What just happened?
In more recent years, we have started living in a society dressed from head to toe in our favourite fast fashion brands. Going out on the weekend? No need to spend a fortune on clothes, when online retailers such as ‘Missguided’ and ‘PrettyLittleThing’ can provide you with the wear once and throw away goods. It’s cheap, cheerful and can be delivered to your doorstep within 24 hours of ordering. But cheaper on-trend garments, come with pricey, and not so pricey consequences for all those involved.
Faulty fabrics, unflattering clothing, and damage to the environment are amongst many of the negative impacts associated with fast fashion, that have graced headlines across the world, over the past few years. However, leading fast-fashion retailer ‘Boohoo’ are now facing allegations of a more sinister crime, Modern slavery. Over the past few weeks, tabloids have exposed the retailer, which has been “exploiting workers for many years inside textile factories, located in Leicester.”[1]
What does this mean?
The issue was brought to authorities’ attention after Leicester was placed on ‘local lockdown’ due to a coronavirus outbreak said to have manifested within the Boohoo warehouse. However, Becky Johnson for Sky News believes this is the result of “multiple years” working in “salve-like conditions”[2] in inadequate textile factories.
Leading activists ‘Anti-Slavery’ defines modern-day slavery as the “severe exploitation of another person for personal or commercial gain.”[3] This means people can become entrapped producing clothes, or collecting crops in astonishing conditions or environments, often facing threats from their employers, and being paid a significant amount below the minimum wage.
The link between modern slavery and fast fashion leave us with many questions regarding this shocking combination. But a defining thought we should have is why does something that is supposed to provide enjoyment, maintain such a threatening background? According to Anika Kozlowski ,of ‘The Conversation,’ fashion and slavery have a long, intertwined relationship.
Employing 60 million people world-wide “fashion is one of the most labour-intensive industries”[4] to work in. Kozolwski progresses stating “fashion is rife with gender inequality, environmental degradation, and human rights abuses”[5] meaning that if you work in fashion or retail, the likelihood of experiencing one of the above scenarios is high.
While we may strongly be against the prospect of modern slavery and want to contribute to ending the turmoil for all those innocent people involved. Our society screams for this to continue. Because we live in a world where there is a high demand for sharp production turn around and demanding delivery dates, modern slavery is only encouraged through these actions. We expect these standards we have become accustomed too, but unknowingly this is still encouraging modern slavery to continue.
Due to the corruption and threatening nature of modern slavery, the legal sector plays a monumental role in preventing further cases of this form of exploitation. In 2015 the Modern Slavery Act was established in the UK, which requires businesses to “report annually what they are doing to combat slavery”[6] in the workplace. While, in some cases, this act has not been respected, the legal sector has experienced a surge in Court of Appeal Decisions that has “reinforced the jurisdiction over claims against the UK-domiciled parent companies, regarding human rights impacts both in the UK and of their subsidiaries abroad.”[7] The legal sector is actively fighting this battle between employers and employees, but without cutting the demand for fast fashion, there is only so much that can be done.
In the 21st Century, no individual should forcibly be working in astonishing conditions, earning a significant amount less than the minimum wage, for our benefit. So, perhaps next time think twice about whether you really need that pair of jeans or a wear once and throw away top before you purchase.
Written by Emily Kavanagh
Assessing Firms: #HowardKennedyLLP #TraversSmithLLP #MacFarlanesLLP #HoganLovells #HerbertSmithFreehills #DLAPiper #IrwinMitchell #BurgesSalmonLLP #White&CaseLLP #AkinGump #Bird&Bird #Dentons
References:
[1] Conrad Duncan, ‘Boohoo facing modern slavery investigation’ (The Independent, 5th July 2020) .
[2] Becky Johnson, ‘Leicester: Up to 10,000 Could be Victims of Modern Slavery in textile Factories.’ (Sky News, 13th July 2020)
[3] ‘What is Modern Slavery?’ (Anti-Slavery, 1st January 2020)
[4] Anika Kozlowski, ‘Fashion Production is Modern Slavery: 5 Things You Can Do to Help Now’ (The Conversation, 4th August 2019)
[5] Anika Kozlowski, ‘Fashion Production is Modern Slavery: 5 Things You Can Do to Help Now’ (The Conversation, 4th August 2019)
[6] Human Rights and Modern Slavery’ (Dentons, May 2020.)
[7] ‘Human Rights and Modern Slavery’ (Dentons, May 2020.)
Disclaimer: This article (and any information accessed through links in this article) is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.