FASHION ACTIVISM

In this article, we will talk about how Non-Governmental Organisations have been fighting to make the change needed in the fashion industry a reality.

According to ‘Black Brands’, different Non-Governmental Organisations are trying to get big fashion brands involved in generating a positive impact while their production process, focused on asking these companies’ for a commitment in terms of transparency.

‘Fashion Revolution’ is a global movement including people from all around the world who wear and also make clothes. Their aims are to end the human and environmental exploitation in the fashion industry creating a culture of transparency across big companies’ value chain. Fashion Revolution creates the ‘Fashion Transparency Index’: a ranking on the most transparent fashion brands in different areas such as traceability, labour conditions and supply chain, incentivising major brands to be more transparent, disclosing more information to become more transparent brands. In 2020, the brand H&M has been considered as the most transparent fashion brand.

‘Human Rights Watch’ is another Non-Governmental Organisation which rewards brands that disclose consumers where, how and by whom their products are made. This organisation aims to defend human dignity and promote human rights for every person involved in the fashion industry.

‘Clean Clothes Campaign’ is a global network focused on improving working conditions in the fashion industry, empowering workers in the global garment and sportswear industries, ensuring their fundamental rights are respected. Its mission is to put pressure on companies and governments to commit to the establishment of measures that ensure workers' rights, as well as to raise awareness and mobilize people to take decisions in this regard.

Regarding this topic, several major brands have collaborated with non-profit organisations. Inditex shows in its 2019 Report they collaborate with non-profit organisations such as Greenpeace, Clean Clothes Campaign, Fashion Revolution or Baptist World Aid to share the information demanded. In 2019, Inditex renewed their Global Framework Agreement with IndustriALL Global Union in order to set up a Global Union Committee where workfers from all their clusters will be represented. Therefore, with this measures, Inditex promotes a better and stronger communication with their workers and factories all around the world in order to create a better work environment because, as Inditex says: “We consider freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining to be the core aspects in order to guarantee supply chain sustainability. These principles are laid down in our Code of Conduct for Manufacturers and Suppliers”. In addition, Inditex promotes the achievement of different Sustainable Development Goals along its supply chain such as ‘Good health and well-being’, ‘Gender equality’, ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’, ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’, and ‘Partnerships for the Goals’.

However, in recent days, the Clean Clothes Campaign has revealed that the brand is embroiled in a scandal over working conditions in Uyghur.

This is proof of how non-profit organisations have managed to make companies aware that a change in their business model is necessary. In recent years, different reports from the above-mentioned organisations have shown a change in the transparency of data on working conditions and the origin of the garments. We can therefore understand that the clothing brands are committed to ensuring this change and continue to improve their images in terms of transparency, although much remains to be done.