We need a Fashion Watchdog

The way many large UK fashion brands buy clothing dumps inappropriate, unexpected and excessive risks and costs onto their supplier factories and undermines smaller fashion brands.

Their actions causes job losses, poverty wages, excessive overtime and unsafe conditions for the people who make our clothes. A Fashion Watchdog could make brands pay what they owe, on time and in full.

MPs who support a fashion watchdog

If you don’t see your MP below call on them to stand up for fair play, and the people who make our clothes, by supporting a Fashion Watchdog.

It’s quick and easy to do, click the button below then fill in the form.

  • Peter Aldous MP

    Waveney, Conservative

  • Rushanara Ali MP

    Bethnal Green and Bow, Labour

  • Fleur Anderson MP

    Putney, Labour

  • Tonia Antoniazzi MP

    Gower, Labour

  • Siobhan Baillie MP

    Stroud, Conservative

  • Duncan Baker MP

    North Norfolk, Conservative

  • Apsana Begum MP

    Poplar and Limehouse, Labour

  • Paul Bloomfield MP

    Sheffield Central, Labour

  • Deidre Brock MP

    Edinburgh North and Leith, SNP

  • Ian Byrne MP

    Liverpool West Derby, Labour

  • Lisa Cameron MP

    East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, Conservative

  • Alistair Carmichael MP

    Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrats

  • Wendy Chamberlain MP

    North East Fife, Liberal Democrats

  • Douglas Chapman MP

    Dunfermline and West Fife, SNP

  • Joanna Cherry KC MP

    Edinburgh South West, SNP

  • Elliot Colburn MP

    Carshalton and Wallington, Conservative

  • Daisy Cooper MP

    St Albans, Liberal Democrats

  • Angela Crawley MP

    Lanark and Hamilton East, SNP

  • Martyn Day MP

    Linlithgow and East Falkirk, SNP

  • Dave Doogan MP

    Angus, SNP

  • Rosie Duffield MP

    Canterbury, Labour

  • Patricia Gibson MP

    North Ayrshire and Arran, SNP

  • Paul Girvan MP

    South Antrim, DUP

  • Neale Hanvey MP

    Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Alba

  • Drew Hendry MP

    Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, SNP

  • Sir George Howarth MP

    Knowsley, Labour

  • Pauline Latham MP

    Mid Derbyshire, Conservative

  • Ian Lavery MP

    Wansbeck, Labour

  • Chris Law MP

    Dundee West, SNP

  • Carla Lockhart MP

    Upper Bann, DUP

  • Caroline Lucas MP

    Brighton Pavilion, Green

  • Kenny Macaskill MP

    East Lothian, Alba

  • Angus MacNeil MP

    Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Independent

  • Steve McCabe MP

    Birmingham, Selly Oak, Labour

  • Kerry McCarthy MP

    Bristol East, Labour

  • Stuart McDonald MP

    Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, SNP

  • Catherine McKinnell MP

    Newcastle Upon Tyne North, Labour

  • John McNally MP

    Falkirk, SNP

  • John Nicolson MP

    Ochil and South Perthshire, SNP

  • Carol Monaghan MP

    Glasgow North West, SNP

  • Jessica Morden MP

    Newport East, Labour

  • Kate Osamor MP

    Edmonton, Labour (Co-op)

  • Ian Paisley MP

    North Antrim, DUP

  • Daniel Poulter MP

    Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Conservative

  • Anum Qaisar MP

    Airdrie and Shotts, SNP

  • Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

    Streatham, Labour

  • Barry Sheerman MP

    Huddersfield, Labour (Co-op)

  • Tommy Sheppard MP

    Edinburgh East, SNP

  • Cat Smith MP

    Lancaster and Fleetwood, Labour

  • Zarah Sultana

    Coventry South, Labour

  • Mark Tami MP

    Alyn and Deeside, Labour

  • Alison Thewliss MP

    Glasgow Central, SNP

  • Richard Thomson MP

    Gordon, SNP

  • Sir Stephen Timms MP

    East Ham, Labour

  • Liz Twist MP

    Blaydon, Labour

  • Claudia Webbe MP

    Leicester East, Independent

  • Dr Philippa Whitford MP

    Central Ayrshire, SNP

  • Hywel Williams MP

    Arfon, Plaid Cymru

  • Munira Wilson MP

    Twickenham, Liberal Democrats

  • Sammy Wilson MP

    East Antrim, DUP

  • Beth Winter MP

    Cynon Valley, Labour

  • Pete Wishart MP

    Perth and North Perthshire, SNP

Why we need a fashion watchdog

In Bangladesh

In 2021, a research team led by the University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with partners in Bangladesh, undertook projects to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the garment industry in Bangladesh. Between 2020-2021 interviews were conducted with garment workers, trade union representatives, domestic and international NGOs and factory representatives.

Here’s what they found:

  • At least 25% of workers in the surveyed factories lost their jobs during March/April 2020. For those who kept their job many received only 50% to 60% of their usual wages from the EU support provided to pay workers salaries.

  • There was an increase in sexual and verbal abuse and symbolic violence, mainly from line supervisors pushing women to work faster to meet unrealistic production targets.

  • The disruptions from Covid-19 exacerbated interrelated vulnerabilities in economic security, job security, food security, housing security and health and wellbeing, resulting in women workers struggling to support themselves and their families.

In Cambodia

The research in Cambodia has been carried out as part of the Refashion study and the data below comes from a survey of 203 female garment workers in Cambodia undertaken by University of Nottingham, Royal Holloway, University of London and the Cambodia Development Resource Institute.

The research shows:

  • By October 2020, 85% of workers had been suspended from work for a temporary period because of Covid-19 and 7% had been laid off permanently. Average take-home pay in the sector fell by 20%.

  • 85% of workers cut expenditure on food, with 20% reporting they did not have enough money to eat.

  • 63% of garment workers had borrowed money prior to the pandemic.

  • 38% of workers took on additional loans in 2020. By March/April 2021, 68% workers described loan repayments as one of their main financial worry, second only to living costs.

1000 dogs for fairer fashion

Up and down the country MPs are receiving crafted dogs as a physical reminder of the change that is needed.

Fancy getting creative and crafty? Join in