis has extensive knowledge of social responsibility issues within the highly complex worldwide supply chains of the apparel, textile and footwear sectors. A recognized expert in the area of social compliance and responsible sourcing, Avedis was named by Assent Compliance as one of the top 100 corporate social responsibility influence leaders for 2020.
Additionally, Avedis speaks five languages, has lived in four countries and holds three degrees from three continents—a Bachelor’s in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University in India; a Master of Business Administration from the American University of Armenia; and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in the United States.
About Emilie Delaye (moderator)
Emilie Delaye is a master’s student & graduate instructor in Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, with a specific interest in supply chain, global sourcing, and sustainability. Emilie is also a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) 2025-2026 Student Committee and the University of Delaware President’s Student Advisory Council.
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
This interview honestly made social responsibility feel a lot more real and complicated than how we usually talk about it in class. I liked how Avedis explained that it’s no longer just about “doing the right thing”; it’s become super legal and technical with things like the UFLPA, and brands can’t just pretend they don’t know what’s happening in their supply chains anymore. His point about audits not being a simple checklist also stood out to me. It makes sense that when brands keep pushing factories to be “flexible” with last-minute orders, it can actually make working conditions worse. I also agreed with what he said about transparency; brands want to look responsible but are scared to expose their problems. As someone who cares about sourcing and wants to work in this industry, it was encouraging to hear that small decisions we make early in our careers really can impact workers’ lives.
I thought this interview was really interesting because it explained social responsibility in a way that actually made sense. One thing that stood out to me was how much more complicated the topic has gotten. It’s not just “be ethical” anymore — there are actual laws like the UFLPA that companies have to follow, and it affects how they source their products. I also didn’t realize how detailed social compliance audits are. I always thought they were just checklists, but hearing that they involve interviews and looking at what’s really happening inside factories made me see how serious the process is.
Another part that stuck with me was when Seferian talked about brands canceling orders and how much that hurts the workers. I feel like companies don’t always think about the impact their quick decisions have on people. And the whole idea of expecting factories to be “flexible” honestly makes things even harder for them.
Overall, this interview made me realize that social responsibility is something we actually have to understand, not just care about. If our generation wants to improve the industry, we need to know how the supply chain works and what really goes on behind the scenes.
What I appreciated the most from Avedis Seferian’s interview was his focus on transparecy and real social responsibility in fashion. I feel like so many brands use the word “ethical” as a marketing tool, so hearing him explain how WRAP verifies factory conditions and how they hold companies accountable made it feel more real. I mainly agreed with his point that responsibility has the be formed into the brands entire sourcing strategy, not an additon. I buy second hand a lot because I choose to try to be more sustainable, but alos want to achive that more unique look as well as not conditrubing to adding more waste.
This interview was really insightful! I appreciated learning directly from Avedis Seferian about WRAP’s role in promoting ethical and responsible production in the apparel industry. It’s interesting to see how certification and compliance programs can influence sourcing decisions and push brands toward more transparent and sustainable practices. The discussion really helped me understand the practical challenges and impact of maintaining socially responsible supply chains.
This interview piqued my interest for sure. It highlights how complex social responsibility in the apparel industry has become over time. As supply chains grow and regulations increase, expectations are redefined. Avedis Seferian made a great point that social responsibility is no longer about doing the right thing, rather now sits between legal compliance, ethics and operational responsibility. Brands today are expected to do more than ever, balancing workers’ rights, ethical sourcing, display transparent supply chains and navigate general businesses altogether. Overall, the interview reinforced my ideas that social responsibility is no longer a simple option – now a large responsibility for every brand to engage in.
This interview offered a very clear explanation on how complex “social responsibility” has become within modern apparel sourcing in the fashion industry. I really appreciated how Avedis Seferian emphasized that social responsibility isn’t just a moral ideal, but it now blends ethics, law and operational execution. His point that compliance goes far beyond a simple checklist really resonated with me. As students, we often learn the theory but hearing how audits work in real situations made me realize how much significance exists in the behind the scenes processes. Auditors need cultural awareness and real insight into day to day operations to work effectively. I also found the discussion about supplier pressure very important. When brands demand constant flexibility or cancel orders last minute, it directly negatively affects workers. This shows why transparency alone isn’t enough, but that brands also need to have visibility incorporated with responsible purchasing practices. As someone preparing to enter the industry one day, I found Seferian’s advice empowering, especially the idea that meaningful change has to start with understanding how sourcing, compliance, and employee treatment go hand in hand in everyday business decisions.
This interview with the CEO of WRAP really opened my eyes to the importance of “ethical sourcing.” It’s not just a buzzword, it means serious audits, real rules and accountability. As a fashion merchandising student I found WRAP’s definition of social responsibility interesting. They don’t just see it as something that is nice to have, but as it being the bare minimum standard such as having safe factories, humane labor practices, fair treatment and transparency across the supply chain. Compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about living up to legal and ethical standards. Fashion companies and future professionals like us must push for genuinely responsible production.
This interview definitely caught my attention. It really shows how complicated social responsibility in the apparel industry has become. As supply chains get bigger and regulations grow, the expectations for brands keep changing. Avedis Seferian made a strong point that social responsibility isn’t just about doing the right thing anymore. It now falls between legal rules, ethics, and everyday business operations.Brands today are expected to do a lot, protect workers’ rights, source ethically, stay transparent about their supply chains, and still run their businesses very smooth . Overall, the interview reinforced my belief that social responsibility isn’t optional anymore, it’s a major responsibility every brand has to take seriously.
Avedis Seferian’s interview made the idea of social responsibility feel far more complex and grounded than the way we usually frame it in class. He highlighted that responsibility in fashion isn’t just moral language anymore and that it’s instead tied to legal requirements, detailed regulations like the UFLPA, and a level of supply-chain visibility that brands can no longer ignore. I found his explanation of WRAP’s auditing process especially eye-opening; it’s not a quick checklist but a deeper look at how a brand’s demands, like constant last-minute orders, can actually create poorer working conditions. His discussion about transparency also stood out to me. Brands want credit for being responsible, yet many are afraid to reveal the flaws in their operations. Hearing him emphasize that true responsibility has to be woven into sourcing from the start, not added later, made the issue feel more concrete.