Join us for an exclusive discussion about whether new legislation will accelerate the fashion industry’s push for more sustainable supply chains with our exciting panel of experts.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought back into the limelight some of the longstanding issues in fashion’s value chain. From global garment retailers like H&M and Zara being accused of using the pandemic to target thousands of unionised factory workers for dismissal in developing countries, to UK retailer Boohoo facing a modern slavery investigation after reports that its workers in Leicester earned as little as £3.50 an hour, the industry has not yet tackled the same problems that first gained global traction after the 2013 Rana Plaza accident in Bangladesh.
Since then, several industry-led commitments and certification procedures on corporate social responsibility (CSR) have generated a level of complexity in the way fashion’s value chain is assessed on its human rights and environmental practices.
To address this, the European Union will be bringing out new legislation in 2021 that will introduce compulsory due diligence rules for the protection of human rights in the supply chains of companies that access the European market.
In the UK, Lords have voted to ensure any newly signed trade agreements comply with the UK’s human rights and international obligations under Amendment 2B to the Trade Bill.
Speakers and discussion information
During this webinar, we will discuss what lawmakers, academics and industry professionals think of this legislation and how far we can separate human rights abuse from the fashion industry.
Speakers include:
- Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Textiles and Fashion;
- Paola Masperi, founder of ethical fashion brand Mayamiko;
- Clare Lissaman, Director of Common Objective and Head of Oxfam Advisory Service;
- Dr Mark Sumner, lecturer in fashion and sustainability at the University of Leeds.