“The eco guide to fast fashion”, 23 Apr 2017

Across the world conscious consumers…join fashionrevolution.org – a vibrant global civil movement focused on cleaning up the $3trn fashion industry, based primarily in low-wage economies.  Post Rana Plaza there are many reform programmes under way, from the installation of fire escapes in supplier factories to the publication of factory lists by transnational brands.  Understandably, consumers want to know which is the cleanest brand.  Campaign groups aggregate these complex initiatives and publish transparency league ratings of brands to try to help us navigate the high street.  There’s even an app, Not My Style, on iTunes.  But as a recent study from New York University’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights concludes, too much emphasis is put on transparency (self-declared by brands) rather than actual outcomes.  The result? When it comes to paying a living wage, mainstream brands have made no real progress.  To end poverty wages and unacceptable conditions for the 60-75 million people who work in the global garment supply chain, we need to stop letting billion dollar brands define our activism.