An open letter implores UK fashion retailers to pledge 1% of production to Leicester, aiming to boost local manufacturing.
- Twenty-four retailers, including M&S and Next, received requests to support ethical production in Leicester.
- Groups like Labour Behind the Label and GMB Union spearhead the initiative for improved workers’ rights.
- The proposed pledge aims to make Leicester an ethical fashion production hub.
- Retailers’ support is expected to bring economic and environmental benefits.
A consortium of trade unions, campaigners, and community organisations has reached out to major UK fashion retailers, appealing for their commitment to local garment production in Leicester through a 1% production pledge. Notable recipients of this request include M&S, Next, and Matalan. This initiative is supported by groups such as Labour Behind the Label, GMB Union, IWGB Union, and others, seeking to revitalize manufacturing within the city.
The open letter states the importance of redirecting 1% of fashion brands’ production to Leicester. It is suggested that such a commitment would signal that the fashion industry acknowledges its responsibility towards the workforce and the environment. By altering their supply chains slightly, businesses could demonstrate a shift towards responsible and ethical practices.
Advocates argue that establishing Leicester as a pivotal centre for ethical fashion production would not only guarantee decent wages and enforce workers’ rights but also foster a commitment to workforce training and skill enhancement. This approach intends to re-establish Leicester’s reputation in the fashion industry while ensuring sustainability and ethical standards.
Alena Ivanova, leading campaigns at Labour Behind the Label, emphasised the necessity for brands to take action. She highlighted the longstanding contribution of garment workers in Leicester and the unjust nature of job losses due to the pursuit of cheaper production alternatives abroad. Ivanova sees the pledge as an opportunity for brands to lead by example, promoting local investment and supporting environmental and ethical advances.
Those advocating this pledge believe that such a commitment from fashion retailers could catalyse substantial benefits, enabling local suppliers to invest more deeply, enhancing skill levels among workers, and positioning brands advantageously in terms of both market reputation and environmental responsibility.
This collective call to action aims at reinvigorating Leicester’s garment industry through ethical and localised manufacturing.
