Where is the supply chain for the clothes you wear? Four years ago, a garment factory building collapsed in Bangladesh, killing 1,138 people and revealing to the world that the fast fashion clothes you wear are actually produced there. Four years later, have the production environments of these brands improved? A recent survey by the British NGO Fashion Revolution found that the Fashion Transparency Index of the world's top 100 fashion brands is below 50. Familiar brands like MK, Giorgio Armani, PRADA, Chanel, Dior, and Forever 21 scored below 10, meaning their origins are unclear and their supply chains are completely opaque. Only a handful have a transparency score above 40. For example, Gap discloses its production locations, listing Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam on its website. H&M's website also lists many of its production locations as being from third-world countries. These four brands, including H&M, have begun to adjust their practices. Besides improving working conditions and wages, the green labels on their clothes indicate that they are recycled clothing, made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles. The tragic collapse of the RANAPlaza garment factory building in Bangladesh on April 24, 2013, which killed as many as 1,138 people, shocked the world. At the time, international voices called for companies to improve working conditions in garment factories and increase supply chain transparency. However, four years later, the situation has not changed much. Reuters reporter Worthley stated, "Recent research shows that we, as consumers, don't know where the clothes we buy are made, how they are made, or whether our money is being used to support exploitation, human rights abuses, and environmental destruction." The British NGO Fashion Revolution released a Fashion Transparency Index for the world's top 100 fashion brands, revealing that none of them scored above 50, meaning their clothing production locations are unclear and their supply chains are completely opaque. Fashion Revolution representative Saratiti stated, "Basic health and safety measures are still absent in many fashion garment factories. 80% of garment factory workers are women, aged 18 to 35. A modern version of slavery exists within the clothing supply chain." Among the top 100 companies, three brands scored zero, including the internationally renowned fashion brand Dior. Many other globally recognized brands also failed to meet transparency standards, including Chanel, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors, and Forever 21, all with indices below 10. Fashion Revolution representative Saratiti added, "As consumers, I truly believe we don't want to exploit the people who make our clothes, but we have no way of knowing if we're supporting injustice." Brands with a transparency score above 40 are also few and far between, only eight companies: Adidas, Reebok, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Puma, and Gap, among others. "What's needed now is a comprehensive European framework, a set of European standards that businesses can refer to, and in Europe, we consumers can be sure that the clothes we buy meet those standards," said European Parliament representative Anilitz. Of the top 100 brands, 34 have publicly pledged to pay their supply chain workers wages higher than minimum wage. However, saying one thing and doing another is another, as the survey found that only four brands are truly working towards this goal: Marks & Spencer, New Look, Puma, and H&M. H&M's 2017 campaign emphasized the sustainability of clothing. In fact, H&M created its green label in 2011, and a visit to the stores reveals a considerable number of such products. Otis, H&M Japan's customer service manager, explained, "These pants are 86% recycled polyester and made from old clothes." A green label on clothing indicates that it's recycled clothing, made from materials such as recycled polyester or PET bottles. Otis, H&M Japan's Customer Service Manager, stated, "If businesses don't learn how to manage with the planet's limited resources, they won't have a long-term future. We are participating in this change, and this change is necessary for the future of the fashion industry." This week, the UK NGO Fashion Revolution also launched the "Who Made My Clothes?" hashtag campaign on social media, urging consumers to pay attention to details such as the origin of clothing, hoping to encourage brands to focus more on this issue. Source: CSRone Sustainability Reporting Platform (April 25, 2017)
