FM Index®
FM Index®: circularity evidence, garment by garment
The FM Index® is a garment-level circularity assessment tool developed by Angelina Russo, PhD, at Fleurieu Made in South Australia. It scores an individual garment across five pillars, material inputs, manufacturing practice, product durability, end-of-life routing and social impact, and produces a verifiable record. It is designed for procurement teams, brands, regulators and end-of-life operators who need evidence, not claims.
Who uses it
| You are | Your problem | What the FM Index® gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement and councils | Sustainable procurement rules ask for evidence suppliers cannot give | A comparable score for uniforms and textiles at tender |
| Brands and makers | Circularity claims are hard to substantiate | An independent assessment per style, ready for Digital Product Passport requirements |
| Policy and regulators | No garment-level data on what is in market | A consistent method and dataset |
| Repair, resale and end-of-life operators | Garments arrive with no history | A record that travels with the garment |
The Snapshot and other paid services below are available now, run directly through Fleurieu Made. Fleurieu Made is also building the full FM Circular Fashion IQ Index, a broader industry credential for brands, procurement partners, policymakers and secondary markets. Register your interest in the pilot.
Start here: free tools
Check where you stand with the DPP Readiness Scorecard and the FM DPP Assessment.
Paid services
These are Fleurieu Made's own services, available now. Looking for the industry-wide FM Circular Fashion IQ Index instead? Register your interest in the pilot.
1. FM Index® Snapshot. A scoping consultation plus your first garment assessed, with a scored report and three priority improvements. Fixed price: $500. This is the entry point.
2. Range assessment. Several styles assessed together, with a comparative report and a workshop with your design or sourcing team. Fixed price: $100 per garment.
3. Procurement verification. We assess shortlisted supplier garments against your tender criteria and provide a ranked evidence summary. By quote.
4. FM Repair Protocol licence and training. For brands, repairers and councils running repair programs. Includes the assessment method, repair record templates, training for your staff, and the right to state "Repaired under the FM Repair Protocol". Annual licence: price to be determined; contact angelina@fleurieumade.com to discuss.
5. Advisory and speaking. Briefings, board sessions and keynote talks on circular textiles, Digital Product Passports and sovereign manufacturing. By quote.
How an assessment works
- Consultation call: $500, which includes your first garment assessment.
- You supply the garment and available documentation: fibre, supplier, construction, care.
- Assessment against the FM Index® pillars, with an evidence weighting for each claim.
- Report, score and improvement priorities.
- Optional: listing in the FM Index® registry and a garment-level identifier.
Credentials
The FM Index® is a registered trade mark (2025). A provisional patent application covers a knitted RFID textile carrier that embeds the garment record in the knit itself. Angelina Russo, PhD, MBAHEM, is a Professor at Flinders University's Factory of the Future, a Green Industries SA 2025 Women in Circular Economy Scholar, an Adelaide University 2025 Venture Catalyst alumna and an advisor to the SAFIA board.
Read more
- Garments that know themselves
- Renewing SA Manufacturing
- Circular Fashion Consumer Guide
- Reports
- Imagine Circular Fashion
Frequently asked questions
What is the FM Index®?
A garment-level circularity assessment that scores how a garment is made, how long it should last and what happens at end of life, and records the evidence behind each score.
How is it different from a brand-level certification?
Certifications such as B Corp assess a company. The FM Index® assesses the garment itself, so two products from one brand can score differently.
Does it support Digital Product Passports?
Yes. The record structure is designed to align with GS1 Digital Link and EPCIS standards, so data can move into a passport.
What does an assessment cost?
The consultation and first report is $500 flat. Larger engagements are quoted.
Who carries out the assessment?
Fleurieu Made, led by founder Angelina Russo, PhD.
What is the FM Repair Protocol?
A documented method for assessing and repairing garments that produces a repair record. It is available under licence. See Knitwear Repair.