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.
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Peter Aldous MP
Waveney, Conservative
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Rushanara Ali MP
Bethnal Green and Bow, Labour
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Fleur Anderson MP
Putney, Labour
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Tonia Antoniazzi MP
Gower, Labour
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Siobhan Baillie MP
Stroud, Conservative
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Duncan Baker MP
North Norfolk, Conservative
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Apsana Begum MP
Poplar and Limehouse, Labour
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Paul Bloomfield MP
Sheffield Central, Labour
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Deidre Brock MP
Edinburgh North and Leith, SNP
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Ian Byrne MP
Liverpool West Derby, Labour
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Lisa Cameron MP
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, Conservative
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Alistair Carmichael MP
Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrats
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Wendy Chamberlain MP
North East Fife, Liberal Democrats
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Douglas Chapman MP
Dunfermline and West Fife, SNP
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Joanna Cherry KC MP
Edinburgh South West, SNP
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Elliot Colburn MP
Carshalton and Wallington, Conservative
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Daisy Cooper MP
St Albans, Liberal Democrats
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Angela Crawley MP
Lanark and Hamilton East, SNP
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Martyn Day MP
Linlithgow and East Falkirk, SNP
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Dave Doogan MP
Angus, SNP
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Rosie Duffield MP
Canterbury, Labour
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Patricia Gibson MP
North Ayrshire and Arran, SNP
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Paul Girvan MP
South Antrim, DUP
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Neale Hanvey MP
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Alba
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Drew Hendry MP
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, SNP
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Sir George Howarth MP
Knowsley, Labour
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Pauline Latham MP
Mid Derbyshire, Conservative
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Ian Lavery MP
Wansbeck, Labour
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Chris Law MP
Dundee West, SNP
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Carla Lockhart MP
Upper Bann, DUP
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Caroline Lucas MP
Brighton Pavilion, Green
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Kenny Macaskill MP
East Lothian, Alba
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Angus MacNeil MP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Independent
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Steve McCabe MP
Birmingham, Selly Oak, Labour
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Kerry McCarthy MP
Bristol East, Labour
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Stuart McDonald MP
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, SNP
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Catherine McKinnell MP
Newcastle Upon Tyne North, Labour
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John McNally MP
Falkirk, SNP
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John Nicolson MP
Ochil and South Perthshire, SNP
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Carol Monaghan MP
Glasgow North West, SNP
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Jessica Morden MP
Newport East, Labour
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Kate Osamor MP
Edmonton, Labour (Co-op)
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Ian Paisley MP
North Antrim, DUP
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Daniel Poulter MP
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Conservative
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Anum Qaisar MP
Airdrie and Shotts, SNP
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Streatham, Labour
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Barry Sheerman MP
Huddersfield, Labour (Co-op)
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Tommy Sheppard MP
Edinburgh East, SNP
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Cat Smith MP
Lancaster and Fleetwood, Labour
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Zarah Sultana
Coventry South, Labour
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Mark Tami MP
Alyn and Deeside, Labour
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Alison Thewliss MP
Glasgow Central, SNP
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Richard Thomson MP
Gordon, SNP
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Sir Stephen Timms MP
East Ham, Labour
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Liz Twist MP
Blaydon, Labour
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Claudia Webbe MP
Leicester East, Independent
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Dr Philippa Whitford MP
Central Ayrshire, SNP
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Hywel Williams MP
Arfon, Plaid Cymru
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Munira Wilson MP
Twickenham, Liberal Democrats
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Sammy Wilson MP
East Antrim, DUP
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Beth Winter MP
Cynon Valley, Labour
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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%.
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85% of workers cut expenditure on food, with 20% reporting they did not have enough money to eat.
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63% of garment workers had borrowed money prior to the pandemic.
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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